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, 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.

Recent Notices:

(NEW!) Clarification and Guidance for Implementation of Marine VCS. The Coast Guard announces the release of CG-ENG Policy Letter 02-16 to provide guidance on the implementation and interpretation of the final rule for the design and operation of new and existing marine vapor control systems (VCS) designed and installed in accordance with 33 CFR Part 154, subpart P. Specifically, the policy letter interprets requirements for line size expansions and liquid seal/anti-flashback burner compliance.
(NEW!) IMO Approves Interim Guidelines on Maritime Cyber Risk Management. At the 96th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 96), the International Maritime Organization approved the Interim Guidelines on Maritime Cyber Risk Management, which have been published as circular MSC.1/Circ. 1526. The intent is to review and implement the Guidelines and identify areas for improvement to be brought to the attention of MSC 97 (November 2016). You can submit your feedback to the Coast Guard via email to Kevin.X.Kuhn@uscg.mil or call 202-372-1372.
(NEW!) Portable Accommodation Module (PAM) Guidance. The Coast Guard announces the release of CG-ENG Policy Letter 01-16 to provide consolidated guidance for the design, plan review, installation, inspection, and documentation of PAMs built for and/or installed on inspected vessels or facilities.
Design Basis for Offshore Supply Vessels (OSVs). The Office of Design and Engineering Standards has delegated responsibility to the Marine Safety Center (CG-MSC) for reviewing and approving design basis requests for certain OSVs. From now on, OSVs less than 6,000 GT ITC (500 GRT) carrying more than 36 offshore workers, and OSVs of at least 6,000 GT ITC (500 GRT) with keels laid or contracted before August 18, 2014 may submit design basis letters to CG-MSC for approval. This transfer of authority will significantly increase the efficiency with which the Coast Guard reviews design basis requests and will ultimately improve the design review process for the maritime industry. For more information, please view the Interim Rule published in the Federal Register (79 FR 48894).
Acceptance of Sewage Treatment Plants for Type Approval to International Maritime Organization Resolution MEPC.227(64). The Coast Guard announces its acceptance of sewage treatment plants, also referred to as marine sanitation devices, for type-approval to International Maritime Organization resolution MEPC.227(64) as meeting the requirements for marine sanitation devices. This action will allow manufacturers, as well as shipowners and operators, the option to take advantage of building and using equipment that meets both domestic and international requirements while also benefitting the environment. The Coast Guard was also seeking information on simple onboard checks to verify performance of sewage treatment plants. For more information, please view the Federal Register notice (80 FR 62552).
Acceptance of CAP 437, Standards for Offshore Helicopter Landing Areas. The Coast Guard announces the availability of CG-ENG Policy Letter 03-15 which authorizes U.S.-flagged MODUs, floating OCS facilities, and vessels to utilize CAP 437 in lieu of the helicopter facilities standards in 46 CFR Part 108.
Design Standards for U.S. Barges Intending to Carry Liquefied Natural Gas in Bulk. The Coast Guard recently released CG-ENG Policy Letter 02-15 to provide interim guidance for the design standards for barges carrying liquefied natural gas in bulk.
Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Locations. On March 31, 2015, the Coast Guard published a final rule (80 FR 16980) applicable to mobile offshore drilling units, floating outer continental shelf (OCS) facilities, and vessels, other than offshore supply vessels regulated under 46 CFR Subchapter L, constructed after April 2, 2018 that engage in OCS activities. The regulations expand the list of acceptable national and international explosion protection standards and add the internationally accepted independent third-party certification system, the International Electrotechnical Commission System for Certification to Standards relating to Equipment for use in Explosive Atmospheres (IECEx), as an accepted method of testing and certifying electrical equipment intended for use in hazardous locations.
Interim Guidance for Regulated Facilities for the Review and Approval of Mobile Vapor Control Systems. The Coast Guard recently released CG-ENG Policy Letter No. 01-15 to provide interim guidance to Coast Guard Captains of the Port (COTPs) to assist in the assessment of equivalency requests from regulated facilities to use mobile or portable vapor control systems (VCSs) in lieu of fixed VCSs.

CG-ENG Policy Letters:

01-12 Equivalency Determination- Design Criteria for Natural Gas Fuel Systems
02-12 Acceptance of the 2009 MODU Code
03-12 Implementation of IMO Resolution A.673(16), Guidelines for the Transport and Handling of Limited Amounts of Hazardous and Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk on Offshore Support Vessels, For New and Existing U.S. Offshore Supply Vessels
04-12 Alternate Relief Valve Settings on Vessels Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk in Independent Type B and Type C Tanks
05-12 Implementation of Additional Personnel Safety Requirements for Carbon Dioxide Fire Suppression Systems
01-13 Alternate Design and Equipment Standard for Floating Offshore Installations (FOI) and Floating Productions, Storage, and Offloading (FPSO) Units on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf
01-14 Lifeboat Release Mechanisms: Policy on Implementing of New SOLAS Regulation III/1.5 and IMO Circular MSC.1/CIRC.1392
02-14 Approval of Equivalencies to the Requirements for Odorizing Units on Fixed Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishing Systems
01-15 Interim Guidance for Regulated Facilities for the Review and Approval of Mobile Vapor Control Systems
02-15 Design Standards for U.S. Barges Intending to Carry Liquefied Natural Gas in Bulk
03-15 Acceptance of CAP 437, Standards for Offshore Helicopter Landing Areas
01-16 Portable Accommodation Module (PAM) Guidance
02-16 Clarification and Guidance for Implementation of Marine Vapor Control Systems (VCS); Exemption and Certification, Detonation Arrestors, and Anti-Flashback Burners

Past Notices:

Update 1

Update 2

Additional Technical Information:

IMO Resolution MSC.285(86), "Interim Guidelines on Safety for Natural Gas-Fuelled Engine Installations in Ships"
Cruise Ship National Center of Expertise
Liquefied Gas Carrier National Center of Expertise
Outer Continental Shelf National Center of Expertise
CG Inspectors needing industry standards: Contact LT Annie Besser

Contact the Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG-ENG):

Office of Design & Engineering Standards (CG-ENG)
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters
2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE STOP 7509
Washington, D.C. 20593-7509

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Last Reviewed/Updated: 7/11/2016