USCG proposes to restrict cruising Catamarans to "calm" weather

[David_Old_Jersey]

"following recent unexplained fatalities and capsizes, the USCG proposes to restrict cruising Catamarans to "calm" weather unless the Captain and crew are adequately trained and licenced and the vessels were built to full US standards.

A USCG spokesman noted that "most Catamarans used in US waters were foreign built", with the implication that they were not built to US standards".

"Although full details of the training and licencing requirements were not available at the time of this announcement the spokesman confirmed that the cost would be under $10,000 and take less than 1 month of full time study. "The regulations already exist to enforce these proposals, however the announcement has been made today to give due notice". The date upon which the requirements would be enforced was not disclosed, but confirmed that in the interim Catamarans are to be restricted to "calm weather", which would be assessed on a case by case basis."

"A White House spokesman confirmed that the move should not be seen as a restraint of trade "with our EU partners" and explained "where an industry fails in it's duty to protect the Consumer we have no choice but to act" and also added; "we are the Government - we are here to help". The move attracted broad bi-partisan support as a potential welcome boost to the domestic boat building and marine training industry".

BBC News - EU trade commissioner objects to US Marine proposals
FOX News - Obama wants to destroy US boat building industry
Al-Jazeera - Infidels seek to avoid the wrath of Allah
The Times of Mogadishu - Pirate King welcomes US move as a long overdue safety measure.

Moderator's Note

Any of the following posts which mention today's date were deleted at the time of posting. However, they have been restored, since in DOJ's own words it:

......wouldn't have been quite so good with the "missing" 27 posts of folks saying "It's an April Fool" - in fact all the funnier as folks thought they were the only ones to "get it" and posted in puzzlement why no one else had . (albeit I appreciate that any humour still went over the heads of some ).

[Ram]

What are you smoking & can I have some?

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by Ram

What are you smoking & can I have some?

I don't make the news up - just passing it on.

[foolishsailor]

Funny DOJ, I seem to subscribe to more of your threads than anyone else, maybe it is the NASCAR principle - people don't go to watch the race they go to see the carnage...

[SaucySailoress]

Link please.

I bloody well hope this only applies to those dumb cruising cats, and not racing ones.

[Fr0zen]

Restored Post

@ Ram
Look at your calendar.
@ DOJ
April Fool.

[foolishsailor]

Restored Post
Damn frozen, I was hoping the cat wouldn't be out of the bag for at least a dozen pages or so!

[anjou]

If this is true, it smacks of protectionism, another trade embago.

How about we kick out all the unhealthy fast foods from britain?

[svBeBe]

Restored Post

Ah, April 1st...Specially for the FOOLS!

Bill

[SaucySailoress]

Originally Posted by anjou

How about we kick out all the unhealthy fast foods from britain?

Wouldn't it be more effective to levy a tax on all hot foods, thereby discouraging folks from buying any junk food? After all, what makes Big Macs any worse than Pasties?

[AllezCat]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

"following recent unexplained fatalities and capsizes, the USCG proposes to restrict cruising Catamarans to "calm" weather unless the Captain and crew are adequately trained and licenced and the vessels were built to full US standards.

A USCG spokesman noted that "most Catamarans used in US waters were foreign built", with the implication that they were not built to US standards".

"Although full details of the training and licencing requirements were not available at the time of this announcement the spokesman confirmed that the cost would be under $10,000 and take less than 1 month of full time study. "The regulations already exist to enforce these proposals, however the announcement has been made today to give due notice". The date upon which the requirements would be enforced was not disclosed, but confirmed that in the interim Catamarans are to be restricted to "calm weather", which would be assessed on a case by case basis."

"A White House spokesman confirmed that the move should not be seen as a restraint of trade "with our EU partners" and explained "where an industry fails in it's duty to protect the Consumer we have no choice but to act" and also added; "we are the Government - we are here to help". The move attracted broad bi-partisan support as a potential welcome boost to the domestic boat building and marine training industry".

BBC News - EU trade commissioner objects to US Marine proposals
FOX News - Obama wants to destroy US boat building industry
Al-Jazeera - Infidels seek to avoid the wrath of Allah
The Times of Mogadishu - Pirate King welcomes US move as a long overdue safety measure.

thats good news.
not a fan of inclement weather

[svBeBe]

Restored Post

Possibly April Fool's Day is not international. But we have our share of fools here.

Bill

[Ram]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

I don't make the news up - just passing it on.

take one more toke and hold it- then show us the source

[Ram]

Restored Post

haha Bill - I forgot today is April Fools day ! Got me!

[lateral]

Infidels seek to avoid the wrath of allah!.....Pirate king welcomes US move.....Rofl
We have some speed readers here too.