USCG announced that after satisfactorily performing a delegated function on a U.S. Flagged vessel for a two-year period, ClassNK met all of the eligibility requirements to receive Alternate Compliance Program (ACP) authorization.
Therefore, the Coast Guard and ClassNK signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) authorizing ClassNK to participate in ACP and delegating certain survey and certification services for U.S. flagged vessels. ClassNK is now the fifth class society to participate in this program.
The ACP is an alternative to complying with vessel certification and inspection standards contained in Title 46, Code of Federal Regulations and administered through inspections conducted by U.S. Coast Guard personnel. It provides an alternate process for an owner of a U.S. registered vessel to obtain a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection by complying with the standards of an authorized classification society, International Conventions and a U.S. supplement.
The classification society ACP authorization is intended to reduce the regulatory burden on the maritime industry while maintaining existing levels of safety and provide the maritime industry with flexibility in determining how to build and operate U.S. Flagged vessels.
The MOA was signed by Rear Adm. Paul Thomas, assistant commandant for prevention policy and Director Stewart Lee, Class NK regional manager for North and Central America.
The MOA and classification society authorizations, including the ACP authorization, is updated and posted here.
“This is the culmination of a lot of hard work,” said Thomas. “The Coast Guard takes our flag state responsibility very seriously and we don’t delegate it lightly. ClassNK certainly knows the significance of undertaking work on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard and are happy to have them on board.”
Source: USCG News
