The provisions of this subpart apply only to manned OCS facilities except mobile offshore drilling units.

For the purpose of this subpart:

Arrives on the OCS means when a floating facility enters any OCS block area for the purpose of engaging in operations subject to the jurisdiction of the OCS Lands Act.

OCS block area means the names given by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, (BOEM) to define the OCS areas used to facilitate management or leasing on the OCS.

U.S., as used in the term, “U.S. floating facility,” means a “floating facility,” that is registered, documented, or certificated under the laws of the United States or that is not registered, documented, or certificated under the laws of the United States or any other nation.

(a) General. At least 96 hours before a U.S. floating facility arrives on the OCS from a foreign port or place or from a different OCS block area, excluding those U.S. floating facilities arriving directly from a U.S. port or place, to engage in OCS activities, the owner or operator of the floating facility, except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, must submit the following information to the National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC):

(1) The location, latitude and longitude, of the floating facility at the time the notice of arrival (NOA) is reported;

(2) The area designation, block number or lease number, assigned under 30 CFR 250.154 for identification, where the owner or operator of the floating facility plans to perform OCS activities;

(3) The floating facility's name, if any;

(4) The date when OCS operations of the floating facility are expected to begin and end;

(5) Names of the last two ports or places visited and the associated dates of arrival and departure;

(6) The following information for each individual onboard:

(i) Full name;

(ii) Date of birth;

(iii) Nationality;

(iv) Passport number or marine documentation number (type of identification and number);

(v) Position or duties on the floating facility; and

(vi) Name of the port, or place, and country where the individual embarked.

(b) Methods of submission. The notice must be submitted to the NVMC by electronic Notice of Arrival and Departure format using methods specified in the NVMC's Web site at http://www.nvmc.uscg.gov/.

(c) Updates to a submitted NOA. Unless otherwise specified in this section, whenever the most recently submitted NOA information becomes inaccurate, the owner or operator of a U.S. floating facility must revise and re-submit the NOA within the times required in paragraph (e) of this section. An owner or operator does not need to revise or re-submit an NOA for the following:

(1) A change in submitted arrival time that is less than 6 hours;

(2) Changes in the location, latitude and longitude, of the floating facility from the location at the time the NOA was reported; or

(3) Changes to personnel positions or duties on the floating facility.

(d) Required reporting time of an initial NOA. The owner or operator of a U.S. floating facility subject to this section must submit an initial NOA:

(1) If the voyage time is more than 96 hours, owners or operators of a floating facility must submit an initial NOA at least 96 hours before the U.S. floating facility arrives at the OCS location where the owner or operator plans to perform OCS activities; or

(2) If the voyage time is less than 96 hours, owners and operators of a floating facility must submit an initial NOA at least 24 hours before the U.S. floating facility arrives at the OCS location where the owner or operator plans to perform OCS activities.

(e) Required reporting time of an update to an NOA. The owner or operator of each floating facility subject to this section must submit an NOA update:

(1) If the most recently submitted NOA, or NOA update, differs by 24 hours or more from the current estimated time of arrival, the owner or operator of the floating facility must provide an updated NOA as soon as practicable but at least 24 hours before the U.S. floating facility arrives at the OCS location where the owner or operator plans to perform OCS activities; or

(2) If the most recently submitted NOA, or NOA update, differs by less than 24 hours from the current estimated time of arrival, the owner or operator of the floating facility must provide an update as soon as practicable but at least 12 hours before the U.S. floating facility arrives at the OCS location where the owner or operator plans to perform OCS activities.

(f) Towing vessels. When a towing vessel controls a U.S. floating facility required to submit an NOA under this subpart, the owner or operator of the towing vessel, or lead towing vessel if there is more than one, is responsible for submitting only one NOA containing the NOA information items required for the towing vessels, under § 146.405, and the U.S. floating facility under paragraph (a) of this section.

(g) This section does not apply to U.S. floating facilities merely transiting the waters superjacent to the OCS and not engaged in OCS activities.

