[Federal Register: October 27, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 207)]
[Notices]
[Page 61987-61988]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr27oc05-53]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 
Wpeters@comdt.uscg.mil. 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]

BILLING CODE 4910-15-P