USCG issues Marine Safety Information Bulletin
The US Coast Guard (USCG) issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin reminding the law requires that owners and operators of small passenger vessels presently allowed to have either an approved buoyant apparatus or life float as a survival craft (see 46 CFR Table 180.200(c) and 46 CFR 117.200(c)), must have an approved survival craft that, ensures that no part of an individual is immersed in water by February 26, 2016.
The USCG is also working on developing a more formal Policy Letter to assist industry and field units with the actual enforcement steps that will be taken.
Legislative Background: Section 609 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-281) added section 3104 to Title 46 of the U.S. Code. This section prohibited the approval of survival craft unless that craft ensures that no part of an individual is immersed in water. It also mandated that survival craft currently in service that do not meet the immersion standard, could only be approved up until January 1, 2015. But, in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-213), Section 303 directed the Coast Guard to submit a report on this issue to Congress, and to delay implementation of the 2010 law until 30 months from the submission of the report. The Coast Guard submitted that report on August 26, 2013, which in turn made February 26, 2016, the new implementation date. |
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If this law applies to you, the following list of points is designed to assist you in developing your compliance plan, and will facilitate any necessary discussions with the USCG prior to the implementation date.
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You may read the Marine Safety Information Bulletin by clicking below:
Source: USCG