[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 81 (Monday, April 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22991-22992]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10678]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Coast Guard
[CGD 95-041]


Propeller Injury Prevention Involving Rented Boats

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DOT.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments on the 
effectiveness of specific devices and interventions which have been 
suggested for reducing the number of recreational boating accidents 
involving rented power boats in which individuals are injured by the 
propeller. Comments are also solicited on the extent to which such 
devices or interventions may reduce the severity of injuries to 
individuals involved in propeller-strike accidents.

DATES: Comments must be received July 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: You may mail comments to the Executive Secretary, Marine 
Safety Council (G-LRA/3406) (CGD 95-041), U.S. Coast Guard 
Headquarters, 2100 Second Street SW., Washington, DC 20593-0001, or 
deliver them to room 3406 at the same address between 9:30 a.m. and 2 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The telephone 
number is 202-267-1477.
    The Executive Secretary maintains the public docket. Comments, and 
documents as indicated in this preamble will become part of this docket 
and will be available for inspection or copying at room 3406, U.S. 
Coast Guard Headquarters, between 9:30 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Randolph Doubt, Project Manager, Recreational Boating Product Assurance 
Division, (202) 267-6810.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Request for Comments

    The Coast Guard encourages interested persons to submit written 
data, views, or arguments. Persons submitting comments should include 
their names and addresses, identify this docket (CGD 95-041) and the 
specific section of this document to which each comment applies, and 
give the reason for each comment. Please submit two copies of all 
comments and attachments in an unbound format, no larger than 8\1/2\ by 
11 inches, suitable for copying and electronic filing. Persons wanting 
acknowledgment of receipt of comments should enclose stamped, self-
addressed postcards or envelopes.

Background Information

    In a request for comments published in the Federal Register on May 
11, 1995 60 FR 25191, the Coast Guard solicited comments from all 
segments of the marine community and other interested persons on 
various aspects of propeller accident avoidance. In an Advance Notice 
of Proposed Rulemaking published in the Federal Register on March 26, 
1996 [59 FR 13123], the Coast Guard solicited information to supplement 
what had been received in response to the original request for comments 
in order to determine the appropriate Federal and State roles in 
reducing propeller-strike incidents; whether governmental intervention 
is appropriate; and if so, whether it should be directed at the 
vessels, their manufacturers, their operators, their owners, or the 
companies leasing such vessels.
    Based on comments received, other research efforts and after 
consultation with the National Boating Safety Advisory Council in 
November 1996, several potential devices and interventions have been 
suggested to aid in this endeavor. Persons submitting

[[Page 22992]]

comments should do as directed under request for comments above, and 
reply to the following specific suggested devices and interventions. 
Form letters simply citing anecdotal evidence or stating support for or 
opposition to regulations, without providing substantive data or 
arguments do not supply support for regulations.

1. Swimming Ladders

    (a) Location: Several serious propeller-strike accidents have 
occurred when individuals were swimming near the stern of a rented boat 
and someone on board the boat engaged the engine. Prohibiting the 
location of boarding ladders or swim platforms adjacent to or over a 
propeller would reduce the potential for such accidents, especially on 
larger boats when visibility in the water area about the boat is 
impaired or restricted. (b) Interlocks: Another suggested device is to 
require the installation of an interlock to prevent engagement of the 
propeller(s) when a swimming ladder is in the deployed position. For 
swimming ladders which are always in the deployed position, a guard 
preventing use of the ladder would be coupled with an interlock.

2. Large Warning Notices

    People swimming near the stern of boats with the engine(s) running 
may not be aware of the danger of being struck by the propeller(s) if 
the engine(s) are deliberately or accidentally put into gear. The 
operators of propeller-driven rental boats may lack sufficient boating 
safety education to conscientiously determine the whereabouts of 
passengers on board before putting the engine(s) in gear. Requiring the 
display of large warning notices at the helm and on the transom or 
engine would warn both vessel operators, passengers and swimmers of the 
location of the propeller(s) and danger.

3. Clear Vision Aft

    The location of the helm on rental houseboats and other boats with 
a large amount of freeboard aft, severely limits the visibility of 
individuals who may be in the water near the transom area. On rental 
boats with poor visibility aft, requiring TV monitoring of the area aft 
of the boat would alert vessel operators to the presence of swimmers in 
the water near the transom area.

4. Propeller Shaft Engagement Alarm

    Warning signals which sound when trucks and other commercial 
vehicles are put in reverse are useful in warning pedestrians. 
Requiring the installation of a similar alarm or other signal on 
propeller-driven rental boats when the shaft is engaged in either 
direction, would alert swimmers to the danger of a rotating propeller.

5. Kill Switch/Auto Throttle and Neutral Return

    In some boating accidents involving rented houseboats, the helm was 
left unattended even though the engine was at idle with the propeller 
engaged, while passengers were either in the water or diving overboard. 
In other accidents, the helm was vacated due to an accidental fall or 
ejection overboard which allowed the boat to begin turning in a circle 
and to run down the former occupant(s). Requiring installation of 
automatic devices (no preliminary operator action necessary) to stop 
the engine or return the throttle to idle and the transmission to 
neutral, if the helm is vacated, might reduce the number of such 
accidents.

6. Education

    One of the leading causes of all recreational boating accidents is 
operator inattention or carelessness. A lack of boating education or 
boating experience is a frequent cause of accidents involving rental 
boats. Requiring a safety and operational checkout for rental craft 
operators and their passengers consisting of education specifically 
directed to the location and dangers of propellers, might reduce the 
numbers of accidents in which individuals renting boats are struck by 
propellers.
    Comments and information regarding propeller guards, pump jets (jet 
drives), alternatives to propeller guards, and any other devices that 
might reduce the likelihood of an accident or the severity of an injury 
are also solicited. Technical information received will be forwarded to 
the Marine Technology Society (MTS) which is currently conducting an 
availability search for off-the-shelf propeller guards, pump jets, 
alternatives to guards, prototypes, devices with potential for reducing 
accidents, and related literature. This will be followed by a period of 
testing and analysis, under a Coast Guard grant.
    The Coast Guard will consider all relevant comments in detering 
what action may be necessary to address propeller accidents involving 
rented propeller-driven vessels.

    Dated: April 17, 1997.
T.J. Meyers,
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard, Acting Director, Operations Policy.
[FR Doc. 97-10678 Filed 4-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-14-M