The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-01-17

Public Law 519-Rules and Reg
ulations for Small Passenger Yes
sels-Signed
"Rules and Regulations for
Small Passenger Vessels" We're
signed October 1 by Rear Admiral
James A. Hirshfield Acting Com
mandant of the Coast Guard.
These rules prescribed under Pub
lie law SIG (the Act of May 10,
1867, will become effective June
l, 1858.
Public Law SIC was enacted as
aresult of several recent disasters.
The uninspected motorboat JACK
sank in Long Island Sound June
10, 1851. Eleven passengers. lost
their lives. The PELICAN cap
sized off Montauk Point, Long Is
land on September 1, 1861, and 40
persons persisted. More recently,
the sail vessel LEVIN j. MAR
VEL sank in Chesapeake Bay on
August IL, 1866, with the loss of
IA lives.
The original Rules and Regula-
tons for Small Passenger Vessels
were drafted by the Coast Guard
and distributed to the interested
public on August II, 1856. A pub
lie hearing was held by the Mer-
chant Marine Council at Washing
ton, D. c., on October 16, 1856, to
receive comments and views on the
proposed rules. As a result of the
hearing revisions were made. On
March Is, 1857, the revised draft
was forwarded. to all interested
parties. Further hearings were
held by the various District Com
manders and at the Marine lnspec-
ton Offices. The comments from
the local hearings were forwarded
to Coast Guard Headquarters for
review. The final draft was then
prepared and signed October l by
the Acting Commandant.
Practically any small vessel
which carries more than six pas
sengers for hire and is: propelled
bv steam, mechanical or electrical
means and of Is gross tons or less
or those not more than 65 feet in
length and from Is to 100 gross
tons; sailing vessels 700 gross tons
or less; or barges of 100 gross
tons or less, will come under the
scope of the new act.
THE passenger carrying vessel
must also be operating on navi'
gable waters of the United States
or the high seas. Foreign vessels
except public vessels, departing 6
| u, S. port will also be subject t.
hte new law unless they hold 6
valid certificate of inspection is
sued under the convention for The
Safety of Life at Sea, 1913, or
certificate issued by the Dominion
of Canada.
j For those existing vessels which
are and will be carrying passen
gers prior to June 1, 1858, the 10
cal Marine Inspection offices viii
laccept alternate of equivalen
measures which will bring the yes
sci up to the established safet!
standards. New construction ant
vessels contracted for passengel
carrying service after June l
1858, will have to meet all thu
minimum safety standards.
]. The owner, operator, or agen
for vessels subject to this ae
must submit a COMPLETED "Appli
cation for Inspection" before Jun'
II. 1858. The officer in Charge o
the Marine Inspection Office re
ceiving the application will motif!
the owner when the injection is t.
he made. This notification vii
formally authorize the boat to b.
operated on or after June l, 1858
until the inspection is made.
The initial inspection of the yes
sci is to determine if any unsaf'
! conditions exist. A REASONABLE
length of time will be allowed t.
correct minor deficiencies. Majo
deficiencies may require the boa
| to secure operation until they ar
corrected. Most boats found SAT-
and seaworthy will be issued certi
ficates valid for three years.
Some of the conditions describes
on the certificate are: areas o
operation; maximum number o
passengers allowed; m n m u n
number of crew; and lifesavint
and firefighting equipment requir
ed. The certificate must be carried
on board the vessel. To operat
the vessel without certificate o
in violation of the certificate viii
subject the owner or operator u
certain penalties provided for il
the law.
Those persons who are nov
operating vessels subject to tn
new law and who hold a Motor
boat Operators License" dated be
fore June /, 1868, will have on
year to obtain new license
Those with licenses expiring be
fore June /, 1859, will have to OBJ
tain a new license prior to tn
expiration of the old one.
Il There will he fxyo tvneS of Ii