# USCG Considers 2-Level Approach To Ship Inspections

**URL:** <https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-considers-2-level-approach-to-ship-inspections/6778>\
**Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\
**Created:** [January 19, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-considers-2-level-approach-to-ship-inspections/6778 "2012-01-19T15:12:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![john](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/john/32/5_2.png) [@john](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/john)\
**Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/uscg-considers-2-level-approach-to-ship-inspections/6778/1 "2012-01-19T15:12:13Z")

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The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a draft of a document which it calls a “Navigation and Inspection Circular,” or NVIC, under which it spells out the procedures it proposes to follow when inspecting a vessel that seeks entry into the Maritime Security Program. The Maritime Security Program establishes a fleet of commercially viable and militarily useful vessels that could help meet national defense and other security requirements. That program was authorized by the [I]Maritime Security Act of 1996[/I].  
In its draft NVIC, the Coast Guard outlines an inspection process for examining two different types of vessels: (1) foreign flag vessels that are transitioning to be U.S.-flag vessels and are trying to obtain their initial certification under the Maritime Security Program, (2) U.S.-flag vessels that have already obtained their MSP certification. The draft NVIC envisions a two-level approach to these inspections.  
“This two-level approach would enable the Coast Guard to apply traditional inspection methods to newly reflagged vessels, while at the same time a less stringent level of oversight to vessels that have consistently demonstrated satisfactory performance and substantial compliance with applicable rules,” explains a [notice](http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-01-19/html/2012-1004.htm) posted by the Coast Guard in the [I]Federal Register[/I] on Jan. 19.  
Members of the public are invited to review the draft NVIC and make comments about it by March 19 by visiting [www.regulations.gov](http://www.regulations.gov/) and citing docket number USCG-2011-1156.  
Further information is available from John Hannon, of the Coast Guard’s domestic vessels division, at 202-372-1222 or [John.J.Hannon@uscg.mil](mailto:John.J.Hannon@uscg.mil).