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19-02-2021, 14:04
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#1
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Dec 2018
Boat: Watkins 27
Posts: 467
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Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
Hello All
Please correct me if I am wrong.
If you are operating a Sunset Cruise business for 6 passengers you are reqired to do the following
The Captain
1. USCG License - Six Pack or Masters and for the body of water you will be operating.
2. I am confused if you MUST be in a random drug testing program.
I will join one anyways but I am unsure if you MUST.
The Boat
Even for a Six Pack (6 people max) your boat needs
1. To become documented by the USCG because you are doing Coastwise trade. If your boat is below 5 tons you are exempt.
2. You do not need the boat to be formally inspected by the USCG.
But to help reduce your insurance cost it would be wise to get a voluntary USCGAux inspection
Am I missing anything?
https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organiz...r-FAQ/#anchor5
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19-02-2021, 14:28
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2020
Posts: 750
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Re: Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Graham
Hello All
Please correct me if I am wrong.
If you are operating a Sunset Cruise business for 6 passengers you are reqired to do the following
The Captain
1. USCG License - Six Pack or Masters and for the body of water you will be operating.
2. I am confused if you MUST be in a random drug testing program.
I will join one anyways but I am unsure if you MUST.
The Boat
Even for a Six Pack (6 people max) your boat needs
1. To become documented by the USCG because you are doing Coastwise trade. If your boat is below 5 tons you are exempt.
2. You do not need the boat to be formally inspected by the USCG.
But to help reduce your insurance cost it would be wise to get a voluntary USCGAux inspection
Am I missing anything?
https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Our-Organiz...r-FAQ/#anchor5
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Not just documented--but must also have coastwise trade endorsement listed on the documentation certificate.
You would be smart to be sure that your insurance covers paid charters.
The USCG Aux Inspection won't hurt, but isn't required.
Also not required, but much more helpful, is the USCG UPV Inspection program. Only the military could create an UNinspected Passenger Vessel Inspection Program!
Here is the link to the inspection form:
https://homeport.uscg.mil/Lists/Cont...orm%20V2_2.pdf
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19-02-2021, 15:09
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: US Eastern Seaboard
Posts: 384
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Re: Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
And this is why not many actually follow all of the requirements for operating a UPV.
For random drug testing, 46 CFR §16.230 Random testing requirements does indeed require random drug testing, not just for the master but also for any deckhands or other crew involved in the safe operation of the vessel.
If more than 5 net tons, you are supposed to have a coastwise trade endorsement for your vessel.
In order to obtain a coastwise trade endorsement, 46 CFR 67.19 requires that the boat be owned by a US citizen and be US built. If vessel was not built in the US, you can apply for a MARAD small vessel waiver with a $500 fee and no guarantee that you will get one. For the waiver, boat must be older than three years old and still must be owned by US citizen.
There is a pretty good summary of the requirements in this link:
https://homeport.uscg.mil/Lists/Cont...JobAid2011.pdf
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19-02-2021, 15:26
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 170
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Re: Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
nvm.. Please delete
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19-02-2021, 15:30
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Muskegon, Mi
Boat: Columbia 36
Posts: 1,191
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Re: Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
There are requirements for UPV's that are above and beyond those for private pleasure boats. The folks doing the Vessel Safety Checks won't be trained on those, so that check is actually useless for a UPV. That's why USCGAux came up with the UPV Inspection program. The problem was UPV operators thought they didn't have to do anything with boat since nobody was going to check it. It's just not true. Here in Michigan where fishing charters are a huge industry, the state saw the problem and required UPV's to be inspected by the DNR and display an annual inspection sticker. The requirements for that inspection go way beyond the federal the regs.
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19-02-2021, 15:47
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Hampton Roads, VA
Posts: 108
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Re: Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
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19-02-2021, 16:33
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: US Eastern Seaboard
Posts: 384
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Re: Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
So, Graham, I’m curious. Would the built in the US clause affect your business plan? If I recall, you were already pricing out boats?
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19-02-2021, 16:42
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#8
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Dec 2018
Boat: Watkins 27
Posts: 467
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Re: Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
Quote:
Originally Posted by Pandor
So, Graham, I’m curious. Would the built in the US clause affect your business plan? If I recall, you were already pricing out boats?
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Thank you for pointing out another issue.
Your boat must be built in the US.
It not you will require to get a Jones Act small vessel waiver.
https://maritime.dot.gov/ports/domes...waiver-program
In my case I am looking at US built boat.
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19-02-2021, 18:28
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Long Island
Boat: Beneteau Oceanis 510
Posts: 197
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Re: Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
Doesn't the Jones Act only comes into play if your are dropping your passengers off at another location then where you started the trip from? The cruise ships that leave NY Harbor return to the same port, and are definitely not US built, manned, or flagged.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Captain Graham
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EDIT- Looks like it does unless you go out 12 miles and back.
Quote:
UPVs whose route is from point "A" in the U.S. to point "B" in the U.S., or returning to
point "A" without leaving U.S. territorial waters must be U.S. built and hold a COD with
an operational endorsement for coastwise trade. If the vessel is of foreign or unknown
build, it must receive a waiver from MARAD through the Small Vessel Waiver Program.
46 USC 12106(b), 46 CFR 67.19(a), 19 CFR 4.80.
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From page 13... http://wow.uscgaux.info/Uploads_wowI..._rev052017.pdf
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20-02-2021, 09:09
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Amelia Island, Florida
Boat: Endeavour, CC Ketch 40ft
Posts: 39
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Re: Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
I conduct UPV inspections for the Coast Guard and I have attached the guide we provide to the Captain's before we arrive for the inspection. This ensures that everybody is on the same page. I hope this helps.
UPV Guidebook 2018.pdf
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20-02-2021, 10:43
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: FL
Boat: Trans Pacific Eagle 40
Posts: 82
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Re: Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
All the other answers have good info regarding the Coast Guard and Insurance angles, but if you are running a business, you may need to register or license the actual business with the State or County you will be operating out of.
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21-02-2021, 08:13
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#12
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Dec 2018
Boat: Watkins 27
Posts: 467
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Re: Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt Gary
All the other answers have good info regarding the Coast Guard and Insurance angles, but if you are running a business, you may need to register or license the actual business with the State or County you will be operating out of.
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Yes for the Business you will need the following
1. Legal form of business - I picked an LLC
2. State Charter Business License if required for your state.
3. Any special Local (Town) Business License.
If you are a fishing charter (not part of what I am doing) the Captain and maybe the Mate will have to get a special state fishing license. Most states call this a fishing guide license.
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26-12-2022, 04:14
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#13
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cruiser
Join Date: Dec 2022
Posts: 1
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Re: Requirements for a Six Pack Sunset Cruise Business
The USCG License is not enough. The license must be protected by the employer's policy or it cannot ensure the captain and cargo while sailing.
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