Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee

AGENCY:

Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of meetings.

SUMMARY:

The Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (MERPAC) and its working groups will meet to discuss various issues relating to the training and fitness of merchant marine personnel. MERPAC advises the Secretary of Transportation on matters relating to the training, qualifications, licensing, certification and fitness of seamen serving in the U.S. merchant marine. All meetings will be open to the public.

DATES:

MERPAC will meet on Tuesday, September 19, 2000, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Wednesday, September 20, 2000, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. These meetings may adjourn early if all business is finished. Requests to make oral presentations should reach the Coast Guard on or before September 5, 2000. Written material and requests to have a copy of your material distributed to each member of the committee or subcommittee should reach the Coast Guard on or before September 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

MERPAC will meet on both days at the Catholic Seamen's Club, 2330 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 98121. Further directions regarding the location of the Catholic Seamen's Club may be obtained by contacting Ms. Diane Bentley at (206) 441-4773. Send written material and requests to make oral presentations to Lieutenant Commander Luke B. Harden, Commandant (G-MSO-1), U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW, Washington, DC 20593-0001. This notice is available on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For questions on this notice, contact Lieutenant Commander Luke B. Harden, Acting Executive Director of MERPAC, or Mr. Mark C. Gould, Assistant to the Executive Director, telephone 202-267-0229, fax 202-267-4570, or e-mail mgould@comdt.uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Notice of these meetings is given under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. App. 2.

Agenda of September 19, 2000 Meeting

The full committee will meet to discuss the objectives for the meeting. The committee will then break up into the following working groups: Recommendations on a training and assessment program for officers in charge of a navigation watch “coming up through the hawsepipe,” and; Recommendations on a training and assessment program for officers in charge of an engineering watch “coming up through the hawsepipe.” The phrase “coming up through the hawsepipe” means informal in-service training leading from the rating of unlicensed seaman to a position as licensed officer. New working groups may be formed to address any new issues or tasks. At the end of the day, the working groups will make a report to the full committee on what has been accomplished in their meetings. No action will be taken on these reports on this date.

Agenda of September 20, 2000, Meeting

The agenda includes the following:

(1) Introduction.

(2) Oath of Office to New Members and Re-appointed Members.

(3) Working Group Reports.

(a) Recommendations on a Training and Assessment Program for Officers in Charge of a Navigation Watch Coming Up Through the Hawsepipe.

(b) Recommendations on a Training and Assessment Program for Officers in Charge of an Engineering Watch Coming Up Through the Hawsepipe.

(4) Other items to be discussed:

(a) Standing Committee—Prevention Through People

(b) Other items brought up for discussion by the committee or the public

Procedural

Both meetings are open to the public. Please note that the meetings may adjourn early if all business is finished. At the Chair's discretion, members of the public may make oral presentations during the meetings. If you would like to make an oral presentation at a meeting, please notify the Executive Director no later than September 5, 2000. Written material for distribution at a meeting should reach the Coast Guard no later than September 1, 2000. If you would like a copy of your material distributed to each member of the committee or subcommittee in advance of the meeting, please submit 25 copies to the Executive Director no later than September 1, 2000.

Information on Services for Individuals with Disabilities

For information on facilities or services for individuals with disabilities or to request special assistance at the meetings, contact the Executive Director as soon as possible.