2023 VESSEL EXAMINER WORKSHOP�for both USCG Auxiliary and US Power Squadrons

Prepared by the

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY� DIRECTORATE FOR VESSEL EXAMINATION

AND PARTNER VISITATION

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Welcome to the 2023 VE Workshop

• This workshop contains the following topics:
• Updates to “I Want a VSC”
• Approved VE uniforms
• Vessels not eligible for VSC
• Paddlecraft
• PFD “Intended Use” Label changes
• VDS usage Requirements
• New Fire Extinguisher Requirements
• Battery Requirements
• Engine Cut-Off Switch Requirements

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I Want a VSC

• Revised “I Want a VSC” form is online with a new look.
• Major changes are:
• The originator no longer sees the selected VEs’ emails, only selected VEs see the emails.
• Originator gets an email indicating they’ll be contacted.
• Its’ important VEs “Reply All” they’ve made contact or aren’t available.
• If the originator does not receive a response -they wil be instructed to initiate another request.

“I Want a VSC” can be found at:

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or

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https://wow.uscgaux.info/i_want_a_vsc/index.php

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Approved Vessel Examiner Uniforms

• Power Squadron’s VEs wear the USPS or America’s Boating Club VE Polo shirt (red) with tan or khaki colored pants (long or short).
• Auxiliary VEs may wear the ODU, Alternate Working Uniform, or Hot Weather uniforms.
• The Auxiliary VE Polo shirt (blue/white) is authorized for wear as an optional uniform shirt worn as part of the ODU or Hot Weather uniform.
• VE’s should always wear a life jacket during a Vessel Safety Check

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Vessels NOT eligible for VSC

• Recreational vessels 65 feet or longer.
• Commercial vessels (fishing boats, tugs, uninspected passenger vessels & etc.).
• Registered outside of the US or its territories.
• Experimental or unproven design.
• Submersibles, amphibious vehicles, life rafts, or surface-effect machines.
• Unmanned water-ski tow craft & motorized surfboards.

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PADDLECRAFT

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Roland McDevitt (USCGAux)

Paddlecraft: �Vessels Subject to Federal and State Law

40 percent of recreational boaters are paddlecraft operators

• Kayaks
• Stand Up Paddleboards (SUPs)
• Canoes

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Relatively few paddlers have any boater education or skills training

• Paddlers are subject to Nav Rules and other boating laws
• Education is key to their safety and safety of others

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A paddlecraft Vessel Exam is our opportunity to

• Identify legal requirements for the craft
• Discuss safety recommendations
• Recruit new members
• Identify training and education resources

(Including the American Canoe Association (ACA)

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7012a

Paddlecraft Safety Check: �Requirements

Federal Requirements emphasize:

• Life jackets (wearing is key to survival in a capsize, and required if under 13)
• Sound signal (typically a whistle attached to life jacket)
• White light (required from sunset to sunrise, and in restricted visibility)

Other Federal Requirements (as apply)

• Overall Vessel Condition (see items and details on ANSC 7012a)
• Visual Distress Signals

State Requirements:

• Some states require registration
• Know the state’s requirements

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Paddlecraft Safety Check: �Recommendations

Few paddlers have boater education or skills training

• Examiner can probe for topics of interest to owner
• Provide information and resources
• Identify classes and training opportunities

Topics to Probe

• Operator’s skill level, experience, paddling environment
• Practices, including planning, communications, navigation rules, paddling in a group, navigation rules, etc.
• Ability to recover from capsize and call for help

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Discussion Items for Paddlers

• Always wear your life jacket and carry a whistle
• Know the area
• File a float plan
• Beware of and avoid boat traffic
• Know the rules of the road
• Plan & watch for changing weather & water current conditions
• Know your limits, plan for immersion
• Electronic communication: VHF radio/cell phone
• Paddle in a group

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“If Found-Contact” decals

Win-Win for paddlers and Coast Guard

• Coast Guard can avoid un-necessary SAR, or gain needed information to focus search
• Owner can recover lost craft, or be identified as subject of search

Great way to engage

• Offer sticker to start the conversation
• Discuss trip planning and related topics

Available from Auxiliary National Supply Center or US Power Squadrons Headquarters

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OR

Same decal ANSC 3004

Reflector decals for paddles ANSC 3004B

Paddlecraft Education

Recreational Boating Safety Outreach for Paddlers

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http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=B-DEPT&category=for-paddlers

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• Paddlecraft information and training opportunity
• Educational resources, including brochures
• Links to American Canoe Association (ACA) classes and other resources

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Free Online Course from ACA

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https://americancanoe.org/education/resource-library/paddlesports-online-course/

Paddlecraft Resources

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VSC SAFETY REQUIREMENT

UPDATES

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Lifejacket “Intended Use” labelling is changing

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“Old” style label

“New” style label

Replaced by

Reading the “Intended Use” labelling

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• Icons indicate what activities the life jacket is or is not suitable for.

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• If there is a slash through the icon the life jacket is not suitable for that activity.

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• If there is slash through all four icons the life jacket is suitable for general boating.

