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 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:

• IMO Approves Resolution on Maritime Cyber Risk Management. At the 98th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 98), the International Maritime Organization approved Resolution MSC.428(98) Maritime Cyber Risk Management in Safety Management Systems. The Coast Guard will continue to work with our industry partners to develop a clear and achievable path towards compliance and foster a resilient risk management approach towards cyber risks. You can submit your feedback to the Coast Guard via email to Kevin.X.Kuhn@uscg.mil or call 202-372-1372.

• (NEW!) Approval of Navigation Equipment.  The Coast Guard announces the publication of Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 8-01 Change 3, Approval of Navigation Equipment.  The Circular provides voluntary guidance for approval of navigation equipment, as required under Regulation V/18, of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended in 2000 (SOLAS).  It revises NVIC No. 8-01, Change 2 by adding an approval process (series) for the Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS) and updating various approval series to reflect the most applicable standards, resolutions, and processes.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

CG-ENG Policy Letters:

• • 01-19 (May 2019) Equivalency Determination - Fire Pumps for Subchapter C and Subchapter M Towing Vessels
  • 01-12 CH-1 (July 2017) Design Criteria for Natural Gas Fuel Systems
  • 01-12  (April 2012) Equivalency Determination- Design Criteria for Natural Gas Fuel Systems
  • 02-12 CH-1  Acceptance of the 2009 MODU Code (March 2019)
  • 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

  • 01-18 Equivalency Determination-FRP Gratings Conforming to ASTM F3059

  • 02-18 Adoption of ANSI/CAN/UL 12402-5 and 12402-9

  • 03-18 Adoption of RTCM Standard 13200.0 for Electronic Visual Distress Signal Devices (eVDSDs)

Past Notices:

• Acceptance of Sewage Treatment Plants for Type Approval to IMO Resolution MEPC.227(64)
• Electrical Equipment in Hazardous Locations
• Corrections to 33 CFR Part 154 regarding VCS for facilities
• Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Requirements for MODUs and Other Vessels Conducting Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Activities with Dynamic Positioning (DP) Systems, and extension of comment period.
• Fire and Explosion Analyses - Outer Continental Shelf Units
• Liquid Chemical Categorization Updates: Interim Rule
• Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act; Implementation
• Offshore Supply Vessels of at Least 6,000 GT ITC
• Safety and Environmental Management System Requirements for Vessels on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf
• Electrical Equipment Certification Guidance for MODUs
• 2012 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) paper titled "Lessons Learned Following Macondo-Safety Enhancements on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf"
• Dynamic Positioning (DP) Guidance for MODUS
• Voluntary Reporting of Dynamic Positioning (DP) Incidents on MODUS
• Dynamic Positioning (DP) Guidance for non-MODUs
• Lifesaving and Fire-fighting on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf
• 5A Space Performance Guidelines and Report of Study

• Minutes from meeting with international DP assurance providers

Additional Technical Information:

• IMO Resolution MSC.391(95) "International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code)"

• 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