# 2025-20968: Navy Warship Too Cool for International Navigation Rules

2025-20968, Certificate of Alternate Compliance for the USS TED STEVENS (DDG 128), is a Federal Register notice from Defense Department, Navy Department published 2025-11-25, effective 2025-11-25 (as of 2026-06-08).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20968
- As of: 2026-06-08
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2025-20968
- Title: Certificate of Alternate Compliance for the USS TED STEVENS (DDG 128)
- Type: Notice
- Agencies: Defense Department; Navy Department
- Citation: 90 FR 53277
- Published: 2025-11-25
- Effective: 2025-11-25
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: no
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-06-08

## In one line

Navy Warship Too Cool for International Navigation Rules

## Summary

The U.S. Navy has officially given the USS TED STEVENS (DDG 128) a special pass because its unique design means it can’t follow all the usual navigation light rules without messing up its mission. This change started on June 9, 2025, and the Navy is letting everyone know to watch out for this ship’s different lights when sailing nearby. No extra costs were mentioned, just a heads-up for safer seas!

## Abstract

The U.S. Navy hereby announces that a Certificate of Alternate Compliance has been issued for USS TED STEVENS (DDG 128). Due to the special construction and purpose of this vessel, the Admiralty Counsel of the Navy has determined it is a vessel of the Navy which, due to its special construction and purpose, cannot comply fully with the navigation lights provisions of the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS) without interfering with its special function as a naval ship. The intended effect of this notice is to warn mariners in waters where 72 COLREGS apply.

## Effects PRIA read

- USS TED STEVENS navigation lights exception: benefit, low. The U.S. Navy issued a Certificate of Alternate Compliance for the USS TED STEVENS (DDG 128) because its special design prevents full compliance with certain navigation light rules in the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (72 COLREGS). The certificate is effective Nov…

## Related documents

- [2026-19732](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19732): Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 2026-09-28
- [2026-19612](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19612): Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records, 2026-09-25
- [2026-19609](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19609): Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 2026-09-25
- [2026-19624](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19624): Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, 2026-09-25
- [2026-15766](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15766): Certificate of Alternate Compliance for the Landing Craft Utility Vessel 1710 Class (LCU 1710 Through LCU 1721), 2026-08-04
- [2026-15264](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-15264): Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 2026-07-29

## Sources
- [2025-20968 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/11/25/2025-20968/certificate-of-alternate-compliance-for-the-uss-ted-stevens-ddg-128)
- [2025-20968 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-11-25/pdf/2025-20968.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2025-20967, Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20967)
- [Next: 2025-20969, Center for Scientific Review; Notice of Closed Meetings](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20969)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2025-20968 (as of 2026-06-08).