Smart Harbors Raising the Standard - Virginia Institute of Marine ...
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Smart Harbors
Raising the Standard
Summer 2021 How to Get a Vessel Safety Check This Season
No cost, no penalty inspection can improve safety aboard your boat
Why become a Virginia NEWS From BoatUS
Clean Boater? SPRINGFIELD, Va., March 31,
By adopting pollution prevention 2021 – No cost, no penalty vessel
measures, Virginia Clean Boaters safety checks, which up until last
can take satisfaction in knowing season were given more than
they are doing their part to: 150,000 times each year by hundreds
• Keep Virginia waterways clean. of U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and
U.S. Power Squadrons volunteers
• Preserve our A vessel safety check can greatly
at launch ramps, boat clubs and
waterways for increase safety aboard your boat. All
marinas, are back.
the future. in-person vessel safety checks follow
While COVID may still be with us,
• Learn and teach both groups are ramping up efforts to COVID safety protocols. (credit: U.S.
clean boating get vessel examiners back in the field, Coast Guard Auxiliary)
habits. responding to individual requests
from boaters seeking potentially expired flare or a burnt-out navigation
life-saving vessel safety inspections, light, that prevents a boat from earning
as well as encouraging new DIY a passing grade. The Auxiliary and
Please Send Us Your News! virtual safety checks. With program Power Squadrons also note that some
sponsorship from the Boat Owners boaters desire to earn a vessel safety
Do you have a new and exciting
Association of The United States, check decal to display aboard the boat,
method for managing recyclables
here’s how boaters can get a vessel which can only be earned through an
at your facility? Are there any regu-
safety inspection this boating season. in-person vessel check.
latory items that you would like
DIY virtual safety check: A new In-person vessel safety check:
addressed? Has your facility won
virtual safety check continues the While COVID has affected many
an award, hired a new manager or
tradition of no-cost inspections by groups, including the Auxiliary and
purchased a fancy pump-out boat?
offering a combination of an easily Power Squadrons, each is endeav-
If you have any news that you
downloadable virtual safety check- oring to get vessel examiners in the
would like included in the Clean
list – the same used by actual vessel field this year. The easiest way to find
Marina Newsletter, Smart Harbors,
examiners – along with online guide out if a marina, boat club, or launch
please let us know. This is a quar-
that makes it easy for any boater to ramp will be the site of a sched-
terly newsletter with the next issue
perform their own examination. To uled vessel safety check event is to
scheduled for Fall 2021 and we
start, go here. contact your local U.S. Coast Guard
would like to include informa-
Doing a DIY virtual safety check Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadrons.
tion from the marina community.
does two things: It can give first-time You can also request an individual
Comments or
boat owners a line-by-line recipe for vessel safety check at cgaux.org/vsc,
questions please
making their boats safe. It can also but note that scheduled vessel safety
email VCMP:
greatly increase the chances of any events may offer the surest way to
askVCMP@
boat successfully passing an in-person earn a vessel safety check decal this
vims.edu or call
vessel safety check. Examiners note that season. All in-person vessel safety
804-684-7768.
it’s often just one or two items, such as checks follow COVID safety protocols.
1
USCG Changes Certificate of Documentation to 5 Years
Posted April 14, 2021 by US Harbors The new five-year documentation to enter and leave foreign ports.
Of the nation’s nearly 12 million cost for is fixed at $130. Additional Documented vessels must also
registered recreational boats, those fees apply for initial documenta- be a minimum of 5 net tons, which
owners who federally document their tion as well as exchanges. The Coast is about the size of a 26-foot boat.
vessels, or about 165,000 boats, will Guard will not issue refunds if an BoatUS notes that net tons are more
be spared the hassle owner chooses to cancel documenta- about (cargo) volume, than weight.
of renewing their U.S. tion before its five-year In a related issue, BoatUS continues
Coast Guard Certificate expiration or if a vessel is to advise boaters to be vigilant when
of Documentation every sold during the renewal renewing U.S. Coast Guard vessel
year as a result of recent period. documentation as official-looking
rule change that now Boat owners generally vessel documentation renewal notices
makes documentation choose to federally docu- can lead to confusion and higher
valid for five years. The ment vessels with the costs. Some BoatUS members have
move was the result of U.S. Coast Guard versus received notices that are not from the
Coast Guard cost-saving the more common prac- Coast Guard but rather third-party
efforts and requirements tice of state registration, companies whose name or return
set forth in the Frank LoBiondo Coast for one of two reasons: addresses may appear similar to
Guard Authorization Act of 2018. the boat was purchased with a bank that of the official U.S. Coast Guard
“The change to a five-year loan and the lender required it or the National Vessel Documentation Center
documentation period will be a owner plans to travel beyond U.S. (NVDC).
time-saver,” said BoatUS Manager of waters. A Certificate of Documenta- For more information on docu-
Government Affairs David Kennedy. tion is internationally recognized and mentation go to BoatUS.com/
Kennedy notes the new rule also makes it easier for American vessels Documentation.
eliminates some options that were
formerly available.
