The nation’s towing industry will need to wait even longer to learn the U.S. Coast Guard’s plan for mandatory towing vessel inspections.
The Coast Guard said it was not able to announce the proposed rule in time to meet the congressionally imposed deadline in late January. The Coast Guard Authorization signed by President Obama in October 2010 had required the Coast Guard to release the proposed regulations to the public in 90 days.
“The Department of Homeland Security and the Coast Guard have worked diligently to meet the deadline for issuance of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the inspection of towing vessels as
specified in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010,†the Coast Guard said in a statement to Professional Mariner.
“Despite our combined efforts on this comprehensive proposed rule, the NPRM will not be issued in time to meet the deadline. This NPRM continues to be a top priority for both DHS and the Coast Guard.â€
No updated deadline or timetable was announced.
Dom Yanchunas
