Floating OCS Facility

Outer Continental Shelf National Center of Expertise (OCSNCOE)

Policy and Guidance - Floating OCS Facility (FOF)

This page has the following content applicable to FOFs (click on item to be taken directly to that section):
1) USCG Marine Safety Manual (MSM), Vol II;
2) National Policy;
3) District Eight (Gulf of Mexico) Policy;
4) Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars (NVICs); and
5) Production Facility Applicability Flowchart.

Part 1: MSM

The following chapters of the Marine Safety Manual, Volume II: Section G - OCS Activities are applicable to FOFs:
○ Chapter 1, Regulations, Policy and Guidance for a Unit Conducting an OCS Activity, and
○ Chapter 4, Procedures Applicable to Floating OCS Facilities.

Part 2: National Policy

Policy Letters that apply to Floating OCS Facilities are listed in the tables below, grouped by issuing authority and ordered from newest to oldest (by policy number). Click on the policy number to open the document.

National Policy
Office	Policy Number	Date Issued	Subject
Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance
CG-CVC	18-04	03Apr2018	Guidance on Implementation of New Standards for Fire Protection, Detection and Extinguishing Equipment
CG-543	11-04	13Apr2011	Compliance Verification of Alternative Security Program for MTSA Regulated Vessels and Facilities
G-MOC	02-01	08Feb2002	Regular Compliment Crew Determinations for Vessels Engaged in OCS Activities (CANCELLED, see MSM Vol II; included here for historical reference purposes only)
Office of Design and Engineering Standards
CG-ENG	01-18	01May2018	Equivalency Determination – FRP Gratings Conforming to ASTM F3059
CG-ENG	01-16	29Apr2016	Portable Accommodation Module (PAM) Guidance
CG-ENG	03-15	03Sep2015	Acceptance of CAP-437, Standards for Offshore Helicopter Landing Areas
CG-ENG	02-14	30Apr2014	Approval of Equivalencies to the Requirements for Odorizing Units on Fixed Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishing Systems
CG-ENG	01-13	26Jun2013	Alternate Design and Equipment Standards for Floating Offshore Installations (FOI) and Floating Production, Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Units on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf

Part 3: District Eight (Gulf of Mexico) Policy

District Eight (D8) Policy
Policy Number	Date Issued	Subject
01-2018	05Jun2018	Guidance on SPAR Liferaft Installations
04-2016	31Oct2016	Lifesaving Inspection and Emergency Evacuation Drills on Manned Facilities (Including Mobile Offshore Drilling Units) on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
03-2016	02Jun2016	Interim Coast Guard Eighth District Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Risk-Based Inspection Resource Allocation Methodology
02-2016	19Jan2016	Structural Integrity Management (SIM) Program as an Alternative Hull Inspection for Floating Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Facilities
01-2016	19Jan2016	Interim Guidance on Life Extension (Continued Service) Requirements for Floating OCS Facilities
01-2015	14Sep2015	Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Emergency Evacuation Plan (EEP) Approvals
01-2014	10Oct2014	Guidance on Post-Hurricane Inspection Requirements for Floating Offshore Production Facilities
06-2004	22Dec2004	Guardrail and Storm Rail Requirements for Floating Offshore Installations (FOIs) (CANCELLED 11Jul2014 by D8 OCS Memo, incorporated into MSM Vol II, Sec G; included here for historical reference purposes only)
05-2004	17Sep2004	Use of Hose Reels with Non-Collapsible Hard-Rubber Fire Hosed on Floating Offshore Installations (CANCELLED 11Jul2014 by D8 OCS Memo, incorporated into MSM Vol II, Sec G; included here for historical reference purposes only)
03-2004	03May2004	In-Service Inspection Program (ISIP) for Floating Facilities in the OCS
04-2003	30Sep2003	Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Emergency Evacuation Plan (EEP) Approvals (CANCELLED 11Jul2014 by D8 OCS Memo, incorporated into MSM Vol II, Sec G; included here for historical reference purposes only)
08-2001	27Jul2001	Licensing Requirements for Personnel on Non-Self Propelled Floating OCS Facilities
03-2000, CH-1	20Oct2000	Policy on Manning of Non-Self Propelled Floating Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Facilities
99-19	16Sep1999	MODU Lifeboat Release Gear Overload Tests (alternate testing apparatus)
99-06	03Mar1999	Issuing COI Amendments (CG-858)
98-26	23Oct1998	OCS Facility Casualty Notification
98-14	27Jul1998	In Service Inspection Plans for Floating OCS Facilities

Part 4: Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars (NVICs)

NVICs that apply to Floating OCS Facilities are listed in the table below, ordered from newest to oldest (by NVIC number). Click on the NVIC number to open the document. ALL NVICs can be found on the Official NVIC Page.

Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars (NVICs)
NVIC Number	Date Issued	Subject
2000s
05-03	15Dec2003	Implementation Guidance for the Maritime Security Regulations Mandated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 for Outer Continental Shelf Facilities
6-01	25May2001	Protective Equipment Required for Firefighter’s Outfits
09-00, CH-1	10Feb2005	CH-1 to NVIC 09-00; Carbon Dioxide Fire Extinguishing System Safety
1990s
9-97, CH-1	02Jul2010	CH-1 to NVIC 9-97, Guide to Structural Fire Protection
3-97	-	Stability Related Review Performed by the American Bureau of Shipping for U.S. Flag Vessels
1-94	21Jan1994	Marking of Life Preservers and PFDs
13-92	15Dec1992	Captain of the Port Zone Boundaries
11-92	23Oct1992	Guidance for Acceptance of the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors (NBBI) National Board Inspection Code (NBIC) for Repairs and Alterations to Boilers and Pressure Vessels
10-92, CH-2	04May2006	CH-2 to NVIC 10-92, Coast Guard Recognition of Registered Professional Engineer Certification of Compliance with Coast Guard Requirements
3-92	24Feb1992	Recommended Program for Protection of Merchant Mariners from Occupational Health Problems
1980s
3-89	07Sep1989	Guidelines for the Presentation of Stability Information for Operating Personnel
6-87	21Sep1987	Recommended Procedures for Control of Asbestos and Other Respiratory Hazards on board Merchant Vessels, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Facilities and Deepwater Ports
11-86	05Sep1986	Guidelines Governing the Use of Fiberglass Pipe (FGP) on Coast Guard Inspected Vessels
4-86	28Mar1986	Hydraulic Release Units for Liferafts, Life Floats and Buoyant Apparatus and Alternate Float-Free Arrangements
4-85	29May1985	Recalls and Other Corrective Measures for Lifesaving Equipment
11-84	20Dec1984	Guidelines for New Construction or Major Modification of U.S. Flag Vessels in Foreign Shipyards
8-84	23Aug1984	Recommendations for the Submittal of Merchant Vessel Plans and Specifications
7-84	07Aug1984	Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Citizenship Requirements; Exemptions from
1-84	03Apr1984	Lack of Topstitching on Some Type I Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs)
10-83	29Sep1983	Stability Approval and the Issuance of Stability Letters
1-83	10Feb1983	Painters for Life Floats and Buoyant Apparatus
10-82, CH-2	18Sep1989	CH-2 to NVIC 10-82, Acceptance of Plan Review and Inspection Tasks Performed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for New Construction or Major Modification of U.S. Flag Vessels
7-82	13Apr1982	Sample Format of Vessel or Facility Station Bill
9-81	10Aug1981	Coast Guard Guidance Regarding Shipboard Helicopter Facilities
6-81	18Jun1981	Lifeboat Weight Tests
7-80	02Apr1980	Use of Fire Detection Systems which are Not approved under 46 CFR 161.002
2-80	07Feb1980	Poured-Metal Socket Connections for Lifeboat Falls
1-80	14Jan1980	Inspection of Viking On-Load Release Gear on Watercraft America
1970s
5-77	20Dec1977	Inspection of Hydraulic Starting Systems for Lifeboats and Survival Capsules
1960s
1-69	08Jan1969	Automated Main and Auxiliary Machinery
3-68	21Mar1968	Tensile Fasteners
3-67	17May1967	Alteration of Ship’s Structure which May Affect the Adequacy of Installed Safety Devices
2-63	24Jan1963	Guide for Inspection and Repair of Lifesaving Equipment

Part 5: Production Facility Applicability Flowchart

For a pdf version of the applicability flowchart displayed below, click here.