NVIC 01-78: Automation guide for offshore supply vessels

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This Circular is Coast Guard guidance that distributes a "Guide to Automation Equipment Installation Aboard Offshore Supply Vessels". The guide is meant as a uniform minimum standard for automated systems on supply vessels. Equipment in enclosure (1), or an acceptable equivalent, will be favorably considered as meeting the criteria for eliminating continuous engineroom watchstanding.

Applies toThe Circular addresses offshore supply vessels of 100 gross tons and over, with the guide covering vessels built on or after 1 September 1978.

What it says

  1. The Circular distributes the guide to all interested and affected members of the marine industry.

    “This Circular distributes to all interested and affected members of the marine industry a”

  2. The Coast Guard considers a guide for automated systems on supply vessels necessary to give a uniform minimum standard and a basis for unattended machinery determinations by the OCMIs.

    NVIC 01-78 a.“a guide for automated systems on supply vessels is considered necessary to provide a uniform minimum standard throughout the industry”

  3. The Coast Guard will favorably consider equipment and systems in enclosure (1), or an acceptable equivalent, built into a supply vessel's design as meeting the criteria for eliminating continuous watchstanding in the engineroom.

    NVIC 01-78 c.“will be favorably considered by the Coast Guard as meeting the criteria for elimination of continuous watchstanding in the engineroom.”

  4. The cognizant OCMI is responsible for the minimum engine department manning level needed to safely operate the propulsion machinery in the unattended mode, and this Circular does not address it.

    NVIC 01-78 c.“is the responsibility of the cognizant OCMI, taking into consideration the various other concerns that bear on manning level determinations”

  5. Coast Guard Marine Inspection personnel, shipbuilders, ship designers and operators should consider enclosure (1) when addressing automated machinery systems for offshore supply vessels.

    “should consider enclosure (1) when addressing automated machinery systems for offshore supply”

Common questions

Why was a separate automation guide for supply vessels needed?

The provisions of NVC 1-69 are not readily adaptable to the engineering plants on small vessels that work with the offshore mineral and oil industry.

“its provisions are not readily adaptable to the engineering plants on small”

Does this Circular set engineroom manning levels?

No. The cognizant OCMI is responsible for the minimum engine department manning level, and this Circular does not address it.

“is the responsibility of the cognizant OCMI, taking into consideration the various other concerns that bear on manning level determinations”

Who should consider the automation guide?

Coast Guard Marine Inspection personnel, shipbuilders, ship designers and operators should consider enclosure (1) for automated machinery systems on offshore supply vessels.

“should consider enclosure (1) when addressing automated machinery systems for offshore supply”

The text of NVIC 01-78

U.S. Coast Guard, NVIC 01-78 (main body; enclosures not shown)

Automation of Offshore Supply Vessels of 100 Gross Tons and Over

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION UNITED STATES COAST GUARD US. COAST GUARD (G-MVP-5/82) WASHINGTON. D.C. 20590 PHONE:(202) 426-2240 NVIC 1-78 NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 1-78 Subj: Automation of Offshore Supply Vessels of 100 Gross Tons and Over

Automation of Offshore Supply Vessels of 100 Gross Tons and Over — Purpose. This Circular distributes to all interested and affected members of the marine industry a

"Guide to Automation Equipment Installation Aboard Offshore Supply Vessels" built on or after 1 September 1978.

Automation of Offshore Supply Vessels of 100 Gross Tons and Over — Discussion.

a.

In view of the increase in number, size and technology of supply boats and the worldwide involvement of shipbuilders, operators, owners, and government, a guide for automated systems on supply vessels is considered necessary to provide a uniform minimum standard throughout the industry and a basis for unattended machinery determinations by the various Officers in Charge Marine Inspection (OCMIs).

NVC 1-69 specifies control systems and safety devices which the Coast Guard considers necessary for the various degrees of main propulsion and ship's service machinery automation.

That Circular was developed primarily to assist OCMIs and members of industry associated with the inspection, design and operation of large oceangoing vessels with automated machinery installations.

Although NVC 1-69 is recognized as a guide and provides a certain degree of flexibility, its provisions are not readily adaptable to the engineering plants on small vessels which operate in conjunction with the offshore mineral and Oil (M&O) industry. b.

The offshore supply vessel, which originally operated almost exclusively in the Gulf of Mexico, has grown with the M&O industry, in numbers,. technology and .areas of: operation.

It is commonplace today to find oceangoing supply vessels throughout the world in remote locations.

Some modern day supply vessels have main propulsion plants in excess of 10,000 horse-power with commensurate electrical generating plants, hydraulic installations and control and monitoring systems.

The design of these vessels includes technology intended to eliminate the need for engineroom watchstanders.

Requested for minimum manning levels are being received based on automated control and monitoring systems. c.

The equipment and systems outlined In enclosure (1), or an acceptable equivalent, incorporated Into the design of a supply vessel, will be favorably considered by the Coast Guard as meeting the criteria for elimination of continuous watchstanding In the engineroom. .The minimum required engine department manning level necessary to provide for the safe operation of the propulsion machinery in the unattended mode is the responsibility of the cognizant OCMI, taking into consideration the various other concerns that bear on manning level determinations and will not be addressed in this Circular.

NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 1-78

Automation of Offshore Supply Vessels of 100 Gross Tons and Over — Action. Coast Guard Marine Inspection personnel, shipbuilders, ship designers and operators

should consider enclosure (1) when addressing automated machinery systems for offshore supply vessels. Constructive comments and suggestions are invited. End: (l) Guide to Automation Equipment Installation Aboard Offshore Supply Vessels of 100 Gross Tons and Over Dist: (SDL No. 107) A: None B: n(45); c(l0); q(6); eg(3); bj(2); p(l) C: em(4); l(1) D: j(2); k(l) E: o(2); mn(1) F: None G: To be assigned H: None Ce: Baltimore (75); San Francisco, Mobile, Guam, Pittsburgh, Providence, Norfolk(50); Galveston (30); Cleveland, Portland, OR(25); San Diego, Savannah, Buffalo, Corpus Christi(20); Tampa, Louisville, Detroit, Toledo, Anchorage(15); Portland, ME, Duluth Charleston, Huntington, Minneapolis-St. Paul (Dubuque), San Juan (105; Juneau, Cincinnati, Memphis, Wilmington, Paducah, Albany(5) extra Cm: New Orleans(250); New York(2O0); Seattle(l00); Houston(50); Terminal Is. (LA-LB) Philadelphia (40); St. Ignace(12) extra Em: New London, Houma (30); Milwaukee(15); Ludington (8) extra En: Ketchikan, Lake Charles(5)

The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.