b'SAFETYMATTERSPlans approved by MSC or local OCMI if work wastests, or other information required to be retained by the submitted by owner/operator Coast Guard, politely direct the inspector to the guidance Any correspondence between owner/operator and Coastcited above. If the inspector has a question about construc-Guard related to the operation or arrangement of thetion, stability, or other arrangements that you, as the owner/vessel operator have not altered, then the inspector should carry out their own research before considering issuing a require-Owners Dont Get Plans ment. To be clear, work done to a Coast Guard-inspected According to Rob McMahon with PVA Associate membervessel needs to be documented and run by the local inspec-Pinnacle Marine in Stoddard, WI, shipyards and naval ar- tion offi ce. Work done without Coast Guard engagement and chitects do not have a duty to provide approved plans to anoversight can result in unpleasant control actions.owner when a vessel is delivered. That information is consid- I would like to be able to say that the OCMI should not ered intellectual property. Even the Coast Guard will deny ahold up a vessels operation due to a lack of records that are Freedom of Information Act request for plans or other infor- required to be maintained by the Coast Guard. That would mation regarding vessel construction since it is consideredbe counter to policy and grounds to initiate reconsideration proprietary. Therefore, there should be no expectation on theand appeal actions. As far as vessel construction and arrange-part of the Coast Guard inspector that an owner has a set ofment is concerned, a valid COI from another OCMI zone is vessel plans, or can get a set of plans even if the shipyard isenough to allow continued operation assuming the new to no longer in business.zone inspection does not result in issues that make the vessel Dealing with Requests for Information unfi t for its new route and service.In the event you get a request or are issued a requirementPVA staff is ready to assist should you fi nd yourself in to provide information such as approved plans, stabilitythis situation. nPhoto courtesy of Hy-Line CruisesOn Demand Diagnostics Interactive Mapping And Tracking Track Route History And Speed Fleet Management Made Easygplink.com| +1.252.504.5113Set Up GeofencesAUGUST 2019FOGHORN 31'