Posted:
April 3, 2019
The United States Coast Guard has issued its final rule on Seafarers' Access to Maritime Facilities, which now requires the operators to provide "timely" access to shore leave at no cost to the seafarers.
The rule, issued April 1, makes changes to Rule 33 CFR, part 105, and takes effect May 1. Owners and operators of facilities have been given 14 months to create and finalize a facility security plan to accommodate the new rule, which also includes access for representatives of seamen's welfare and labor organizations between vessels moored at the facility and the facility gate. The mariner access plans will be approved by the Captain of the Port at each facility.
Implementation is required by June 1, 2020.
Facilities who violate the rule will be subject to a $25,000 fine per incident.
The Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) was passed in 2002 in the wake of 9/11, but did not take into account the need for mariners to have reasonable access to shore leave. AMO has been working this issue with USCG since the mid 2000s, including direct intervention with at least four Commandants of the Coast Guard. AMO was successful in amending the MTSA in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 to include guarantees of timely mariner access at no cost to the mariner. Unfortunately, terminal operators successfully held up the rule making process for nine years.
Members with mariner access issues should continue to report them to the local Captain of the Port and AMO National Vice President, Government Relations, Christian Spain or Mike Murphy in AMO's Washington D.C. office.
Comments previously submitted for the record by AMO are available online on the AMO Currents website.
The final rule can be read in the Federal Register here.
U.S. Coast Guard final rule provides timely, no cost shore access for seafarers
The United States Coast Guard has issued its final rule on Seafarers' Access to Maritime Facilities, which now requires the operators to provide "timely" access to shore leave at no cost to the seafarers.
The rule, issued April 1, makes changes to Rule 33 CFR, part 105, and takes effect May 1. Owners and operators of facilities have been given 14 months to create and finalize a facility security plan to accommodate the new rule, which also includes access for representatives of seamen's welfare and labor organizations between vessels moored at the facility and the facility gate. The mariner access plans will be approved by the Captain of the Port at each facility.
Implementation is required by June 1, 2020.
Facilities who violate the rule will be subject to a $25,000 fine per incident.
The Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) was passed in 2002 in the wake of 9/11, but did not take into account the need for mariners to have reasonable access to shore leave. AMO has been working this issue with USCG since the mid 2000s, including direct intervention with at least four Commandants of the Coast Guard. AMO was successful in amending the MTSA in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 to include guarantees of timely mariner access at no cost to the mariner. Unfortunately, terminal operators successfully held up the rule making process for nine years.
Members with mariner access issues should continue to report them to the local Captain of the Port and AMO National Vice President, Government Relations, Christian Spain or Mike Murphy in AMO's Washington D.C. office.
Comments previously submitted for the record by AMO are available online on the AMO Currents website.
The final rule can be read in the Federal Register here.