More Information for Charter Boat Operators
Charts and Nautical Publications
Charts: you need charts for your area of operation. For paper ones, you will need to go and order & purchase the Print On Depand chart (POD) from a store like a West Marine. The Federal Government does not print them any more; or if you comply with NVIC 01-16 have up-to-date electronic charts. OPEN CPN chart system
Coast Pilot: You must have a current copy aboard. You can download the latest copy of the Coast Pilot and either print out the pages that apply to your area of operation or download them to a device that you will have aboard.
Light List: You must have a current copy aboard. You can download the latest copy of the Light List and either print out the pages that apply to your area of operation or download them to a device that you will have aboard.
LNM: You can download the Local notice to Mariners (LNM) and either print out the pages that apply to your area of operation or download them to a device that you will have aboard. You must have the latest copy available to keep your charts & publications current.update your charts and light list. You can also sign up to receive them weekly for free.
Tide & Current Tables: You must have up to date Tide & Current Tables. They can either be electronic or paper copies for your area of operation.
Safety Orientation for passengers
Prior to getting underway, operators of UPVs must ensure public announcements, placards, or both are provided to passengers that address the following topics:
1) Stowage locations of life preservers
2) Proper method of donning and adjusting life preservers carried aboard the vessel
3) The type and location of all lifesaving devices carried on the vessel
4) The location of the Emergency Check-off List.
Written Notice of Marine Casualty
In addition to the verbal report, the owner, master, operator, or person in charge shall, within 5 days, file a written report with the nearest OCMI or Sector Prevention Office on form CG-2692: Report of Marine Accident, Injury or Death and, as necessary, be supplemented by form CG-2692B: Report of Required Chemical Drug & Alcohol Testing following a Serious Marine Incident.
Serious Marine Incident includes the following events involving a UPV in commercial service:
A marine casualty or accident required to be reported to the CG that results in:
♦ one or more deaths,
♦ injury requiring professional medical treatment and, for a crewmember, that renders the person unfit to perform his or her routine duties,
♦ damage to property in excess of $100,000,
♦ actual or constructive total loss of any vessel subject to inspection, or
♦ actual or constructive total loss of any self-propelled vessel, not subject to inspection, of 100 gross tons or more,
♦ a discharge of oil of 10,000 gallons or more into U.S. navigable waters;
♦ a discharge of a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance into U.S. Navigable waters or a release of a reportable quantity of a hazardous substance into the environment of the United States. 46 CFR 4.03-2, 46 CFR 4.05-10
*CG-2692 must be submitted in writing with an original signature along with the CG-2692B.
Propane / LPG / CNG gases aboard
There are very specific requirements if you have LPG or CNG aboard relative to the installation of that system. It can only be used for cooking. The LPG bottle must be in a container with a gasket around the top that opens, a drain tube going into the atmosphere, a shut-off and regulator at the tank, a pressure gauge in the line and a shut-off at the appliance. The gas line should have grommets where they go through bulkheads.
Navigation Lights
Make sure your running light are not obstructed by other devices aboard your vessel like a radar, hailer horn, or other items.
ADDITIONAL optional RECOMMENDED SAFETY ITEMS
Federal Law or Regulations do not require the following items. However, these items will contribute significantly to the safety of the passengers and crew of an Uninspected Passenger Vessel.
Safety Training Program
A UPV should have a safety-training program for all crew members on emergency procedures and safety equipment use. This program should to include record keeping showing that drills and training are conducted regularly.
The following emergency situations should be covered by the training and drills program for the crew:
♦ Fire
♦ Flooding
♦ Man overboard
♦ Abandon Ship
♦ Emergency /Distress Communications (MAYDAY)
♦ CPR and First Aid
Bilge Pump and Alarm
A UPV should have a properly installed bilge pump and bilge alarm. Note: Some vessels are designed without a bilge, or have suitable reserve buoyancy to float the vessel in a totally swamped condition, and will not need the bilge pump and alarm.
Backup Emergency Communications
A UPV should have some emergency communications capability that does not depend on the normal onboard power system that is located in an area of the vessel away from the normal power source for the vessel. A radio powered by a separate battery, a handheld VHF FM radio with a minimum of 5 watts of power, or a portable satellite phone can be used to provide this level of safety.