The Coast Guard is seeking public comment regarding the merchant mariner medical evaluation program. Section 718 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2012 directed the Commandant of the Coast Guard to submit to Congress an assessment of the Coast Guard National Maritime Center's merchant mariner medical evaluation program and alternatives to the program. Congress specifically asked the Coast Guard to include an analysis of how a system similar to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners program, and the Federal Aviation Administration's Designated Aviation Medical Examiners program, could be applied by the Coast Guard in making medical fitness determinations for issuance of merchant mariners' documents. The Coast Guard will accept comments from the public on the perceived benefits and concerns with adopting a similar program for the medical evaluation of merchant mariners.

Comments and related material must either be submitted to our online docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or before May 2, 2013 or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.

 The Coast Guard proposes to amend its regulations to separately list an annual fee for renewals of endorsements upon the Certificate of Documentation. The Coast Guard is required to establish user fees for services related to the documentation of vessels. This proposed rule would separately list a fee of $26 to cover the current costs of the vessel documentation services provided by the Coast Guard.

Comments and related material must either be submitted to our online docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or before May 3, 2013 or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.

The Coast Guard’s latest release, “Safety Alerts, Safety Advisories, Lessons Learned 2008-2012” won’t be on the New York Times’ best-seller list, but it’s something fishermen and boat owners should read.

It contains 43 safety alerts that have come out of the Coast Guard’s Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis over a period of five years. 

To view the report please click below (please be patient it could take 2-3 minutes to download

Congratulations to our newly elected board members and officers!

Officers

President Captain Tom Becker 

1st Vice President Captain Ed O’Brien

2nd Vice President Captain Bob Rush 

Secretary Captain Gary Krein

Treasurer Captain Ron Maglio

Re-elected and new board members

Captain Gary Krein re-elected

Captain Ron Maglio re-elected

Captain Paul Malo re-elected

Captain Ed O’Brien re-elected

Captain Dave Pecci re-elected

Captain William Poertner new board member

Captain Bob Rush re-elected

Captain Randall Schmidt re-elected

Captain Richard Yamada new board member 

We will report more actions in the coming weeks regarding the annual meeting. Here is a message from NACO’s President Captain Tom Becker

Dear Members and Board of Directors, 

I want to thank the Board of Directors for electing me as your President. This is a very important Association for the members of NACO for working and informing them of items that can have great or grave consequence to our industry. I will work hard to promote and work with all on issues that are affecting their areas. Again, thank you for having trust in me to make me the President of the National Association of Charterboat Operators.

Captain Tom Becker

President

National Association of Charterboat Operators

NACO'S Legislative Work Brings About Positive Results  
The major push for NACO in this bill was to exempt COI Passenger carrying vessels from having to replace their current life rafts with inflatables. These inflatable life rafts carry a hefty price tag along with expensive inspections from private companies.

This bill initially passed the House in November 2011. The Senate adopted a revised version of the House measure in September and yesterday’s measure, which passed by voice vote, reflects a resolution of the differences between the House- and Senate-passed bills. The measure now goes back to the Senate.
 
NACO and other industry groups worked together and although this bill does not give an exemption, if approved and signed by the President, the bill requires a detailed report to congress on the need for this action, that NACO requested. We are hopeful the study will provide evidence supporting our position of an unneeded requirement that would cost our industry excessive money to implement and maintain. Depending on the details of the report it could open the door to the possibility of that portion being rescinded.
 
Below is the section of the bill that addresses our issue.

In the U.S. alone there are 28 million small business owners that create two out of every three new jobs in America. SBA continually strives to ensure that small business entrepreneurs have access to the resources they need for their business, including information on startup how to's, marketing, financing, contracting and more. With this in mind, SBA has launched a new online learning center.

Features include:

Stock Assessment 101 Series: Part 1—Data Required for Assessing U.S. Fish Stocks (originally published May 23, 2012 - www.fishsmart.com)

Why Do We Conduct Fish Stock Assessments?

NOAA Fisheries’ scientific stock assessments are key to fisheries management. They examine the effects of fishing and other factors to describe the past and current status of a fish stock, answer questions about the size of a fish stock, and make predictions about how a fish stock will respond to current and future management measures (Marine Fisheries Stock Assessment Improvement Plan). Fish stock assessments support sustainable fisheries by providing fisheries managers with the information necessary to make sound decisions.

Why Are Fish Stock Assessments Important?

The Coast Guard is seeking public comment regarding criteria for granting medical waivers to mariners who have anti-tachycardia devices or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Current Coast Guard guidance found in Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular 04-08, Medical and Physical Evaluation Guidelines for Merchant Mariner Credentials (NVIC 04-08), states that anti-tachycardia devices or ICDs are generally not waiverable. The Coast Guard is considering changing that policy. Prior to issuing a policy change on whether to grant waivers for anti-tachycardia devices or ICDs and the criteria for such waivers, the Coast Guard will accept comments from the public on whether the proposed criteria would adequately address safety concerns regarding merchant mariners with ICDs.

Comments and related material must either be submitted to our online docket via http://www.regulations.gov on or before October 9, 2012 or reach the Docket Management Facility by that date.