Saint Lawrence Seaway authorities amend vessel rules

Saint Lawrence Seaway authorities amend vessel rules    The U.S. Transportation Department said the U.S. Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corp. and the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corp. in Canada have amended joint regulations concerning vessel transiting the Seaway in various categories, effective April 18.
   Here are some of the rule changes:
   Vessels with a beam greater than 23.20 meters will be notified that they may be subject to transit restrictions or delays through the seaway during periods of ice cover, the DOT said.
   A ship with a bulbous bow extending forward beyond its steam head must now be marked clearly, and permanent fenders must be installed on all vessels 'where any structural part protrudes so as to endanger seaway installations,' according to the rules.
   A new regulation requires 'that a ship's crew shall be adequately trained in the use of landing booms,' the DOT noted. Seaway inspectors may 'under certain conditions, ask for a demonstration in the proper use of landing booms.'
   'Mooring lines and synthetic hawsers, where permitted, shall pass through not more than three inboard rollers that are fixed in place and equipped with horns to ensure that lines will not slip off when slackened.' Hand lines must be back-spiced or tapered, and not have weighted or knotted ends that could hurt handlers.
   Shipboard garbage may not be burned in certain areas of the seaway. Another regulation requires 'every ship carrying grain under fumigation' to file a copy of its load plan with seaway authorities.
   For information, contact Craig H. Middlebrook, acting chief counsel for the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corp., (202) 366-0091. For the final rule, see Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 51, pp. 12967-12973.