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replaced Marine Safety Manual (MSM), Volume II: Section G - OCS Activities (cancelled 20Sep2021 and listed here for historical reference only).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.).

• COMDTINST 16000.70, Marine Safety: Marine Inspection Administration
• COMDTINST 16000.71, Marine Safety: Domestic Inspection Programs
• COMDTINST 16000.72, Marine Safety: Inspection of Engineering Systems, Equipment and Materials
• COMDTINST 16000.73, Marine Safety: Port State Control
• COMDTINST 16000.74, Marine Safety: International Conventions, Treaties, Standards and Regulations
• COMDTINST 16000.75, Marine Safety: Carriage of Hazardous Materials

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).

USCG Mission Management System

The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) Mission Management System (MMS) forms and work instructions are accessible on the CG-CVC MMS site (opens in a new window) for use by U.S. Coast Guard marine inspectors, regulated vessels and the public.

Published USCG Work instructions applicable to OCS activities are listed in the table that follows.

Casualty Reporting

Current revisions of the "Report of Marine Casualty, Commercial Diving Casualty, or OCS-Related Casualty", CG-2692, supplemental forms and guidance can be found on the Office of Investigations & Casualty Analysis (CG-INV) 2692 Casualty Reporting Forms page.