46 CFR § 1.01-10 - Organization.
(a) The Commandant is the head of the agency and exercises overall direction over the policy and administration of the Coast Guard.
(b) To carry out the regulatory and enforcement aspects of marine safety, the staff officers designated in this paragraph are assigned to the Commandant. The chain of military command is directly from the Commandant to the District Commanders, except for marine safety regulatory and enforcement matters within the area of responsibility of Coast Guard Activities Europe. For Activities Europe, the chain of command is from the Commandant to the Atlantic Area Commander. The staff officers at Headquarters act only on the basis of the Commandant's authority and direction.
(c) The Deputy for Operations Policy and Capabilities (CG–DCO–D), under the general direction of the Commandant, directs, supervises, and coordinates the activities of the Assistant Commandant for Response (CG–5R), the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG–5P), and the Director of Operations Resource Management (CG–DCO–R).
(1) CG–5R directs, supervises, and coordinates the activities of:
(i) The Director of Incident Management and Preparedness Policy (CG–5RI), including—
(A) The Office of Environmental Response Policy (CG–MER),
(B) The Office of Search and Rescue (CG–SAR), and
(C) The Office of Crisis and Contingency Planning and Exercise Policy (CG–CPE); and
(ii) The Director of Law Enforcement, Maritime Security and Defense Operations Policy (CG–5RE) including:
(A) The Office of Law Enforcement Policy (CG–MLE),
(B) The Office of Maritime Security Response Policy (CG–MSR), and
(C) The Office of Counterterrorism and Defense Operations Policy (CG–DOD).
(2) CG–5P directs, supervises and coordinates the activities of:
(i) The Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards (CG–5PS) including
(A) The Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG–ENG),
(B) The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing (CG–MMC),
(C) The Office of Operating and Environmental Standards (CG–OES), and
(D) The Office of Standards Evaluation and Development (CG–REG); and
(ii) The Director of Inspections and Compliance (CG–5PC) including
(A) The Office of International and Domestic Port Assessments (CG–PSA),
(B) The Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety (CG–BSX),
(C) The Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG–CVC),
(D) The Office of Port & Facility Compliance (CG–FAC), and
(E) The Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis (CG–INV); and
(iii) The Director of Marine Transportation Systems (CG–5PW) including
(A) The Office of Bridge Programs (CG–BRG),
(B) The Office of Waterways and Ocean Policy (CG–WWM), and
(C) The Office of Navigation Systems (CG–NAV); and
(3) CG–DCO–R directs, supervises and coordinates the activities of
(i) The Office of Workforce Management (CG–DCO–R–1),
(ii) The Office of Budget Development (CG–DCO–R–2),
(iii) The Office of Budget Execution (CG–DCO–R–3), and
(iv) The Office of Information Resources (CG–DCO–R–6).
(d) The Port Safety and Security programs administered by the Chief, Office of Port Security Assessments (CG–PSA), and the Marine Environmental Response programs administered by the Chief, Office of Environmental Response Policy (CG–MER), are guided by regulations contained in 33 CFR chapter I.
(e) The Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards (CG–5PS), under the general direction and supervision of the Deputy for Operations Policy and Capabilities (CG–DCO–D) and the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG–5P), establishes federal policies for development of marine safety, security, and environmental protection treaties, laws, and regulations; develops safety, security, and environmental protection standards for the maritime industry; integrates all marine safety, security, and environmental protection regulatory programs; prepares legislation, regulations, and industry guidance for new safety and environmental protection programs; maintains an active program for development of third party consensus industry standards, and provides oversight to marine personnel matters.
(1) The Chief, Office of Design and Engineering Standards (CG–ENG), at Headquarters, under the direction of the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG–5P) and the Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards (CG–5PS), develops and maintains national regulations and standards that govern the safe design, engineering, and construction of ships and shipboard equipment; establishes policy, provides technical clarifications, and resolves appeals; and represents the United States at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and is actively engaged in standards committees and classification society rules committees in support of marine safety, security and environmental stewardship.
(2) The Chief, Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing (CG–MMC), at Headquarters, under the direction of the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG–5P) and the Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards (CG–5PS), develops and maintains standards and policy, statutes, regulations and guidance for the maritime industry regarding personnel qualifications, licensing, certification, manning and labor issues; provides oversight of mariner credentialing and marine personnel administration matters, and coordinates the monitoring of U.S. implementation efforts with respect to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) 1978, as amended; and reviews mariner appeals of credentialing decisions and provides a recommended final agency action for CG–5PS signature.
(3) The Chief, Office of Operating and Environmental Standards (CG–OES), at Headquarters, under the direction of the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG–5P) and the Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards (CG–5PS), coordinates and integrates program standards for vessel and facility operations, cargo systems and handling, and environmental protection; develops and maintains standards, regulations, and industry guidance for maritime industry operations to prevent deaths, injuries, property damage, and environmental harm; develops and maintains safety standards and regulations for commercial fishing industry vessels and uninspected commercial vessels; and develops and maintains health and safety standards and regulations for U.S.-inspected vessels.
