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  • mnproguides
    Posts: 3
    #290115

    Jerhadat,
    here is a link with a wealth of information on the licensing requirements and procedures for charter operators.
    http://www.uscg.mil/stcw/index.htm

    This also has links to some other sites with some good info also. Remember you have to document 360 days on the water before you can even submit an application so start logging it now. With the issues of homeland security the USCG is coming under increased pressure to provide checks and force compliance even in areas that have traditionally seen little enforcement action.

    mnproguides
    Posts: 3
    #289860

    A Brown/Grizzly bear can run over short distances @ approx 15 yds. a sec. I have been charged a half a dozen times in the 12 years I have guided in AK during the summer. I have never had to pull the trigger, but it is hard to accurately describe how small and insignificant one feels when this is occurring.

    mnproguides
    Posts: 3
    #289772

    The first thing you should do is start documenting your time on the water as you will need it to obtain your USCG Captains license. This is required on the Whitefish Chain as well as Gull, Leech, Winni, Cass, Pokegama, Rainy, Crane, Red, Namakan, LOW, among others as well as many of the rivers in the state.

    Following is a couple of statements from the Coast Guard regarding possible fines for unlicensed operators and persons who charter unlicensed operators. One single instance of unlicensed operation can result in fines of $30,000 for the operator and $25,000 for the people who hire the unlicensed operator. (Sorry for the caps but that is the way it was posted it on the web.)

    > UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
    > DEAR PRUDENT MARINE ENTHUSIAST:
    > THIS LETTER IS INTENDED TO FAMILIARIZE YOU WITH THE LAWS REGARDING
    > CHARTERING OR OPERATING A VESSEL FOR HIRE.
    > SOUTH CAROLINA OFFERS UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES TO ENJOY ACTIVITIES ON THE
    > WATER AND CAN LEAVE YOU WITH MANY HAPPY MEMORIES WHEN SAFELY DONE.
    > HOWEVER, MUCH LIKE THE FAMOUS EXPRESSION, “LET THE BUYER BEWARE” COVERS
    > THE PITFALLS OF MAKING A NEW PURCHASE, A NEW EXPRESSION, “LET THE MARINE
    > ENTHUSIAST BEWARE” APPLIES TO THE BOATING PUBLIC. YOU SHOULD BE AWARE THAT
    > CHARTER FISHING BOATS MUST HAVE A LICENSED OPERATOR. EXCURSION BOATS MUST
    > HAVE A LICENSED OPERATOR. SCUBA DIVING PLATFORM BOATS MUST HAVE A LICENSED
    > OPERATOR. IN OTHER WORDS, IF YOU ARE BEING CHARGED IN ANY; WAY FOR THE
    > SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE VESSEL, THEN THE OPERATOR OF THE VESSEL MUST HAVE
    > A COAST GUARD LICENSE.
    > THE ONLY WAY TO ENSURE THE OPERATOR HAS A LICENSE IS TO SEE IT. THE
    > OPERATOR IS REQUIRED TO HAVE IT WITH HIM JUST LIKE YOU ARE REQUIRED TO
    > HAVE YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE WITH YOU WHEN OPERATING A MOTOR VEHICLE. THE
    > LICENSE WILL EXPLAIN THE SIZE AND TYPE OF VESSEL THE OPERATOR CAN DRIVE
    > AND THE WATERS ON WHICH HE OR SHE IS AUTHORIZED TO OPERATE. PLEASE PROTECT
    > YOURSELF AND MAKE SURE YOUR SEE A LICENSE BEFORE THE VESSEL LEAVES THE
    > PIER. MOST OPERATORS POST THEIR LICENSE ON THE VESSEL NEAR THE OPERATING
    > STATION. IF THE LICENSE IS NOT POSTED, THEN ASK TO SEE IT.
    > THE VESSEL OPERATOR IS THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR IN BOATING SAFETY. THE
    > OPERATOR CONTROLS THE SPEED AND DIRECTION OF THE VESSEL OR WHETHER THE
    > VESSEL GETS UNDERWAY AT ALL. THIS INDIVIDUAL MUST HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND
    > TRAINING NECESSARY TO MANAGE NORMAL OPERATIONS AND UNFORESEEN
    > CIRCUMSTANCES. BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS POSITION IN GUARANTEEING
    > THE SAFETY OF THE PAYING PUBLIC, THE U.S. COAST GUARD PROHIBITS PERSONS
    > FROM SCHEDULING, CHARTERING, OR ARRANGING PASSENGER FOR HIRE TRIPS ON U.S.
    > NAVIGABLE WATERS ON VESSELS THAT ARE OPERATED BY UNLICENSED INDIVIDUALS.
    > BOTH THE CHARTERER AND THE VESSEL OPERATOR COULD BE SUBJECT TO A $25,000
    > CIVIL PENALTY. ADDITIONALLY, LICENSED PERSONNEL IN VIOLATION OF THESE LAWS
    > MAY HAVE THEIR LICENSES SUSPENDED OR REVOKED.
    > PLEASE CALL MY INVESTIGATIONS DEPARTMENT AT (843) 724-7690 IF YOU HAVE ANY
    > QUESTIONS.
    > SINCERELY,
    > F.J. STURM, COMMANDER U.S. COAST GUARD, OFFICER IN CHARGE, MARINE
    > INSPECTION
    >
    > 

