- Mission [1]
- The National Offshore Safety Advisory Committee (NOSAC) works in support of and in harmony with the Coast Guard Business Plan,
and the Coast Guard's goal of promoting safety and security in the offshore industry. Specifically, supporting the goal of
Homeland Security, NOSAC has offered recommendations on the implementation of the Coast Guard's regulations on Vessel and
Offshore Facilities Security.The following specific information on subcommittee actions is provided to assist with the DHS
current review. Subcommittee and Committee recommendations which have had significant impact on results are the recently signed
CG policy letter August 20th, 2009, in which the CG used ~ 80% of their recommendations.Back in 2005, the CG utilized ~ 80%
of the NOSAC liftboat I, II and III subcommittees recommendations in accepting certified training courses and awards for recognizing
sea service time when mariners meet stated objectives for training requirements.DIVING SUBCOMMITTEE 46 CFR 197 SUB PART B,
submitted comments regarding proposed regulations; which will be considered when this regulation project moves forward.CERTIFICATION
AND STANDARDS FOR LARGE OSV's subcommittee has submitted recommendations to the Coast Guard. It is anticipated a statuatory
change will be made that allows for a new definition of OSV's that is consistent with the position taken by NOSAC and this
subcommittee. Once allowed by this statuatory change, the CG will be in the position to update our regulations and take NOSAC
input into consideration for the updated Subchapter L rulemaking. SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCS FOREIGN EMPLOYMENT has prepared a document
for the November 2009 meeting that recommends slight changes to a current NVIC 7-84, ch. 1, which the CG will fully consider
after NOSAC committee has formally accepted their position and forwarded to the Coast Guard.REMOTE OCS MEDICAL TREATMENT Subcommittee
is expected to provide recommendations to the Coast Guard at the November 2009 meeting. This is not expected to result in
CG action but suggest how industry will ensure best practise methods are in place and employed during medical assist casualties.
NOSAC Recommendations FY 2010This year NOSAC submitted 7 recommendations to the USCG. A wide range of topics were covered.The
Fiscal years activity started in a flurry of activity with NOSAC submitting 3 reports at the November 5th, 2009 meeting. Two
were from completed tasks, and the 3rd recommendation did not have a task statement associated with it. The two tasks completed
with associated recommendations were for Evacuation and Medical Treatment of Injured Workers from OCS Facilities and the Use
of Foreign Citizens Engaged in OCS Activities. The 3rd report submitted dealt with the Status of Economic Analysis Working
Group, Subchapter N.At the December 9th, 2009 teleconference meeting, NOSAC provided their recommendations on MARPOL Annex
II, Implementation & IMO Resolution A.673 for Existing OSVs. The Coast Guard has already acted upon this and has used
many of these recommendations in our recently released policy letter which covers both new and existing OSV’s and MARPOL II
carriage requirements.At the July 1, 2010 teleconference meeting, NOSAC submitted their report w/ recommendations for Dynamic
Positioning (DP) Systems. This will be immediately acted upon w/ inclusions into the Coast Guards proposed Subchapter N regulation
update.At the upcoming September 29th, 2010, teleconference meeting, NOSAC S/C’s have provided 2 additional reports which
close out 2 task statements; the first is NOSAC S/C on the review of IMO Documents and Codes Concerning Offshore Supply Vessels
and the 2nd is a final recommendation regarding ballast water discharge standard implications.FY2011 had 4 reports submitted
to the Coast Guard. The Dynamic Positioning S/C submitted additional information from their initial submission in July 2010,
after having additional time to review and complete their findings. This S/C was given a very short time line for their initial
work load due to the movement of the regulatory project it was going to be used in. The Marine Portable Quarters S/C completed
its work and provided a final report at the Spring meeting in 2011. This workgroup was productive over the course of a year
and met approx. 7 times. Numerous CG reps attended the meetings telephonically and provided subject matter expertise on topics
such as tonnage, stability, structures and design of the quarters to ensure the S/C could gain access to information as they
formulated their decisions. The Large OSV S/C for vessels greater than 6000 grosss ton International tonnage convention, reviewed
a previous report with recommendations they had completed in 2008 and provided some updated information in their final report,
provided to the Coast Guard at the spring 2011 meeting. And lastly, the Treatment and Evacuation of injured divers S/C provided
an interim report to the USCG at the spring meeting in 2011. Work is ongoing with industry technology advances still ongoing
and not readily available yet in all areas.
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