(4) The Chief, Office of Standards Evaluation and Development (CG–REG), at Headquarters, under the direction of the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG–5P) and the Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards (CG–5PS), coordinates the development of new standards, programs, and regulations across all technical and operational areas of marine safety and environmental protection; provides comprehensive analytical support for all standards assessment and development efforts; coordinates development of measures of effectiveness for assessing regulatory programs and consensus standards; and oversees the Coast Guard's rulemaking development program.
(5) The Commanding Officer, Marine Safety Center, under the direction of the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG–5P) and the Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards (CG–5PS), conducts reviews and approvals of plans, calculations, and other materials concerning the design, construction, alterations, and repair of commercial vessels to determine conformance with the marine inspection laws, regulations, and implementing directions, and administers the U.S. Tonnage Measurement program.
(6) The Commanding Officer, Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC), under the direction of the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG–5P) and the Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards (CG–5PS), and subject to the policy and guidance of the Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing (CG–MMC); evaluates merchant mariners for suitability for service; issues merchant mariner credentials; evaluates and conducts oversight of approved courses; and exercises operational and administrative control over the Regional Examination Centers.
(f) The Director of Inspections and Compliance (CG–5PC), under the general direction and supervision of the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG–5P), acts as Program Manager for the Marine Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection Programs; directs, coordinates, and integrates the Coast Guard's marine safety and environmental protection compliance programs, contingency planning, response operations, and investigations programs; establishes and coordinates field implementation policies and priorities for all marine safety commands and units; serves as the focal point for field support and technical guidance; and provides oversight of vessel documentation matters and, through the District Commander, supervises the administration of the Marine Safety Division of District Offices and Officers in Charge, Marine Inspection.
(1) The Chief, Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG–CVC), at Headquarters, under the direction of the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG–5P) and the Director of Inspections and Compliance (CG–5PC), administers and balances all marine safety and environmental protection compliance programs, including direction of Coast Guard activities and oversight of third parties and industry programs; develops, publishes, and maintains program policies for vessel compliance, interprets standards and regulations, and provides field guidance for execution and enforcement; administers the marine inspection program, commercial fishing vessel examination program, and foreign vessel boarding program for the enforcement of commercial vessel material and operational safety standards; and supervises the administration of the manning of U.S. vessels.
(2) The Chief, Office of Environmental Response Policy (CG–MER), at Headquarters, under the Direction of the Deputy for Operations Policy and Capabilities (CG–DCO–D) and the Assistant Commandant for Response Policy (CG–5R), coordinates and integrates field planning, preparedness, and response operations for pollution incidents, natural disasters, marine accidents, terrorism, and other threats to public safety, the marine environment, or marine transportation and commerce; develops, publishes, and maintains program policies for preparedness and response, interprets laws and regulations, and provides field guidance for execution; provides guidance regarding emergency authorities of the Captain of the Port (COTP); and administers Office programs for ports and waterway management, bridging compliance, and response efforts with an active presence in the marine environment.
(3) The Chief, Office of Investigations and Analyses (CG–INV), at Headquarters, under the direction of the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG–5P) and the Director of Inspections and Compliance (CG–5PC), reviews investigations of marine casualties; manages, develops policy for and evaluates domestic and international programs and processes associated with investigations of marine casualties and injuries; manages analysis of casualties and casualty data, civil penalties and other remedial programs (including proceedings to suspend or revoke Coast Guard credentials held by mariners); and manages marine employer drug and alcohol testing programs.
(g) The Director of Operations Resource Management (CG–DCO–R), under the general direction and supervision of the Deputy Commandant for Operations (CG–DCO), serves as Facility Manager for the marine safety programs; coordinates and integrates financial, informational, and human resources; plans, acquires, develops, and allocates resources for development and execution of the Coast Guard's marine safety programs; provides the focal point for all resource issues in support of the Standards and Operations Directorates; and oversees the development and management of the Coast Guard's direct user fee program.
(h) The Judge Advocate General and Chief Counsel of the Coast Guard (CG–094), under the general direction of and in coordination with the General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, is the senior legal advisor to the Commandant, Vice Commandant, and senior staff officers. The Judge Advocate General advises on all cases and controversies arising under the various authorities of the Coast Guard involving alleged violations of international, maritime, navigation, and vessel inspection laws, or regulations prescribed thereunder and published in this chapter or in 33 CFR chapter I, and reviews appeals to the Commandant from actions derived from these authorities. On completion of such a review, the Judge Advocate General prepares a proposed action for the Commandant's consideration or, in appropriate cases, takes final action on behalf of, and as directed by, the Commandant.