(a) General. At least 96 hours before a foreign floating facility arrives on the OCS from a foreign port or place or from a different OCS block area to engage in OCS activities, the owner or operator of the floating facility, except as provided in paragraph (f) of this section, must submit the following information to the National Vessel Movement Center (NVMC):

(1) The location, latitude and longitude, of the foreign floating facility at the time the NOA is reported;

(2) The area designation, block number or lease number, assigned under 30 CFR 250.154 for identification, where the owner or operator of the foreign floating facility plans to perform OCS activities;

(3) The foreign floating facility's name, if any;

(4) The date when OCS operations of the foreign floating facility are expected to begin and end;

(5) Names of the last two ports or places visited and the associated dates of arrival and departure;

(6) The following information for each individual onboard:

(i) Full name;

(ii) Date of birth;

(iii) Nationality;

(iv) Passport number or marine documentation number (type of identification and number);

(v) Position or duties on the foreign floating facility; and

(vi) Name of the port, or place, and country where the individual embarked.

(7) The date of issuance of the foreign floating facility's International Safety Management certificate (ISM), if any, and Document of Compliance certificate and the name of the flag administration, or its recognized representative, that issued those certificates; and

(8) The date of issuance of the foreign floating facility's International Ship Security certificate (ISSC), if any, and the name of the flag administration, or the recognized security organization representing the flag administration, that issued the ISSC.

(b) Methods of submission. The notice must be submitted to the National Vessel Movement Center by electronic Notice of Arrival and Departure format using methods specified at the NVMC's Web site at http://www.nvmc.uscg.gov/.

(c) Updates to a submitted NOA. Unless otherwise specified in this section, whenever the most recently submitted NOA information becomes inaccurate, the owner or operator of the foreign floating facility must revise and re-submit the NOA within the times required in paragraph (e) of this section. An owner or operator does not need to revise or re-submit an NOA for the following:

(1) A change in submitted arrival time that is less than 6 hours;

(2) Changes in the location, latitude and longitude, of the floating facility from the location at the time the NOA was reported; or

(3) Changes to personnel positions or duties on the foreign floating facility.

(d) Required reporting time of an initial NOA. The owner or operator of a foreign floating facility subject to this section must submit an initial NOA:

(1) If the voyage time is more than 96 hours, owners or operators of a foreign floating facility must submit an initial NOA at least 96 hours before the foreign floating facility arrives at the OCS location where the owner or operator plans to perform OCS activities; or

(2) If the voyage time is less than 96 hours, the owner or operator of a foreign floating facility must submit an initial NOA at least 24 hours before the foreign floating facility arrives at the OCS location where the owner or operator plans to perform OCS activities.

(e) Required reporting time of an update to an NOA. The owner or operator of a foreign floating facility subject to this section must submit an NOA update:

(1) If the most recently submitted NOA, or NOA update, differs by 24 hours or more from the current estimated time of arrival, the owner or operator of the foreign floating facility must provide an updated NOA as soon as practicable but at least 24 hours before the floating facility arrives at the OCS location where the owner or operator plans to perform OCS activities; or

(2) If the most recently submitted NOA, or NOA update, differs by less than 24 hours from the current estimated time of arrival, the owner or operator of the foreign floating facility must provide an updated NOA as soon as practicable but at least 12 hours before the floating facility arrives at the OCS location where owners or operators plan to perform OCS activities.

(f) Towing vessels. When a towing vessel controls a foreign floating facility required to submit an NOA under this subpart, the owner or operator of the towing vessel, or lead towing vessel if there is more than one, is responsible for submitting only one NOA containing the NOA information items required for towing vessels, under § 146.405, and the foreign floating facility under paragraph (a) of this section.

(g) This section does not apply to a foreign floating facility merely transiting the waters superjacent to the OCS and not engaged in OCS activities.

Each manned facility must have a general alarm system. When operated, this system shall be audible in all parts of the structure on which provided.

(a) The owner, the owner's agent, or the person in charge shall establish emergency signals to be used for calling the personnel to their emergency stations.

(b) The signal to man emergency stations shall be an intermittent signal on the general alarm system for not less than 10 seconds. The abandon facility signal shall be a continuous signal on the general alarm system.

