Washington, DC
The online US Coast Guard Directives (CGDS) contains ALL unclassified and non-for-official-use-only
(non-FOUO) Coast Guard Instructions, Manuals, and Notices, provided in real-time. The files are in Portable
Document Format (PDF), and can be accessed using Adobe Acrobat Reader software version 6.0 or higher.
For your convenience, links to the Adobe Acrobat Reader are available from the "Download Plugins" link at
the bottom of the page. Adobe Acrobat Reader software will allow you to view, search, and print the
documents.
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) guidelines for the implementation of
The Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) require federal agencies to
allow individuals or entities the option of transacting business electronically
when practicable. The act specifically states that electronic records and their
related signatures are not to be denied legal effect, validity, or enforceability merely
because they are in electronic form. Adobe Acrobat meets GPEA requirements. Special
attention is directed in an attempt to make all documents compliant with Section 508 of the
Rehabilitation Act of 1973, http://www.section508.gov.