b'Letter to USCG on Mask MandateCOVID NEWSP VA President Colleen Stephens recently sent the following letter to the U.S. Coast Guard Commandant about clarifications on the new federal mask mandate on passenger vessels.Dear ADM Schultz:Thevessel-operatingmembersofthefromthespreadofcoronavirus.Earlyon,However,passengervesselsdiffermarkedly PassengerVesselAssociation(PVA)arePVA developed and distributed its Reopeningfrom other forms of conveyances (airplanes, grappling with the implications of the maskGuidelines: Getting the Domestic Passengertrains,subways,buses,etc.)inthiscrucial mandatepromulgatedbythePresidentsVessel Industry Back Underway specifying bestaspect:on nearly all passenger vessels, patrons ExecutiveOrder(PromotingCOVID-19practices.Operators have put in place socialcan (and frequently do) go outside enclosed Safety in Domestic and International Travel),distancingmeasuresandinmanyinstancescabins to open-air decks.Epidemiologists and theCDCOrder(RequirementsforPersonshaveattempted(withvaryinglevelsofthe CDC have indicated that a person in the toWearMasksWhileonConveyancesandcustomer cooperation) to enforce company oropen air is at far lesser risk of transmitting or atTransportationHubs),andtheCoastlocally-imposed mask policies.In some statescontracting COVID-19 than a person in an GuardsMISB02-21(COVID-19Safetyandlocalities,governmentshaveimposedenclosedspace.Unfortunately,neitherthe Requirements in the Maritime Transportationmandatorymeasures,includingpassengerCDC Order nor the MSIB acknowledge and System).Ourmembershaveexpressedcarriage limits at levels well below that of theaddressthisimportantdistinction.Should confusion and concern about how these newvessels Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection. therenotbesomepolicyorenforcement requirementsandthefederalenforcementrecognitionofthiscrucialdifference?For posture will affect their operations, businesses,Withthesegeneralobservationsinmind,example, should indoor and outdoor seating andpassengers.Weseekclarification. PVA wishes to raise the following issues andbe treated the same regarding mask wear?If seekyourguidanceinresponsetothem. an operator sets up tables or sections on the Since the beginning of the pandemic, passengerexterior decks of the vessel that meet social vessel operators have sought to operate safelyThe CDC Order applies to conveyances,distancingguidelinesfromothertables to protect their crew members and passengersandpassengervesselsfallwithinthatterm. and sections, will masks be required?Here isaspecificexample:asailingpassenger vesselhasimplementedazoneseating arrangementwherepassengersbookazone ontheopendeckthatissociallydistanced from the adjacent zone.Masks are worn by passengersuntilthevesselisunderwayand sails set.At that point masks can be removed untilcrewmemberscomebyforordersor whenthevesselisreturningtoport.Crew memberswearmasks100%ofthetime.Restaurantsarenotsubjecttothe recentorderspertainingtoconveyances.AsubstantialnumberofPVAmembers operatedinnercruises.Ineffect,theyare restaurantsthatsailonthewater.Their primary business competitors are restaurants.Asitstandsnow,thereisnomandatory federal mask requirement for restaurants on land,whilethereisforvesselsthatprovide diningcruises.Thiscreatesacompetitive discrepancy.Should not the Coast Guards enforcement approach take this into account?Thereareinstancesinwhichacrew memberperformsdutiesawayfromother crewmembersandpassengers.Doesa Masterwhoisaloneinthewheelhouse COVID NEWS 36 FOGHORN'