VI Standpoint.com: US Coast Guard enforces rule

US Coast Guard enforces rule
================================================================================
 on 19/08/2010 17:54:10

…local boat owners/captains voice concerns
Local boat owners and captains have voiced their concerns over the enforcement
of a rule relating to entering the US territory with a certain number of
passengers aboard the vessel.  According to the US Coast Guards Regulation,
vessels which are not coast guard certified can only carry six passengers to St.
Thomas.

But according to some boat owners and captains, that particular rule has been in
existence since 1996, but it was never enforced, given the good relations shared
between the British Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands. Before the
enforcement of the regulation, uncertified vessels were allowed to carry a total
of 12 passengers to St. Thomas and vice versa.
But now that the regulation has been enforced, some boat owners noted that it is
a ‘hard blow’ to the boating industry.  Irad Smith from Smith’s Ferry
Service, during a telephone interview with The Standpoint explained that there
are a number of boats which are not certified and cannot afford to be certified
at this point in time.
According to Smith, it will cost boat owners “thousands of dollars” to
certify their vessels, since they will have to get gasoline engines, construct
separate compartments in the boats, equip the vessel with firefighting
equipment, raffs and specified life jackets.
If uncertified vessels are found carrying more than six passengers, then they
can be fined $40,000. This was the case for one boat owner, who was recently
caught taking 12 passengers to St. Thomas.
Smith said that the regulation only came into effect approximately one week ago,
after ‘the new kid on the block’ complained of other vessels ‘taking all
the business.’
Tyrone Fonseca, boat captain for Dr. Jarecki, told The Standpoint that he was
not officially informed about the enforcement of the regulation, but only learnt
of it when one of the boat captains was recently fined $40,000 for not adhering
to the rule.
According to Fonseca, upon learning of the incident, he contacted a Coast Guard
in Puerto Rico, who is responsible for the US territory and who also informed
him that the regulation is in effect.
“We used to be able to carry 12 passengers all the time, and no one said
anything. I don’t know whether they were overlooking it because the BVI and
St. Thomas share a good relationship, but we were told we do 12 but now we gotta
do the six pack,” Fonseca said.
Fonseca is of the view that the regulation will have a severe impact on the
boating and tourism industry as a whole. “We need to get it cleared up.
That’s gonna hurt us,” he said.
Smith also expressed similar sentiments, but he explained that the ferry
services will not be affected, since certification is done every year.
When contacted for a comment on the matter, Director of the VI Shipping
Registry, Baboucar Sallah, said that he cannot comment on what the US Coast
Guards do as it relates to enforcing rules and regulations.
“I have no restriction of what they do…I cannot comment on what they do. I
suggest you contact them for any information. But what I can say is that the
boats that are certified, go and come without any hindrance,” Sallah told The
Standpoint.