(a) The owner, the owner's agent, or the person in charge shall assign to each person on a manned facility special duties and duty stations so that in event an emergency arises confusion will be minimized and no delay will occur with respect to the use or application of equipment required by this subchapter. The duties shall, as far as possible, be comparable with the regular work of the individual.

(b) The duties shall be assigned as necessary for the proper handling of any emergency, and shall include the following:

(1) The closing of air ports, watertight doors, scuppers, and sanitary and other discharges which lead through the facility's hull.

(2) The stopping of fans and ventilation systems.

(3) The donning of life preserves.

(4) The preparation and launching of life floats, lifeboats, or life rafts.

The owner, the owner's agent, or the person in charge shall assign a person to each life float, lifeboat, life raft, or survival capsule who shall be responsible for launching it in event of an emergency.

(a) Emergency drills shall be conducted at least once each month by the person in charge of the manned facility. The drill shall be conducted as if an actual emergency existed. All personnel should report to their respective stations and be prepared to perform the duties assigned to them.

(b) The person in charge and conducting the emergency drill shall instruct the personnel as necessary to insure that all persons are familiar with their duties and stations.

(c) Emergency evacuation drills. The following emergency evacuation drills must be conducted:

(1) At least once a year, all the elements of the Emergency Evacuation Plan (EEP) under § 146.140 relating to the evacuation of personnel from the facility must be exercised through a drill or a series of drills. The drill(s) must exercise all of the means and procedures listed in the EEP for each circumstance and condition described in the EEP under § 146.140(d)(9).

(2) At least once a month, a drill must be conducted that demonstrates the ability of the facility's personnel to perform their duties and functions on the facility, as those duties and functions are described in the EEP. If a standby vessel is designated for that facility in the EEP, the vessel must be positioned as described in the EEP for an evacuation of that facility and the vessel's crew must demonstrate its ability to perform its duties and functions under the EEP.

(d) The date and time of such drills shall be reported in writing by the person in charge at the time of the drill to the owner who shall maintain this report record for a year and furnish it upon request to the Coast Guard. After one year, such records may be destroyed. When it is impossible to conduct emergency drills as required by this section during a particular calendar month, during the following month, a written report by the owner shall be submitted to the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, stating why the drills could not be conducted.

(a) The person in charge of each manned platform shall be responsible for and have prepared a station bill (muster list). This station bill must be signed by the person in charge. Copies shall be duly posted in conspicuous locations on the manned platform.

(b) The station bill shall set forth the special duties and duty stations of each member of the personnel for any emergency which involves the use or application of equipment required by this subchapter. In addition, it shall contain all other duties assigned and considered as necessary for the proper handling of other emergencies.

(c) The station bill shall contain the various signals to be used for calling the personnel to their emergency stations, and to abandon the facility.

(a) Markings shall be provided as considered necessary for the guidance of persons on manned facilities.

(b) The general alarm bell switches shall be identified by red letters at least one inch high with a contrasting background: “General Alarm.”

(c) All general alarm bells shall be identified by a sign at each bell in red letters at least one inch high with a sharp contrasting background: “General Alarm—When Bell Rings Go to Your Station.

(d) All life floats, lifeboats, life rafts, and survival capsules, together with paddles or oars, shall be conspicuously marked with a name or number of, or other inscription identifying, the facility on which placed. The number of persons allowed on each life float, lifeboat, or life raft shall be conspicuously marked thereon in letters and numbers 1 1/2 inches high. These numbers shall be placed on both sides of the life float, lifeboat, or life raft. Inflatable life rafts shall be marked in accordance with Subpart 160.051 of 46 Cspan Part 160 and no additional markings are required.

(e) All life preservers and ring life buoys shall be marked with the name or number of, or other inscription identifying, the facility on which placed except those which accompany mobile crews to unmanned platforms may be marked with the operator's name and field designation.

