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 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36 Page 37 Page 38 Page 39 Page 40 Page 41 Page 42 Page 43 Page 44 Page 45 Page 46 Page 47 Page 48JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2017 • FOGHORN 37 SAFETYMATTERS By Eric Christensen, Director of Regulatory Affairs and Risk Management Repairs and Alterations: When to Involve the Coast Guard I can tell you right up front that the old adage, “beg for forgiveness rather than ask for permission” does not usually work when operating an inspected vessel. I can certainly un- derstand that mindset after attending U.S. Coast Guard Industry Days where operators are told to report any and all changes made to their vessels. That does not seem to be a tenable position for the operator or the Coast Guard. Responsibility for the safety of passengers, crew and the protection of the environment rests with both the vessel owner/operator and the Coast Guard, so it is important to know the rules of engagement with your local Coast Guard. What Do the Regulations Say? The regulations in Subchapters H, K and T spell out when to notify the Coast Guard about repairs and alterations to an inspected vessel. Generally, they all say that, “repairs or alterations to the hull, machinery, or equipment that affect the safety of the vessel must not be made without the approval of the cognizant OCMI.” There is an exception for emergency repairs, where approval need not be granted before the repair is made, but reporting is still required after the emergency is resolved. The broad nature of the regula- tions opens the hatch for local Coast Guard interpretation of what it means WORK BOATS. THAT WORK. MAVRIKMARINE.COM | 360.296.4051 Unsurpassed quality and attention to detail. Specializing in aluminum and steel new construction, refit & repair.