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1.
What type of equipment must be carried on an
un-inspected charter vessel?
2.
What are the proper procedures for reporting
a serious marine incident and what forms should
I use?
3.
How many passengers may be carried on an un-inspected
vessel?
4.
When are you required to participate in a random
drug program?
5.
Does your charter boat require annual inspections?
6.
What is the Coast Guard doing to enforce drug-testing
rules?
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1.
What type of equipment must be carried on an
un-inspected charter vessel?
UN-INSPECTED
VESSELS
1. Personal Flotation Devices (PFD) and Other
Lifesaving Equipment [46 CFR
25.25].
a.
An approved and readily available PFD is required
to be on board the
vessel for each individual on board. An exposure
suit is considered to be an acceptable substitute
for a PFD. All lifesaving equipment designed
to be worn is required to be readily available
and in serviceable condition.
b. Each vessel 26 feet or longer must have at
least one approved ring life buoy which is immediately
available. The diameter size of the ring depends
on the vessel length. All lifesaving equipment
designed to be
thrown into the water is required to be immediately
available and in
serviceable condition.
c. An approved commercial hybrid PFD is acceptable
if worn when the vessel is underway and the
intended wearer is not within an enclosed space;
labeled for use on un-inspected commercial vessels;
and used as marked and in accordance with the
owner's manual.
d. An approved light is required for all PFDs
and exposure suits. Also, all
PFDs must have the proper amount of approved
retro-reflective material installed.
Fire Extinguishing Equipment [46 CFR 25.30].
a.
Hand-portable fire extinguishers and semi-portable
fire extinguishing
systems must be of the "B" type (i.e.;
suitable for extinguishing fires
involving flammable liquids, greases, etc.).
b. Hand-portable fire extinguishers and semi-portable
fire extinguishing
systems must have a plate listing the name of
the item, rated capacity
(gallons, quarts or pounds), name and address
of person/firm for whom
approved, and manufacturer's identifying mark.
c. Portable fire extinguishers must be inspected
and weighed every 6 months.
d. Minimum number of B-II hand portable fire
extinguishers required to be on board motor
vessels: one if less than 50 tons, two if 50-100
tons, three if 100-500 tons, six if 500-1000
tons, and eight if over 1000 tons.
e. Fixed fire extinguishing systems must be
an approved carbon dioxide type and must meet
the U.S. Coast Guard requirements. (See reference
C.5., Part 25.30-15.)
Backfire Flame Control [46 CFR 25.35].
Every
gasoline engine installed after April 25, 1940,
except outboard
motors, must be equipped with an acceptable
means of backfire flame control.
Ventilation
of Tanks and Engine Spaces [46 CFR 25.40].
Fuel
tanks and engine spaces, using fuel with a flashpoint
of 110 degrees Fahrenheit or less, must be provided
with adequate ventilation to remove explosive
or flammable gases from the fuel tank compartment
or bilges.
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2.
What are the proper procedures for reporting
a serious marine incident and what forms should
I use?
A serious marine incident is defined as:
" One or more deaths
" An injury to any person (including passengers)
which requires medical attention beyond first
aid and which renders the person unable to perform
routine vessel duties (i.e. first aid given
by an approved medical facility, may be as simple
as having a hook surgically removed)
" Damage to property over $100,000
" Actual or constructive total loss of
any inspected vessel
" Actual or constructive total loss of
any un-inspected, self propelled vessel of 100
gross tons or more
" Discharge of 10,000 gallons or more of
oil into U.S. waters
" A reportable discharge of a hazardous
substance into U.S. waters or release of reportable
quantities into the U.S. environment
Form CG-2692B must be submitted to the appropriate
Officer In Charge, Marine Inspections, following
a serious marine incident. The U.S. Coast Guard
is now assessing civil penalties against vessel
operators who fail to submit the form CG-2692.
These, and many other USCG forms may be obtained
on the USCG web site.
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3.
How many passengers may be carried on an un-inspected
vessel?
Un-inspected vessels are limited to no more
than six passengers. Remember even an infant
is considered a passenger.
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4.
When are you required to participate in a random
drug program?
Anyone who works in a position
of safety onboard a vessel carrying passengers
for hire is required to be in an approved random
drug-testing program. Captains and crew-members
of charter boats are required to participate.
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5.
Does your charter boat require annual inspections?
All charter vessels should be
inspected by the owner and/or captain at least
every year, (some safety items need to be inspected
every 6 months) whether USCG inspected or not.
USCG certified vessels require a topside safety
inspection every 12 months and dry dock inspections
between 1 and 3 years depending on the vessel
and location.
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6.
What is the Coast Guard doing to enforce drug-testing
rules?
The USCG checks for the proper
documentation and proof of compliance during
routine safety inspections on un-inspected vessels
and during all required safety and hull inspections
on USCG certified vessels. They also check for
compliance during license renewals.
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