Question 68 OSV02 - Mate - Offshore Supply Vessels

The Correct Answer is B The number of certificated able seamen and lifeboatmen required on a vessel is determined by the **Coast Guard** (United States Coast Guard - USCG). The USCG is the regulatory authority in the United States responsible for enforcing federal maritime laws, including setting minimum safe manning requirements, issuing Certificates of Inspection (COI), and overseeing licensing and documentation requirements for mariners. These requirements directly specify the minimum number of qualified personnel, such as able seamen and lifeboatmen, needed for the safe operation of the vessel. ### Why Other Options Are Incorrect: * **A) Corps of Engineers:** The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers primarily focuses on federal water resource development, civil works projects (like dredging and navigation channels), and maintaining navigable waterways. They do not set manning requirements for commercial vessels. * **C) International Maritime Organization (IMO):** The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations that sets global standards for the safety, security, and environmental performance of international shipping. While the IMO develops conventions like STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping), it is the *national administration* (in this case, the Coast Guard) that implements, interprets, and enforces these standards to determine the specific manning requirements for vessels registered under their flag. * **D) American Bureau of Shipping (ABS):** ABS is a classification society. Its primary role is to set standards for the design, construction, and structural integrity of ships and offshore structures. ABS does not determine the federally mandated minimum operating crew (manning levels); that responsibility belongs solely to the national regulatory body, the Coast Guard.