The Outer Continental Shelf National Center of Expertise (OCSNCOE), the repository of US Coast Guard expertise and best practices on Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activities, published the latest issue of ‘Drill Down’. The latest issue further explores Public Law 96-378 , the first regulation that defined offshore supply vessels.
‘Drill Down’ is the OCSNCOE’s outreach and knowledge management tool for sharing in-house expertise with a broader audience, to assist in educating those interested in the OCS world of work, and to help generate discussion amongst OCS stakeholders.
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The first issue Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV) Drill Down explored the advent and evolution of OSVs throughout the years. This issue explores Public Law 96-378, which is also known as the Small Vessels, Inspection and Manning Act, and it was the first step towards creating consistent safety regulations for these vessels.
This Public Law created the “Offshore Supply Vessel” type and service by defining an OSV as a vessel that:
- is propelled by machinery other than steam,
- is not within the description of passenger carrying vessels in Section 1 of the Act of May 10, 1956 (70 Stat. 151) as amended (46 USC 390),
- is of more than 15 and less than 500 gross tons,
- regularly carries goods, supplies, or equipment in support of exploration, exploitation, or production of offshore mineral and energy re-sources.
Moreover, the regulation distinguishes the differences between “Offshore Supply Vessel” and the New Offshore Supply Vessel (New OSV).
