USCG: updated worksite exceptions and workboat designation

The US Coast Guard Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has issued updated guidelines for the designation of workboats and worksite exceptions under Subchapter M regulations.

This document was published on 23 January 2024.

The purpose of this Work Instruction (WI) is to provide guidance for Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) and Marine Inspectors (MI) when reviewing applications for a worksite exception (WSE) to Subchapter M towing vessel regulations under a workboat operating status within a worksite.

The updated content in the document outlines the following:

District Prevention Staff (dp), Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMIs), and Marine Inspectors (MIs) shall reference this guidance when determining worksite exception zones and designating vessels as workboats that will operate in the designated WSE. All local policies concerning WSE and workboats shall align with this guidance. When conflicts between reference (c) and this Work Instruction are identified, this work instruction shall take precedence until reference (c) is updated accordingly.

This revision clarifies the roles and responsibilities of District Prevention Staff, OCMIs, and MIs in the context of worksite exception zones and workboat designations. It emphasizes the need for local policies to be in alignment with the provided guidance and specifies that, in case of conflicts with reference (c) (Marine Safety Manual (MSM), Volume III, COMDTINST M16000.7B, Ch. 7 B.2), this Work Instruction takes precedence until reference (c) is updated.