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06 Aug 2019 / United States

Seafarers’ Access to Maritime Facilities

The Coast Guard issued a final rule on April 1, 2019, “Seafarers Access to Maritime Facilities” requiring owners or operators of a maritime facility regulated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) to implement a system providing seafarers, pilots, and representatives of seamen’s welfare and labor organizations access between vessels moored at the facility and the facility gate, in a timely manner and at no cost to the seafarer or other individuals...

…These access procedures located in 33 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 105.237, System for seafarers’ access, must be documented in the Facility Security Plan (FSP) for each facility and approved by the local Coast Guard Captain of the Port. Approximately 2,500 facilities nationwide are affected by this requirement.

Most MTSA-regulated facility owners or operators are already in compliance with these requirements. However, the Coast Guard is aware that some facility owners or operators will need to amend or update their FSPs. Each Captain of the Port will review any submitted amendments to ensure they are in compliance...

Important dates associated with the regulation:
- May 1, 2019 - Seafarers’ Access to Maritime Facilities regulation became effective;
- February 3, 2020 - The system of access must be documented in the FSP;
- June 1, 2020 - The facility owner or operator must implement their system of access.

More information on the Seafarers’ Access Final Rule may be found at: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/04/01/2019-06272/seafarers-access-to-maritime-facilities

(For information about operations in North America contact GAC North America at [email protected])

Source: U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Information Bulletin MSIB Number: 06-19

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.

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