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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 167 / Wednesday, September 1, 2021 / Proposed Rules
endorsements as master of towing vessels limited and mate pilot of towing vessels on inland waters or Western Rivers routes. The modified basic firefighting training required by 11.201h3 would have to be approved by the Coast Guard, and training required for MMC
endorsements would be approved in accordance with the requirements of 10.402 and 10.403. This proposed change would provide an opportunity for course providers to develop a Coast Guard-approved modified basic firefighting course for applicants for national MMC endorsements as master of towing vessels limited and mate pilot of towing vessels on inland waters or Western Rivers routes.
This proposed rule would result in a one-time cost to course providers for developing and submitting requests for approval of a modified basic firefighting course, and a one-time cost to the Coast Guard for reviewing and approving these courses. Under existing 10.402d and f, there would be ongoing costs to both the course providers and the Coast Guard every 5
years for requests for renewal of the course approval.12 Applicants who take modified basic firefighting courses would receive cost savings due to courses being shorter and less expensive than the longer basic firefighting courses.

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V. Discussion of Proposed Rule Proposed Amendments to 11.201h The Coast Guard proposes to amend 11.201h, which requires mariners seeking national officer endorsements to present a certificate of completion from a Coast Guard-approved firefighting course of instruction.
The Coast Guard proposes to amend paragraph h1 by adding language stating that the firefighting certificate of completion must be relevant to the endorsement being sought. The Coast Guard proposes this change to ensure that mariners would be required to provide evidence of completing the appropriate firefighting training for the endorsement they are applying for.
We also propose to make several changes to paragraph h3, which contains a list of national officer endorsements that require completion of basic firefighting training in accordance with Regulation VI/1 of the STCW
Convention and Table AVI/12 of the STCW Code. Currently, paragraph 12 Approved courses are valid for 5 years from the date of Coast Guard approval. Before the course approval expires, the course provider must seek a course approval renewal if they want to continue to offer the course.

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h3ii requires that all officer endorsements for master or mate pilot of towing vessels, except apprentice mate steersman of towing vessels, in all services except oceans must meet this requirement. We propose to revise paragraph h3ii to specify the requirements for officer endorsements for master or mate pilot of towing vessels, except apprentice mate steersman of towing vessels, for service on near-coastal waters. We are also proposing to add paragraphs h3iii and h3iv to list the specific waters covered by the phrase, in all services except oceans.
Proposed paragraph h3iii would specify the requirements for officer endorsements for master or mate pilot of towing vessels, except apprentice mate steersman of towing vessels, for service on the Great Lakes. Proposed paragraph h3iv would specify the requirements for officer endorsements for master or mate pilot of towing vessels, except apprentice mate steersman of towing vessels, for service on inland waters or Western Rivers.
Mariners seeking a national officer endorsement as master or mate pilot of towing vessels authorized for service on near-coastal waters or on the Great Lakes would still need to complete the basic firefighting training referenced in paragraph h3. A modified basic firefighting course is not appropriate for mariners operating on towing vessels on near-coastal waters or on the Great Lakes for two reasons: 1 Near-coastal waters and Great Lakes towing vessels may carry the equipment omitted from a modified towing vessel firefighting course, and 2 near-coastal waters and Great Lakes towing vessels operate farther from the shore, where firefighting assistance is not readily available as it is on inland waters or Western Rivers.
Proposed paragraph h3ivA
would provide a mariner the option of completing a modified basic firefighting course for a national officer endorsement as master or mate pilot of towing vessels on inland waters or Western Rivers. The course would be a Coast Guard-approved modified basic firefighting course that would not include training on equipment that is not required to be carried aboard towing vessels for service on inland waters or Western Rivers. When approving modified courses, the Coast Guard intends to consider the requirements of 46 CFR subchapter M, parts 140 and 142, in determining the training to achieve proficiency in firefighting consistent with the equipment available onboard towing vessels on inland
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waters or Western Rivers. The Coast Guard anticipates this modified basic firefighting course would have a total of about 12 hours of classroom and practical training instead of a total of 16
hours for the basic firefighting course.
The Coast Guard is interested in public input regarding whether 12 hours of classroom and practical training is adequate for the course and what subject matters could be omitted from the basic firefighting course.
Currently, national officer endorsements for towing vessels serving on the Great Lakes and inland waters are issued as one route. In proposed paragraph h3ivA, language would be added to allow separation of these routes so that a mariner who completes a modified basic firefighting course could be issued an endorsement restricted to inland waters or Western Rivers.
The Coast Guard proposes paragraph h3ivB to specify that a mariner who qualifies for an endorsement by completing a modified basic firefighting course would be required to complete the basic firefighting course required in paragraph h3 for an increase in scope 13 of the endorsement to add a Great Lakes or near-coastal waters route.
For an increase in scope to add oceans routes, a mariner would need to complete both the basic firefighting course required in paragraph h3 and the advanced firefighting course required in paragraph h2.
Other Proposed Changes The proposed rule would revise the authority citation in 46 CFR part 11 by deleting a reference to 46 U.S.C. 503
and inserting a reference to 46 U.S.C.
1023, which grants the Coast Guard broad authority to promulgate and enforce regulations for the promotion of safety of life and property on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, including establishing the experience and professional qualifications required for the issuance of credentials.
Lastly, we would revise 11.201l to allow the Coast Guard to modify training in addition to the service or examination requirements for an endorsement. The proposed change is needed in order to allow for the option of the modified basic firefighting course for a national officer endorsement as master or mate pilot of towing vessels on inland waters or Western Rivers routes.
13 Increase in scope means additional authority added to an existing credential, such as adding a new route or increasing the authorized horsepower or tonnage. 46 CFR 10.107.

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