Security Levels
Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG-ENG)
Formerly (CG-521), (CG-3PSE), and (G-MSE)
Mission:
The Office of Design and Engineering Standards is responsible for developing and promulgating national regulations and standards that govern the safe design and construction of ships and shipboard equipment, including hull structure, stability, electrical & mechanical systems, lifesaving & fire safety equipment, and related equipment approval and laboratory acceptance. Additionally, it establishes policy, provides technical clarifications, and resolves any appeals. Furthermore, it represents the United States on several committees and sub-committees at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and is actively engaged with various standards committees (e.g., ASTM, IEEE, NFPC, etc) as well as classification society rules committees (e.g., ABS, LR, DNV, etc.).
Divisions:
The office is divided into five technical divisions:
- Human Element and Ship Design Division (CG-ENG-1) focuses on the human factors and risk management aspects of marine design and operations, including specialized programs in novel ship design, crew endurance management, Prevention Through People, and functions as the administrator of the Alternate Compliance Program.
- Naval Architecture Division (CG-ENG-2) is responsible for policy and standards development in the traditional areas of stability, structures, and load lines and also functions as the administrator of the Ship Structure Committee and of updates to the Assumed Average Weight Per Person (AAWPP).
- Systems Engineering Division (CG-ENG-3) is responsible for policy and standards development in the traditional areas of marine electrical and mechanical systems, including related equipment approvals and laboratory acceptance.
- Lifesaving and Fire Safety Standards Division (CG-ENG-4) is responsible for lifesaving and fire safety standards and regulations, including related equipment approvals and laboratory acceptance.
- Hazardous Materials Division (CG-ENG-5) is responsible for policy and standards development related to transportation, storage, and handling of hazardous materials in the marine environment, including vapor control systems and packaged hazardous materials & solid hazardous materials in bulk.
Policy Documents:
- Lifesaving and Fire-fighting on the
U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. The Coast Guard published a Federal Register
Notice of
recommended interim voluntary guidance with request for comments on Lifesaving and
Fire-fighting Equipment, Training and Drills Onboard Offshore Facilities and
Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODUs) Operating on the U.S. Outer
Continental Shelf ((77 FR 70172), published
23 November 2012). The comment period for this notice ends on February
21, 2013, please see the notice for more information.
- Electrical Equipment Certification
Guidance for MODUs. The Coast Guard published a Federal Register
Notice of
policy on Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) Electrical Equipment Certification
Guidance ((77 FR 71607),
published 03 December 2012) regarding electrical equipment installed in hazardous areas on
foreign-flagged MODUs that have never operated, but intend to operate, on
the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
- Implementation Date for Carbon
Dioxide System Lock-Out Valve and Odorizer Requirements. Coast Guard
CG-ENG Policy
Letter No. 05-12 (7 September 2012) clarifies the application of the new
requirements for lock-out valves and odorizing units contained in the final
rule "Carbon Dioxide Fire Suppression Systems on Commercial Vessels" ((77
FR 33860) published 7 June 2012).
- Equivalency Determination—Design Criteria for Natural Gas Fuel Systems. Coast Guard
CG-521 Policy Letter No. 01-12 (19 April 2012) establishes design criteria for natural gas fuel systems that provide a level of safety that is at least equivalent to that provided for traditional fuel systems by existing regulations. International standards for the design of natural gas-fueled ships are currently being developed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In June of 2009, the IMO published interim guidelines on safety for natural gas-fuelled engine installations in ships in
Resolution MSC.285(86).
- Dynamic Positioning (DP) Guidance for non-MODUs. In May 2012, the Coast Guard published a Federal Register Notice of Recommended Interim Voluntary Guidance for MODU operators on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
The Coast Guard published a companion Federal Register Notice of Recommended Interim Voluntary Dynamic Positioning Guidance for Vessels other than MODUs
((77 FR
62247), published 12 October 2012) for non-MODU vessels operating on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
- Dynamic Positioning (DP) Guidance
for MODUS. In December 2011, the Coast Guard published a draft
policy letter on Dynamic Positioning (DP) Systems, Emergency Disconnect
Systems, Blowout Preventers, and related training and emergency procedures
on a Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit, and requested public comment. Numerous
comments were received, both as submissions to the docket and at a public
meeting. Upon review of the comments, the Coast Guard published a follow-on
Federal Register Notice of Recommended Interim Voluntary Guidance ((77
FR 26562), published 4 May 2012) for MODU operators on the U.S. Outer
Continental Shelf.
- Acceptance of the 2009 MODU Code. For purposes of foreign MODU compliance with U.S. coastal state regulations, Coast Guard
CG-ENG Policy Letter No. 02-12 (7 May 2012) establishes that the design and equipment standards of the 2009 MODU Code are considered to be at least as effective as the design and equipment standards of the 1979 and 1989 MODU Codes. A foreign MODU in compliance with the design and equipment standards of the 2009 MODU Code may be accepted under 33 CFR 143.207(c).
- Transportation of Hazardous & Noxious Liquid Substances on OSVs. Coast Guard
CG-ENG Policy Letter No. 03-12 (15 May 2012) revises some previous guidance provisions of CG-522 Policy Letter 09-01 Rev. 1 (5 Apr 2010) pertaining to IMO Resolution A.673 (16),
"Guidelines for the Transport and Handling of Limited Amounts of Hazardous and Noxious Liquid Substances in bulk on Offshore Supply Vessels." This policy letter implements Resolution A.673 (16) and provides the United States’ interpretations for the design, construction, and operation of new and existing U.S. flagged Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs). The policy letter is intended to guide voluntary compliance until such time as the new international standards are incorporated in the applicable U.S. regulations.
- Alternate Pressure Relief Valve Settings on Certain Vessels Carrying Bulk Liquefied Gases. Coast Guard
CG-ENG Policy Letter No. 04-12 (8 Aug 2012) provides policy regarding alternate maximum allowable relief valve (MARV) settings for ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk in independent Type B and Type C tanks.
Contact the Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG-ENG):
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters (CG-ENG)
2100 Second Street, SW -- Mail stop 7126
Washington, DC 20593-7126
202-372-1353