TVIB News

USCG: Suspicious Cyber Activity Incident Involving Commercial Vessel

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Sectors Ohio Valley and Miami have both issued alerts regarding a recent report of suspicious cyber activity incident involving a commercial vessel. The incident involved an email sent claiming to represent an official port state control body using “port@pscgov.org” as the sending email. The suspicious email was sent directly to the Master of the vessel requesting sensitive information about the vessel, its crew and its cargo. The Master was concerned about the sender and the request and activated the relevant portions of the vessel security plan (VSP).

The USCG reminds the industry to review CG-5P Policy Letter 08-16 – Reporting Suspicious Activity and Breaches of Security which outlines the criteria and process for MTSA regulated vessels and facilities.

Click here to download PSIB 01-2019 issued by Sector Ohio Valley

Click here to download MSIB 19-002 issued by Sector Miami

Click here to download CG-5P Policy Letter 08-16 – Reporting Suspicious Activity and Breaches of Security

USCG: Update to Policy Letter 17-04, “Subchapter M Third Party Organization Guidance”

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02/05/2019 – Reposted from Coast Guard Maritime Commons:

The Office of Commerical Vessel Compliance issued Change 1 to Policy Letter 17-04, “Subchapter M Third Party Organization (TPO) Guidance” Jan. 31, 2019.

CG-CVC Policy Letter 17-04 is here by cancelled and superseded by Change 1. Updates are limited to the Subchapter M Third Party Organization Guidebook enclosure and include:

a. Updated multiple parts of Section 5 that address the main responsibilities of a TPO;
b. Updated Section 7 to include more information pertaining to actions a TPO auditor or surveyor should take when they identify a problem;
c. Updated Section 8 to address the validity of TSMS certificates if a TPO’s approval is voluntarily surrendered;
d. Updated Section 9 to address the process for a third party developed course to gain Coast Guard acceptance;
e. Updated Appendix 1: Third Party Organization Application Job Aid to included previously missed regulations; and
f. Added two new appendices: Appendix 2: Audit Result Submissions and Appendix 3: Aid for Processing, Recording, and Reporting Deficiencies.

Policy Letter 17-04 (Change 1) provides guidance to the Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise, Officer(s) in Charge, Marine Inspection, and the marine industry on TPO requirements as discussed in reference the Inspection of Towing Vessels Final Rule published June 20 2016. It is intended for use by the NCOE, OCMIs, and entities within the maritime industry that are or want to become TPOs.

For full details, view or download Policy Letter 17-04 (Change 1), or contact the Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance, Domestic Compliance Division at CG-CVC@uscg.mil.

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USCG: National Maritime Center (NMC) and Regional Exam Centers Re-open

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1/30/2019: Nat’l Maritime Center, Regional Exam Centers re-open following partial shutdown

The National Maritime Center announced in a bulletin Jan. 28, 2019 that it has re-opened and is implementing measures to address increased levels of application inventory.

Merchant Mariner Credentials and Medical Certifications (National Endorsements only) set to expire in December 2018, January 2019, or February 2019 remain valid until May 31, 2019. (See Update 3 – Mitigation Efforts Due to Lapse in Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations and Partial Government Shutdown.)

Additional Information letters, Qualified Assessor letters, Designated Examiner letters, Proctor Approval letters, Approval to Test letters, and mariner training completion certificates set to expire in December 2018, January 2019, or February 2019 remain valid until April 30, 2019. (See Update 3 – Mitigation Efforts Due to Lapse in Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations and Partial Government Shutdown.)

Mariners seeking to operate on STCW endorsements that expired on or after December 1, 2018, may request continued service STCW dispensations via e-mail at STCWDispensations@uscg.mil. (For application details, see STCW Mitigation Efforts Due to Lapse in Fiscal Year 2019 Appropriations and Partial Government Shutdown.)

Regional Examination Centers nationwide will be fully operational and open to the public by Jan. 30, 2019. The scheduling system for Regional Examination Centers examinations, application drop off, and other credentialing business will be active beginning Jan. 31, 2019.

The NMC is working to minimize the negative impact to the maritime industry and will publish additional information regarding furlough recovery operations as needed. For updates, please monitor the NMC website. If you have questions, contact the NMC Customer Service Center by e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

Click here to access the original post on the Coast Guard Maritime Commons