Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32JUNE 2016 • FOGHORN 17 SAFETYMATTERS By Eric Christensen, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Risk Management Maintaining the Life Floats You Get to Keep F or many vessel operators, the last year has been a game of wait-and-see regarding the replacement of lifesav- ing equipment due to a legislative change dating back to 2010. On July 1, 2015, the U.S. Coast Guard notified manufactur- ers that life floats and buoyant apparatus would no longer be approved as survival craft after February 26, 2016. The Coast Guard cited the Coast Guard Authorization Acts of 2010 and 2012 where Congress pro- hibited the approval of survival craft unless the craft ensures that no part of an indi- vidual is immersed in water. Late in 2015, the Coast Guard rolled out a compliance schedule that gave an implementa- tion period of almost a year to obtain and install inflatable survival craft as a replacement for life floats and buoyant apparatus. Thankfully, the efforts of PVA and its members, as well as other associa- tions across the country, convinced Congress to change the law and on February 9, 2016, the law was modified to allow the continued use of life floats and buoyant apparatus on certain inspected small passenger vessels. One consequence of the uncertainty sur- rounding the legislative change was that maintenance on life floats may have been deferred with their replacement looming. At more than one Coast Guard industry day, marine inspectors reminded +1 920.686.5117 sales@burgerboat.com burgerboat.com/commercial LUCIA Delivered June 24, 2015 89’ (27m) Steel Passenger Vessel Proudly built in the USA Burger is recognized worldwide for quality custom vessels that provide years of dependable service. Quality Commercial Vessels... Built by Burger to Your Requirements • Aluminum and Steel Fabrication • Passenger Vessels • Research Vessels • Fast Crew Boats • Fast Supply Boats • Wind Farm Support Vessels • Fishing Vessels • Other Vessels to 260' (80m) Under Construction 103’ (31m) Steel Explorer Vessel Figure 1