[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 207 (Thursday, October 27, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61987-61988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-21560]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2005-22732]


Impact Study: Increasing Passenger Weight and Size on Passenger 
Vessels

AGENCY: Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting a study of the potential 
impacts that would result from increasing the passenger weight and size 
regulatory standards used when calculating the intact stability of 
domestic passenger vessels. The study will include an assessment of the 
potential impact on industry, identify the regulations potentially 
requiring change, develop a regulatory implementation strategy and 
other work associated with the implementation of new passenger weight 
and size standards.

DATES: This notice is effective October 27, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions regarding this 
notice of study, call William Peters, Office of Design and Engineering 
Standards (G-MSE-2), Coast Guard, at 202-267-2988, or send an e-mail to 
[email protected]. If you have questions on viewing or submitting 
material to the docket, call Renee V. Wright, Program Manager, Docket 
Operations, telephone 202-493-0402.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 6, 2004, the small passenger 
pontoon vessel M/V Lady D suddenly encountered high winds while 
underway and capsized in the Inner Harbor of Baltimore, MD, resulting 
in several injuries and fatalities. In the course of its investigation, 
the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issued Safety 
Recommendation M-04-04, which recommended that the assumed passenger 
weight used for simplified stability proof tests on pontoon vessels be 
raised to more accurately reflect the weight of today's population. The 
Coast Guard also identified this issue in its pontoon boat stability 
study and concurred with the NTSB that the standard weight per person 
needs to be updated to account for the increase in the average weight 
of today's population. Coast Guard current weight standards apply to 
all types of passenger vessels. As a result, the Coast Guard's 
evaluation of the weight standard extends to all passenger vessel 
types, as opposed to only pontoon vessels.
    Recognizing that such a change could have an impact on industry, 
the environment and its own operations, the Coast Guard decided to 
engage a qualified consulting organization to perform an in-depth 
analysis. The contracting process was initiated in June 2005 and a 
contract was awarded on September 23, 2005.
    This one-year project will analyze the impact of increasing 
passenger weight and size on the domestic passenger vessel industry and 
recommend the best means by which improved standards could be 
implemented. The project will be completed in two phases, and will 
include the following elements:
     Evaluate potential impacts to the domestic passenger 
vessel fleet caused by an increase in average passenger weight and 
size;
     Identify the degree of impact on fleet segments;
     Identify and suggest changes to existing regulations;
     Develop efficient implementation strategies; and
     Provide assistance for the development of draft regulatory 
changes

[[Page 61988]]

and associated regulatory analyses, including economic and 
environmental analyses.
    Once the study is completed, we will publish a notice in the 
Federal Register advising that the study's results are available and 
requesting public comment.
    To view documents mentioned in this preamble as well as other 
documents being available in the docket, go to http://dms.dot.gov at 
any time, click on ``Simple Search,'' enter the last five digits of the 
docket number for this notice, and click on ``Search.''

    Dated: October 14, 2005.
Howard L. Hime,
Acting Director of Standards, Marine Safety, Security and Environmental 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 05-21560 Filed 10-26-05; 8:45 pm]
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