b'APPEAL so I encourage any owner or operatorport transferred to another port and If a vessel owner or operator disagreesnottotaketheeasybusinessrouteissuedthesamerequirementonan-with the decision of the OCMI thenand accept what may be an incorrectother PVA member vessel. Fortunate-theissuebecomesanappealtotheinterpretation of the regulations. Byly, it was resolved at the OCMI level.District Commander and if needed,enablingtheinspectortomakebad CoastGuardHeadquartersasperdecisions, you risk perpetuating moreREQUEST A STAY46CFR1.03.Iknowitmayseembad decisions. In one of the examplesOF THE DECISIONdauntingbutkeepinmindappealsmentioned above, the marine inspec- Once the appeal reaches the district can be expedited in critical situations,tor who issued a requirement in onecommander, he or she has the option to stay the decision of the OCMI and I encourage anyowner or operator not to take the easy business route and accept what may be an incorrect interpretation of the regulations. allow the vessel to continue to oper-ate as before, prior to the issuance of therequirementorrestriction.This has been used successfully in the past where an OCMI changed the way the vessel could operate despite 25 years of safe operation. The stay was grant-ed, and the appeal ultimately was in favor of the vessel.Above all, the process can work, and vesselownersandoperatorsshould notbefearfulofretributionfrom the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard ischargedwithnotonlyenforcing safety,security,andenvironmental protection,butalsothefacilitation of commerce. As I have said before, anycompetent,professionalmarine inspector will know its just business, notpersonal.ThestaffatPVAare availableanytimetoassistmembers in navigating the reconsideration and appeal process.FOGHORN 36'