Water Skiing

Tubing

Personal Watercraft

Whitewater Paddle Sports

Visual Distress Signal (VDS)

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All vessels used on:

• The U.S. waters of the Great Lakes;
• Territorial seas of the USA;
• Waters directly connected to the Great Lakes and territorial seas where any entrance exceeds 2 nautical miles between opposite shorelines.
• Some local areas have additional VDS requirements.

Must be equipped with USCG approved Visual Distress Signals (day and night) readily accessible and in serviceable condition.

Non-Pyrotechnic VDS

Day

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Night

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To replace pyrotechnic VDS (flares) MUST have both “Day” AND “night” non-pyrotechnic VDS to meet day/night VDS requirements.

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Advantage of Smoke Signals

Note how much more visible the smoke is during daylight than a flare.

Steve Erickson (USPS/ABClub)

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Advantage of SOLAS

Note how much more brighter the SOLAS flare is than a standard handheld flare.

Steve Erickson (USPS/ABClub)

Says “non-rechargeable”, “discharge & dispose” or “discharge & return”.

Newer say “must be removed from service 12 years after….”

Fire extinguishers -“Non-Rechargeable”

Current style of “date [year] of manufacture”

Older style of “date [year] of manufacture”

Even older style missing the “date [year] of manufacture”

Beyond 12 years old

• Non-rechargeables are considered expired and don’t count towards required number of extinguishers after December 31 of the 12^th year from “date of manufacture”.

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• Do not require annual inspection.

Says “recharge”.

Fire extinguisher - “Rechargeable”

Current style of “date [year] of manufacture”

Older style of “date [year] of manufacture”

Kidde

(and West Marine)

First Alert

(only make rechargeable)

“date [year] of manufacture”

Does not need to be removed after 12 years, but instead MUST be annually maintained [inspected] by [NFPA] technician.

Amerex

(only make rechargeable)

“Verification-of-Service Collar”

1. Installed by technician when internal exam & maintenance was done on extinguisher.
2. Has month & year that examination was done.
3. Re-starts the “12 years” limit.

Fire extinguisher -“Rechargeable”

“Tag or Label”

1. Installed by technician when “annual” maintenance was done on extinguisher.
2. Has month & year that maintenance was done.
3. Has technician’s certification identifier.
4. Re-starts the “annual” limit.

David McBride (USPS/ABClub)

David McBride (USPS/ABClub)

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Batteries should:

• Be secured or clamped to prevent movement.
• Have terminals covered (at minimum positive terminals). Some States require both terminals be covered.
• Have cables securely attached to terminals.

Electrical Systems

According to insurance statistics from BoatUS, 55% of fires on boats are of an electrical origin, with half of those coming from short circuits in DC circuits.

Craig Brown (USCGAux & USPS/ABClub)

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• Owners of recreational vessels (less than 26 feet in length, with an engine capable of 115 lbs. of static thrust; 3 HP or more) produced after December 2019 are required to maintain the ECOS system on their vessel in a serviceable condition.
• Using the ECOS-Link (ECOSL) is required when the primary helm is not within an enclosed cabin, and when the boat is operating on plane or above displacement speed.

The Vessel Examiner MUST NOT ask owner to demonstrate during a VSC.

• Also applies to older recreational vessels (less than 26 feet in length) with a installed ECOS system.

Engine Cut-off Switch (ECOS)

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ECOS is located in “close proximity to the helm or on the outboard motor itself if the vessel is operated by a tiller.”

• ECOSL “attaches the vessel operator to [the ECOS] that shuts off the engine if the operator is displaced from the helm.”
• Wireless ECOSL are approved for use. An electronic “fob” is carried by the operator & senses when submerged in water.

Engine Cut-off Switch (ECOS)

When enough tension is applied, the ECOSL disengages from the ECOS and the motor is automatically shut down.

VSC 7012 (PDF version)

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Form 7012 with ECOS is available as of April 2022

Previous editions may be used until gone.

• VE must note the ECOS status in the “Remarks” area prior to issuing the VSC decal.

Additional Resources

Auxiliary National “V” Department website

http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=v-dept

US Power Squadrons National Vessel Safety Check website

https://www.usps.org/departments/12000/12900/12900-vessel-safety-check

America’s Boating Channel

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1c_rFyt1fGqvdiSauAijAg

Paddlecraft Vessel Safety Check Addendum

http://vdept.cgaux.org/JobAidFiles/SUBsVSCManualAddendum.pdf

B-Directorate Paddlecraft Safety

http://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=B-DEPT&category=paddlecraft-safety

Paddlecraft videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e0WlXgNGDg

Vessel Safety Checks for Rental Agencies (Liveries)

http://vdept.cgaux.org/JobAidFiles/Vessel-Exams-For-Rental-Marina-Facilities.pdf

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Conclusion

• This completes the 2023 VE Workshop.
• On behalf of the entire Auxiliary V-Directorate and US Power Squadrons Safety Committee:
• Thank you to all the VEs for the outstanding job you are doing!
• Your efforts have a positive impact on recreational boating and contribute significantly to reducing boating fatalities and property damage.

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2023 V-DIRECTORATE STAFF