July 28, 2025

USCG Issues New Guidelines for Bunkering Vessels Using LNG and Alternative Marine Fuels

The U.S. Coast Guard Office of Operating and Environmental Standards (CG-OES) has released a new policy letter, CG-OES Policy Letter No. 01-25, which provides Captains of the Port (COTPs) updated guidelines for the bunkering of vessels using liquefied natural gas (LNG) and other alternative marine fuels. This policy letter, effective July 24, 2025, supersedes and cancels two previous policy letters, CG-OES 01-15 and 02-15, both dated February 19, 2015.

March 3, 2025

How mariners can help slow the spread of coral disease

In Florida and the Caribbean, corals are under attack by a devastating disease known as stony coral tissue loss disease, or SCTLD. This disease is highly destructive and can wipe out entire colonies of corals in a matter of weeks from the first appearance of disease signs. Many different coral species are susceptible to SCTLD, including important reef-building species and some that are federally listed as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.

Oct. 10, 2024

The Coast Guard’s role in implementing the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act

On Oct. 9, 2024, the EPA published a rulemaking titled the Vessel Incidental Discharge National Standards of Performance as required by the Vessel Incidental Discharge Act of 2018 (VIDA).

Aug. 28, 2024

Notice of Intent to Prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement on Type-Approval Testing Methods for Ballast Water Management Systems That Render Organisms Nonviable in Ballast Water

On March 3rd, 2022, the Commandant released a final Policy Letter 02-22: Type-Approval Testing Methods for Ballast Water Management Systems That Render Organisms Nonviable in Ballast Water. Follow-on activities to this Policy Letter, if testing methods are submitted, would include the possibility of USCG acceptance of a viability testing method to be used for type approval of a ballast water management system (BWMS) based upon viability. Acceptance of a viability testing method(s), if it occurs, would be Federal action that would trigger review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Jan. 25, 2024

Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the Atlantic Coast Shipping Safety Fairways

The Coast Guard is proposing a major rulemaking establishing a system of shipping safety fairways along the Atlantic Coast.