    QUESTION: “Do Mates working aboard Uninspected Passengers need to be in a
    random drug testing program?”

    ————————-

    ANSWER: by LTJG Michael Block, Ninth District Drug and Alcohol Program
    Inspector

    Operators and Mates employed onboard Uninspected Passenger Vessels (UPV)
    must be in a random drug testing program. 46 Code of Federal Regulations
    (CFR) Part 16, the Chemical Testing regulations, states that anyone employed
    a vessel involved with the “safe operation” of the vessel, must be in a
    chemical testing program.

    You may argue that the Mate is only responsible for the fishing aspect of
    your charter. However, “operation” is defined in 46 CFR 16.105 as “to
    navigate, steer, direct, manage, or sail a vessel, or to control, monitor,
    or maintain the vessels main or auxiliary equipment or systems. Operation
    includes determining the vessels position, piloting, directing the vessel
    along a desired track line, keeping account of the vessel’s progress through
    the water, ordering or executing changes in course, rudder position, or
    speed and
    maintaining a lookout. Controlling operating, monitoring, maintaining, or
    testing: the vessel’s propulsion and steering system; electrical power
    generator; bilge, ballast, fire, and cargo pumps; deck machinery including
    winches, windlasses, and lifting equipment; lifesaving equipment and
    appliances; firefighting systems and equipment; and navigation and
    communication equipment; and mooring anchoring and line handling; loading or
    discharging cargo or fuel assembling or disassembling of tows; and
    maintaining the vessel’s stability and watertight integrity.”

    With the size of vessels that are typically used for UPV charters, and the
    high level of professionalism that I have observed from UPV Mates, I cannot
    imagine any Mate sitting back and not doing any or many of the above duties
    on a day-to-day basis. The first person that the passengers would look to
    for help during any kind of underway disaster is the crew, including the
    Mate.

    Therefore, it has been determined that everyone employed an UPV must be
    subject to random drug testing. Remember also that there is no minimum age
    provision for chemical testing, so if your thirteen year old son or daughter
    is the Mate, they need to be in a random program as well. There are only two
    things that you can be while aboard an underway UPV;
    member of the crew, or a passenger.

    If your Mate is not in a random drug testing program, then he or she is one
    of your six passengers, no exceptions. Any deviation from these regulations
    can be punishable with a civil penalty up to $5000.00 per day, per
    violation.

    LTJG Michael Block
    Ninth District Drug & Alcohol Program Inspector
    USCG MSO Toledo
    420 Madison Ave. Ste. 700
    Toledo, OH 43604
    (419) 418-6031
    [email protected]

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