Paying customer.

[limeydal]

After an enquiry from a Pro -photographer;I was looking long term at the licensing requirements for taking out any type of "passenger" for who you are getting payment.whether monetary,gifts,or any type of compensation . I have some of the basic courses required ,including the Coast Guard aux safety course & CPR /First aid course but would be struggling on the time at Sea requirement!

The entry-level USCG license is the Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) License, commonly known as a ﾓSix Packﾔ. This license allows you to operate uninspected passenger vessels up to 100 gross tons, including sail and auxiliary sailing vessels, while carrying up to six paying passengers on the waters that are designated on the license. A Six-Pack License requires one year (360 days) of sea service. A minimum of four continuous hours at the helm is considered to be one day. (If you are at the helm for 24 hours, it only counts as one day). Ninety of the 360 days must be within the prior three years.

Does the Uk have similar regulations?
Seems a lot of water time and basically restricting it to those who make their livings already on the Ocean.Agree the more experience the better ,but seems there should be a less stringent requirement ,if you just want to take a single passengers around the bay in a RIB
cheers Dal

[John Kennett]

Originally Posted by limeydal

Does the Uk have similar regulations?

There wouldn't be many charter RIBs if we did!

John

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by John Kennett

There wouldn't be many charter RIBs if we did!

John

Come off it - it says "uninspected" - wish ours were like that!!!

Looking at the sea time though - that is stupidly restrictive but how would they prove it???

Maybe an "inspected" vessel would require less sea time???

[quinquarimarine]

If the US requirement was translated into UK operations with many operators operating for 6 months then in essence what it requires is

1. 2 years commercial experience which would be as crew with
2. 4 hours per day at the helm.

Seems quite fair to have the 2 years experience as we do here and within that to have helm/master responsibilities under supervision.

Cheers

John
www.quinquari.co.uk

[limeydal]

And this is just the "six pac" or most basic license.(6 passenger max)
I ran into the one RIB operator in the area the other day and got chatting.As he wanted to take 8 to 10 passengers on his RIB he had to take the next license up. This is the masters class license ;up to a hundred tons.
For this you have to document 720 days afloat (with at least 90 in the last 3 years)
Seems due to the lask of history with RIB's over here ,we don't really fit into any category. Also then, the vesel comes under the Inspected classification This is the case when the Coast Guard Inspector wanted him to put railings around his RIB to comply with the rules

Also the "Uninspected " tag for the six pac license is a little misleading. You still have to comlpy with all Coast Guard safety regulations and be ready for a safety check by a USCG approved safety examiner
So as well as the actual Coast guard course and exam you have to have :
Approved safe boating course
360 days on water experience
physical and drug test
CPR/First aid ticket
FCC radio license
GPS/Radar endorsement (if vessel so equiped.)

cheers Dal

[Hightower]

There's a few on here that would find it dificult to pass the Physical and drugs tests .

Dal perhaps you could lobby your Coast guard for a new set of rules and operating instruction specific to RIBs!

[dctucker]

Originally Posted by limeydal

And this is just the "six pac" or most basic license.(6 passenger max)<snip>
Also the "Uninspected " tag for the six pac license is a little misleading. You still have to comlpy with all Coast Guard safety regulations and be ready for a safety check by a USCG approved safety examiner
So as well as the actual Coast guard course and exam you have to have :
Approved safe boating course
360 days on water experience
physical and drug test
CPR/First aid ticket
FCC radio license
GPS/Radar endorsement (if vessel so equiped.)

cheers Dal

Well, in theory, every boat under operation has to comply with all CG safety regs, and be ready for a safety check!

So for me, let's see:
Approved Safe Boating Course -Yes, but 28(?) years ago!
360 Days experience -Yes, documented, hell no!
Physical & drug test -No, but I suppose I'd pass
CPR/First Aid -Ugh, been a long time since I had those.
FCC license -No, but that's just a form, I think.
GPS/Radar -Not on my boat.

So I'm a long way from passing that! Seriously though, I know a few people who have the 6-pac, and knowing who they are, it can't be that hard!!

[limeydal]

Never quite understood this 6 pac classification anyway!
It states its mainly for water taxis/fishing charters etc.
In that case a number of 10 or twelve would seem a better number anyway.
cheers Dal