(a) The operator of each manned OCS facility shall develop an Emergency Evacuation Plan (EEP) for the facility which addresses all of the items listed in paragraph (d) of this section. The EEP may apply to more than one facility, if the facilities are located in the same general geographic location and within the same Coast Guard Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) zone; if each facility covered by the EEP is specifically identified in the EEP; and if the evacuation needs of each facility are accommodated. The EEP must be submitted to the OCMI having jurisdiction over the facility, 30 days before placing the facility in operation. The OCMI reviews the EEP to determine whether all items listed in paragraph (d) of this section are addressed for each facility included in the EEP. If the OCMI determines that all items in paragraph (d) of this section are addressed, the OCMI stamps the EEP “APPROVED” and returns it, together with a letter indicating Coast Guard approval, to the operator. If the OCMI determines that any item is not addressed, the OCMI stamps the EEP “RETURNED FOR REVISION” and returns the EEP, together with an explanation of the EEP's deficiencies, to the operator.

(b) Once the EEP is approved under paragraph (a) of this section, the facility operator shall ensure that a copy of the EEP and the letter indicating Coast Guard approval is maintained on the facility.

(c) The EEP must be resubmitted for approval when substantive changes are made to the EEP. Only the pages affected by a change need be resubmitted if the EEP is bound in such a way as to allow old pages to be removed easily and new ones inserted. Substantive changes include, but are not limited to, installation of a new facility within the area covered by an EEP, relocation of a MODU, changes in the means or methods of evacuation, or changes in the time required to accomplish evacuation.

(d) The EEP must, at a minimum,

(1) Be written in language that is easily understood by the facility's operating personnel;

(2) Have a table of contents and general index;

(3) Have a record of changes;

(4) List the name, telephone number, and function of each person to be contacted under the EEP and state the circumstances in which that person should be contacted;

(5) List the facility's communications equipment, its available frequencies, and the communications schedules with shore installations, standby vessels, rescue aircraft, and other OCS facilities specified in the EEP;

(6) Identify the primary source of weather forecasting relied upon in implementing the EEP and state the frequency of reports when normal weather is forecasted, the frequency of reports when heavy weather is forecasted, and the method of transmitting the reports to the facility;

(7) Designate the individual on each facility covered by the EEP who is assigned primary responsibility for implementing the EEP;

(8) Designate those facility and shoreside support personnel who have the authority to advise the person in charge of the facility as to the best course of action to be taken and who initiate actions to assist facility personnel;

(9) Describe the recognized circumstances, such as fires or blowouts, and environmental conditions, such as approaching hurricanes or ice floes, in which the facility or its personnel would be placed in jeopardy and a mass evacuation of the facility's personnel would be recommended;

(10) For each of the circumstances and conditions described under paragraph (d)(9) of this section, list the pre-evacuation steps for securing operations, whether drilling or production, including the time estimates for completion and the personnel required;

(11) For each of the circumstances and conditions described under paragraph (d)(9) of this section, describe the order in which personnel would be evacuated, the transportation resources to be used in the evacuation, the operational limitations for each mode of transportation specified, and the time and distance factors for initiating the evacuation; and

(12) For each of the circumstances and conditions described under paragraph (d)(9) of this section, identify the means and procedures—

(i) For retrieving persons from the water during an evacuation;

(ii) For transferring persons from the facility to designated standby vessels, lifeboats, or other types of evacuation craft;

(iii) For retrieving persons from designated standby vessels, lifeboats, or other types of evacuation craft if used; and

(iv) For the ultimate evacuation of all persons on the facility to land, another facility, or other location where the evacuees would be reasonably out of danger under the circumstance or condition being addressed.

(e) The operator shall ensure that—

(1) All equipment specified in the EEP, whether the equipment is located on or off of the facility, is made available and located as indicated in the EEP and is designed and maintained so as to be capable of performing its intended function during an emergency evacuation;

(2) All personnel specified in the EEP are available and located as specified in the EEP and are trained in fulfilling their role under the EEP; and

(3) Drills are conducted in accordance with § 146.125(c).

(f) A complete copy of the EEP must be made available to the facility's operating personnel and a brief written summary of, or an oral briefing on, the EEP must be given to each person newly reporting on the facility.

(g) A copy of the EEP must be on board each standby vessel, if any, designated in the EEP and provided to all shoreside support personnel, if any, specified in the EEP.