March 21, 2023

Policy Letter: Design Basis Agreement Submission Guidance

The Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG-ENG) has issued Policy Letter 01-23, Design Basis Agreement Submission Guidance. The policy letter serves to provide additional guidance for entities interested in submitting vessel design equivalency requests to the Coast Guard for review and consideration.

March 10, 2023

Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG-ENG) creates centralized email address

The Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG-ENG) has created a centralized email address, CGENG@uscg.mil, which acts as a “switchboard,” and forwards any inquiries or requests to the appropriate CG-ENG member(s) or division(s).

Feb. 9, 2023

Summary of the 9th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC 9)

The International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC) held its ninth session in-person and remotely from IMO headquarters in London, United Kingdom, from January 23 to 27, 2023. 

Nov. 17, 2022

MSIB 06-22: FM-200 fire extinguishing agent phasedown

​The Coast Guard Office of Design and Engineering Standards has released MSIB 06-22 to inform Coast Guard Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) and the maritime industry that FM-200 (also known as HFC-227ea or heptafluoropropane), a fire extinguishing agent, is being phased down in production as part of the recent Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule1 to reduce the production of greenhouse gases leading to global warming. FM-200 is used in fire extinguishing systems for machinery spaces and cargo spaces on uninspected vessels, commercial vessels, and public vessels. This rule does not prohibit the use of FM-200 to extinguish fire and vessel operators should not hesitate to use their existing fire extinguishing systems in case of a fire.

Sept. 26, 2022

Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Chapter 4 Entering in to Force November 1, 2022

​The International Maritime Organization adopted an initial strategy on the reduction of GHG emissions from ships in 2018.  This initial strategy is the first milestone set out in the IMO Roadmap for developing a comprehensive strategy for the reduction of GHG emissions from ships.  Consistent with this initial strategy, IMO adopted Chapter 4 of MARPOL Annex VI.  Important amendments to Chapter 4 of MARPOL Annex VI, concerning energy efficiency of existing ships and carbon intensity of international shipping, were most recently adopted and will enter into force on November 1st, 2022.   These amendments focus on goal-based (also known as “performance-based”) technical and operational measures to reduce the operational carbon intensity of certain international shipping vessels.   The full text of MARPOL Annex VI, Chapter 4, can be found in Resolution MEPC.328(76), which can be found at https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/OurWork/Environment/Documents/Air%20pollution/MEPC.328(76).pdf.