Coast Guard announces notice of proposed rulemaking for passenger vessel stability calculations

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard's Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship Directorate announced Wednesday the publication of a notice of proposed rulemaking to amend Coast Guard regulations governing the stability of domestic passenger vessels.

The changes proposed would affect the process that determines the maximum number of passengers a vessel may safely carry with primary focus on updating the average weight per person.  This average weight per person is one of several factors used to determine compliance with applicable intact stability, subdivision, and damage stability requirements for a vessel and the resulting number of passengers that may be carried.  Updating the regulations to more accurately reflect today's average weight per person will maintain vessel stability safety standards.

This rulemaking follows the completion of studies addressing the potential impact of increased passenger weight standards on regulated vessels.  These studies, along with comments and recommendations received from naval architects, shipbuilders, passenger vessel owners and operators, and the general public, will be considered in the rulemaking process.

The Coast Guard encourages the public to participate in this rulemaking by submitting comments and related materials to the docket at http://www.regulations.gov, docket number: USCG-2007-0030.  All comments received will be posted without change.