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:
Additional Technical Information:
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
Last Reviewed/Updated: 7/11/2016