OMSA

Congress mulls Jones Act changes that could affect offshore energy operations

Congress is considering changes in federal law that could affect how the Jones Act is applied to vessels working in the offshore oil and gas and offshore wind industries.

At issue are provisions in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2019 that passed the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on June 26.

The Jones Act restricts domestic maritime commerce — including that occurring beyond the U.S. territorial limits offshore —  to qualified U.S.-flag vessels that are built, owned and...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/congress-mulls-jones-act-changes-that-could-affect-offshore-energy-operations/

New rules coming for OSV use in disaster recovery

The Hornbeck OSV Red Dawn. With their big cargo decks and massive tank capacity, OSVs can be suitable for disaster recovery operations, industry advocates say. Easter Shipbuilding photo

The Coast Guard’s advisory panel on offshore safety has completed recommendations for how offshore supply vessels, crewboats and other vessels in the energy industry can be safely put to work assisting in disaster relief.

Those proposed steps include creating a new ‘response, restoration, and recovery vessel’ Certificate of Inspection (COI) endorsement. The so-called “Triple R Vessel” or TRV endorsement would allow operators to get preapproval of vessels that would be available to assist after...

https://www.workboat.com/news/offshore/new-rules-coming-for-osv-use-in-disaster-recovery/

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