58 Proceedings | Vol. 83, No. 1 The Coast Guard’s Recreational Boat Testing and Compliance Program by keVin feRRie Product Assurance Engineer Office of Auxiliary & Boating Safety U.S. Coast Guard T he Recreational Boat Testing and Compliance Program (RBTCP) was established in 1971 with President Richard Nixon’s signing of the Federal Boat Safety Act (FBSA), which mandated a coopera- tive federal/state effort to improve recreational boat- ing safety in the United States. It also established the National Recreational Boating Safety Program and gave the U.S. Coast Guard the authority to establish manda- tory boat manufacturing and safety standards. This act was established at a time when boating’s popularity was at an all-time high and, as a result, there was a concern- ing trend in the growing number of fatalities. Just a few years after the passage of the FBSA, fatalities were down by more than 10%. Before going further into the RBTCP, imagine what a typical recreational vessel looked like in the early 1970s. One of two images likely comes to mind. The first is a 16- to 20-foot open motorboat with a marinized inboard gasoline engine and an outdrive to propel it through the water. The second, is a similar sized vessel with a 2-stroke outboard engine sucking gasoline mixed with oil from a red, 5-gallon gas tank on deck. That was boat- ing in the 1970s, and the increased fatalities were, in part, caused by the lack of any oversight or safety standards. Title 46 U.S.C. Chapter 43: Recreational Vessels is the RBTCP’s primary authority. This gives the Coast Guard the authority to: • Prescribe regulations to establish minimum safety standards • Conduct inspections and testing of recreational vessels to determine compliance with safety standards • Require manufacturers to repair vessels that are deemed noncompliant • Contain a situation that creates a substantial risk of personal injury to the public through a recall program This law resulted in 33 CFR Subchapter S: Boating Safety and contained regulations by which the RBTCP operates. The program has evolved over the years and currently ensures compliance through manufacturer inspections, testing boats for compliance with flotation requirements, and visiting dealers and boat shows to identify potential noncompliant vessels for testing, and/ or manufacturer visits. A typical year includes about 400 manufacturer inspections, 35 boat tests, and 200 dealer and 10 boat show visits. Program Overview The RBTCP is managed by the Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary & Boating Safety’s Recreational Boating Product Assurance Branch (CG-BSX-23). Staffed by eight personnel, the branch ensures manufacturer compliance with all applicable Coast Guard safety requirements through inspections and testing, issuance of manufacturer identification codes, interpretation of federal regulations, guidance to recreational boat builders, and investigation of consumer complaints. Manufacturers Identification Codes Prior to building and selling a recreational boat, the builder or importer must obtain a valid manufacturer identification code (MIC) from CG-BSX-23. This MIC is a three-letter code that makes up the first three digits of any vessel’s Hull Identification Number (HIN).1 This pro- vides the Coast Guard, or any other federal/state agency, the ability to track any vessel back to the responsible party—the builder or importer responsible for intro- ducing the vessel for sale in the United States. Unlike commercial shipping, where the Coast Guard reviews, inspects, and ensures compliance before placing a ves- sel into service, the recreational compliance program is based upon self-certification. The builder or importer self-certifies that the vessel meets federal requirements, so more limited oversight prior to sale is required. The RBTCP then conducts oversight tests and inspections. If problems are found, the Coast Guard determines whether the responsible party needs to recall and fix all vessels or just fix vessels that are built from that point forward. If the deficiency presents a serious safety issue, the Coast
