About NACO : Why Join Naco? : Board Members and Committees : Member Eligibility

Major Successes Since It's Founding

NACO Partners with U.S. Coast Guard
NACO and the U.S. Coast Guard signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in November of 2002 setting terms by which the two organizations will cooperate to ensure the security of waters and ports of the United States. This MOA is based on NACO's experience and understanding of the maritime domain, and the Coast Guard's role as the lead agency for maritime homeland security. It provides opportunities for NACO and its membership to participate in local port security committees among other opportunities.

NACO is currently working with the U.S. Coast Guard to develop voluntary vessel security and port security plans for charter boats.

Coast Guard Inspection Fee Cap
NACO took the lead for the maritime industry and successfully lobbied to obtain a cap on Coast Guard inspection user fees. This win saved the charter boat industry an estimated $23 million over ten years.

1.EPIRB Exemption
NACO successfully lobbied the U.S. Coast Guard to withdraw the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) requirement for un-inspected vessels. The EPIRB rule would have cost charter boat operators between $1,350 and $1,500 to equip each of their vessels with a Category 1, 406 Mhz EPIRB.

1. Subchapter T Exemption
NACO succeeded in exempting charter boat operators who carry more than six passengers from certain provisions of the Subchapter T regulation, which would have imposed a host of costly new equipment rules on small inspected vessels, including inappropriate inflatable survival crafts, time consuming crew and passenger lists and costly annual dry docking. It is estimated that NACO's success saved charter boat operators over $3,000 per vessel.

2. Streamlined Inspection Program
NACO successfully worked with the U.S. Coast Guard to express the association's concern that this program would increase surprise inspections and increase liability of owners who are enrolled in this program. NACO also urged the Coast Guard to ensure that this program remains voluntary.

3. PFD Requirements
NACO worked to clarify that Personal Floatation Device (PFD) regulations will not apply to charter boat operators. Members had contacted NACO regarding a widespread yet inaccurate media campaign asserting that commercial charter boat passengers would have to wear PFD's. NACO worked with the U.S. Coast Guard to guarantee that the rule would affect only recreational vessels and not charter boats.

4. Fixed Fire Implementation Relief
NACO convinced the U.S. coast Guard to give the charter boat industry some relief from the fixed fire implementation deadline. While the deadline remained the same, local U.S. Coast Guard safety inspectors were instructed not to revoke a mariners' certificate if they made some progress in getting the required equipment installed on their vessel.

5. STCW Exemption
NACO succeeded in exempting the charter boat industry from having to comply with the costly rule of Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for seafarers (STCW) by convincing the U.S. Coast Guard that the requirement was inappropriate for charter boat operators. This win saves charter boat operators up to $500 each.

6. Loran C Termination Avoided
The U.S. Coast Guard had planned to shut down the Loran program, but NACO succeeded at having the program continued, providing a major benefit to those who use Loran technology. The Loran program is now expected to run until at least 2015.

7. Alcohol Regulations
NACO was instrumental in working with Congress to successfully exempt the maritime industry from random alcohol tests; the rest of the transportation modes are mandated to comply with this regulation. In addition, NACO's efforts paid off to simplify alcohol-testing rules, removing some of the burden from the operator following an accident. Previously, all marine operators had to find a facility for the post-accident alcohol test, which proved near impossible or very costly at night or on weekends. Now, the Coast Guard will assist charter boat operators in getting a post-accident alcohol test performed within two hours of the accident.

NACO is currently working to prevent the proposed regulation requiring alcohol-testing kits on charter boats as we consider this to be an unwarranted requirement. Charter boat owners are not drug consortium owners and should not be levied with the burden of performing tests nor of the potential liability associated with testing

8. FCC Licensing Fee Elimination
NACO succeeded in eliminating the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensing fees for un-inspected vessel operators. The fees were first reduced from $115 to $75, and then eliminated altogether.

9. FCC Privatization
NACO succeeded in efforts to privatize FCC radio inspections, and dramatically lower costs to all charter boat operators. NACO's success saved charter boat operators over $300 every five years.

10. Jones Act
NACO succeeded at having the procedure simplified when charter boat operators need a waiver of the "Jones Act" rules. NACO worked to pass legislation, which creates an administrative program for vessels of foreign hulls to apply for a documentation waiver. Now, the industry will no longer have to go to Congress to obtain a waiver.

http://www.marad.dot.gov/Programs/smallvessel/index.html

11. Comments on the National Marine Fisheries Guidelines
NACO successfully communicated the association's concerns to the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) pertaining to a proposed rule regarding revisions to the national marine fisheries guidelines. These guidelines are the national standards for fishery conservation and management, which all Fishery Management Plans (FMP's) and the Regional Fishery Councils are instructed to use as an aid as they meet the requirements of the Magnuson Stevens Act.

NACO has members, including the executive director and chairman who have been appointed to fishery management councils, various fishery advisory panels and the Presidential created MPA Federal Advisory committee. NACO is the true leader of industry with regards to fishery management.

12.Sinker Ban Blocked
NACO convinced Congress to pass an amendment that would block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from seeking to ban the sale and use of lead, zinc or brass fishing lures and sinkers.

13. Home Office Tax Deduction
Through NACO's efforts, most charter boat operators are now allowed to deduct the cost of an office at their home. Previously, charter boat operators could not deduct the cost of a home office even if that was the location where they made calls for fishing trips and stored fishing gear and records because a charter boat operator's main place of business was considered on the water. Now, the cost of a home office is deductible if the office is used exclusively for key managerial functions such as billing, marketing, bookings, etc. and there is no other place to perform such duties.

14. Annual Conference
NACO continues to produce a well-attended annual industry conference. The conference provides attendees with the latest industry, legislative and regulatory news, top-notch speakers, and opportunities to network with colleagues.

All members, both regular voting and associate, are encouraged to participate to ensure a membership driven association.

15. Code of Ethics
NACO adopted a Code of Ethics and Operating Standards to demonstrate to the public that its membership is committed to professionalism and safety.