Overarching OCS Policy and Guidance
The content listed below is available on this page. Use the tabs above to view the following categories:
1) Authority used for USCG oversight of units or vessels conducting OCS activities;
2) Regulations applicable to OCS activities and the units or vessels conducting those activities;
3) Overarching USCG policy and guidance related to OCS activities;
4) USCG Mission Management System (MMS) work instructions applicable to units or vessels conducting OCS activities; and
5) Casualty reporting information.
Authority
The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA) and subsequent amendments, outlines the Federal responsibility over the submerged lands of the OCS. Responsibilities for regulating OCS activities are split between the Department of the Interior, Department under which the U.S. Coast Guard is operating (currently the Department of Homeland Security) and the Department of the Army.
Additional information and history can be found on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on the Federal Offshore Lands and Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act History webpages.
Regulations
U.S. Coast Guard Regulations applicable to OCS activities are published as 33 CFR Subchapter N - Outer Continental Shelf Activities (Parts 140 through 147). CFRs can also be viewed at ecfr.gov (regularly updated online version) or govinfo.gov (annual editions).
Additional information and history can be obtained by viewing the Federal Register (FR) notices related to, and referenced from, the CFRs. We have consolidated all FRs referenced in 33 CFR Subchapter N into a single pdf document:
33 CFR Subchapter N FRs
The FRs are arranged in chronological order, beginning with the initial publication of 33 CFR Subchapter N on February 9, 1956. The document contains a hyperlinked Table of Contents, 'bookmarks' to aid in navigating through the document and 'how to' guidance on using the FRs. Final Rule FRs make up the bulk of this document, but Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) FRs have also been included where additional historical context may be useful.
Policy and Guidance related to OCS Activities
Overarching policy for OCS Activities can be found in:
COMDTINST 16000.76, Marine Safety: Outer Continental Shelf Inspections
This Commandant Instruction replaced Marine Safety Manual (MSM), Volume II: Section G - OCS Activities (cancelled 20Sep2021 and listed here for historical reference only). Note that there was no content change with the republishing of MSM Vol II Section G as a separate Commandant Instruction (CI) on 20Sep2021, but future content revisions are planned.
COMDTINST 16000.76 consists of the following chapters:
- Chapter 1, Regulations, Policy and Guidance for a Unit Conducting an OCS Activity,
- Chapter 2, Procedures Applicable to U.S. MODUs,
- Chapter 3, Procedures Applicable to Foreign MODUs,
- Chapter 4, Procedures Applicable to Floating OCS Facilities,
- Chapter 5, Procedures Applicable to Fixed OCS Facilities or Platforms, and
- Chapter 6, Procedures Applicable to Other Vessels Engaged in OCS Activities.
Separate sections of MSM Vol II that were also republished as separate CIs are as follows (click on the name to open a pdf of the document). Note that these other CIs may also apply to vessels or units that conduct OCS activities (e.g. U.S. flagged OSVs, foreign units entering port, etc.).
Job Aids, which replaced the legacy CG-840 Books, are posted on the Job Aid page (new or revised Job Aids will be posted as they are published).
Regulations, policy and guidance documents and/or links are available on the respective type of unit or vessel pages as follows: