US Equivalent of MCA Large Yacht Code 2

http://homeport.uscg.mil

Try that link and see if you can get what your looking for.

BTW I have been trying to get the Small passenger link to work for a week with no luck

Mike

Try ABS (American Bureau of Shipping).

Hi,

Balboa- if you are going to convert or build a foreign built boat to go under US Flag you would do well to examine an act of Congress called the Jones Act

I'm involved with a 130-footer that began life as a Canadian Fisheries vessel which was transformed into an expedition vessel (USCG documented) of sorts, i.e., foreign-to-U.S. flag.
The recent buyers wished to do governmental contract work(picking up weather buoys) and also use her as a pleasure yacht doing the occasional charter.
A MARAD waiver was granted ("'Course you boys can't do no fishin'") but, since she exceeds 300 gross tons, a Coast Guard inspection for a twelve-pack would be required.
This may take a while.

Hi,

Be careful here Balboa, depending upon the GRT it may never be able to be US Flagged.

The 130-footer I referred to was 406 GT, and after modifications is now 483 GT is still acceptable to the authorities to be US documented.
Vessel use above & beyond 300 GT is the main question, esp. as regards chartering, but not, interestingly, as regards research work.
The feds, however, do not want her fishing commercially.

Hi,

Loren, Could you supply any info as to how it came to be US registered.

I know if it's a drug seizure etc and resold by the US Govt. then the Jones Act seems to not apply regardless of size.

I have been in this business a long time and worked for a number of high profile Owners including the late Mr Bernie Little, the Jones act used to wind him up a lot with his choice of foreign built yacht being unable to be US Flagged.

12 pack limit

Recently I saw some article that discussed the fact that many large private yachts, even 'superyachts', were many times limited in accomodations to 12 guest on purpose as the building, inspection, insurance codes were so much more strengent for anything with greater passenger designations.

Can someone lead me to that article/discussion?? Could it have been in the Yacht Report?

I need a copy of the article/discussion

here

If a vessel takes more than 12 passengers, it then technically becomes a ferry and has to comply with Solas. Not impossible for most gigayachts but a little impractical for the smaller yachts, with extensive requirements for fire fighting apparatus, life rafts, electronics, water tight bulkheads, crash bulkheads, fire surpression, gas detection..... the list goes on.

For a vessel to be MCA LY2 (any LY2 assuming it has not been grandfathered in) it is required to be in class, this is going to be beneficial for any registration as many now require vessels be compliant with exceptions. I don't see any reason why an already complient vessel couldn't just be US registered, as long as US duty is paid. Most foreign flagged vessel are only that way for liability and/or tax reasons.

K1W1:

A Jones Act waiver request (as authorized by Pub. L. 105-383) was made to the US DOT Maritime Administration. No public comment opposing the grant of the waiver was received, nor were any received (after being published in the Federal Register for 30 days) that would cause "undue market impact on vessel operators or vessel builders." [USCG quotes]
Thus, the employment of the Vessel...."will not adversely affect United States vessel builders or the coastwise trade business of any person who employs vessels built in the United States in that business." [USCG quotes]

This boat was/is an ex-Canadian Fisheries vessel that was modified to Expedition vessel status--very much unlike the monster motoryachts that Bernie (rest his soul) used to collect. It took about six months to be granted that waiver.

Important note: to obtain a Coastwise Endorsement and to operate the vessel commercially, additional requirements are necessary. That vessel is waiting for a decision from the local USCG as to whether she will require a standard inspection or something less.

Currently, the USCG Doc endorsements are 'Recreation, Limited Coastwise' in accordance with the MARAD waiver.

There's always another way to skin the cat.

Hi,

Loren,

Whilst I know you and I have a couple of very close contacts and we do not know who each other are.

I stick by my earlier caution to advance Balboas ideas without definite facts, the feds change stuff to suit the occasion/cash benefit available so take no offence from what I say based upon my own experience .

Hi K1W1:

No offense taken.
Like you, I was always under the impression that it would take, literally, an Act of Congress (which has been done before, BTW) to take a foreign-built vessel into a U.S.-flag designation, due to the Jones Act of 1812.

I can't claim too much credit for what was done here: Legalman played a part, too.
To counter Shakespeare's "First thing, let's kill all the lawyers", I might add "Keep a few of the Admiralty lawyers ".

Lurssen's Limitless ...
*see flag