“Going forward, the five-year
Certificate of Documentation is the Coming Soon: CleanWayTM Fuel Fill Kits!
only option available for recreational
A large part of the ongoing mission
vessels as the 2018 Act did not allow
of the Virginia Clean Marina Program
for alternatives,” added Kennedy.
(VCMP) is to support marina opera-
Formerly, documentation was $26
tors in maintaining local water quality
per year and boaters could select the
and educating their clients about the
number of years, from one to five.
harmful effects of nonpoint source
pollution in Virginia’s waterways. To marinas typically need three sepa-
that end, the VCMP has secured a rate devices to accommodate all port
sizes.
Oil Absorbent Bilge grant to provide each certified marina
with three Clean Way™ baffle devices Starting in the Fall of 2021, VCMP
Pads Available for use at their fueling stations. Clean representatives will begin distributing
Way™ Fuel Fill’s patented baffle three Clean Way™ devices to each
The Virginia Clean Marine
design captures fuel overfills and certified Virginia Clean Marina. Full
Program has oil absorbent bilge
redirects them back into the tank. color laminated instructions will be
pads available for distribution.
This unique device captures spills provided, and a brief training will
The bilge pads were purchased
before they happen eliminating the be conducted with marina opera-
with a grant from the Chesapeake
need for rags, fuel absorbent sheets, tors and staff. Operators can then
Bay Restoration Fund. Please
fuel absorbent towels, fuel absorbent instruct their clients in the proper use
email askVCMP@vims.edu, if you
pads, or fuel dispersal sprays. This of the units when refueling. Funding
would like bilge pads for your slip
keeps fuel, dispersants, and debris for this project was secured through
holders.
out of the marine environment and the Chesapeake Bay Restoration
flammable absorbent materials out Fund and sales of the “Friend of the
of the landfill. While private boat Chesapeake” license plate. For more
owners typically purchase one Clean information, please contact Celia
Way™ device for their exact fuel port, Cackowski at ccackowski@vims.edu.
2
Fuel Dock Safety: Complacency Kills
By Dan Rutherford. Published on follow up article, I am going to focus
February 24, 2021. Marina Dock Age on two different types of losses as
well as prevention:
Editor’s Note: This is just a small First, is the simple, “Gas in
amount of the data included in NFPA Diesel” or “Diesel in Gas” scenario.
30A. It is recommended that all fuel This sounds so “simple stupid” but
dispensing facilities purchase, read, it happens dozens of times a year
and review this document thoroughly and it may have even happened to
with their staff. Original copies can be you (you can be honest… no one is
obtained from NFPA headquarters, watching you nod your head). While the wrong fuel into his or her own
1 Batterymarch Park, P.O. Box 9101, this may be a simple mistake, the boat. That is right, you, the marina
Quincy, MA 02269-9101; email: consequences can range from minor owners who sold the fuel, are being
stds_admin@nfpa.org. damage to very serious and expensive blamed for putting the wrong fuel in
repairs. the customer’s boat, but you did not
I don’t really need to show you Second, is the unfortunate and put it into their boat, THEY DID. That
a video of a boat explosion after it often very serious consequence of does not seem to matter anymore.
was improperly fueled at a fuel dock not following the proper rules and No one ever accepts responsibility;
to get your attention, or do I? Being regulations regarding the fueling of it is always someone else’s fault.
involved in marine claims for over 35 motor vessels at your “Motor Fuel Welcome to the world of subrogation.
years, I can tell you that at least twice Dispensing Facility.” Improper fueling The green circle tag clearly identi-
each year, I have either investigated (primarily with gas) can result in fire, fies diesel, while the red square tag
a case or handled a claim involving explosion, catastrophic damages and, marks gas.
fuel being pumped into a rod holder as noted above, death. We have a current case where
resulting in either a fuel spill and there is a woman on the foredeck
environmental catastrophe or worse, of the boat as it is pulling in saying
an explosion resulting in heavy that they want “gas, a pump out
damage to the vessel, dock, serious and ice.” They pull up in front of
injury and sometimes death. So, am the gas pump (the diesel pumps are
I serious when I say this is important 80 feet away), ask for gas, the gas
stuff? You bet I am. hose from the dispenser (you know,
Not to stereotype, but the days the one with the 3” high letters that
of high school kids in shorts and tee say “Gasoline”) is handed to them
shirts manning fuel docks is over. That and they proceed to fill not one, but
is unless you have really well trained, both tanks with gas. They got the
experienced, safe, and responsible pump out and ice and drove away.
high school kids working for you. Gas or Diesel Remember, I said that diesel engines
If you have a busy fuel dock, it is So, let’s talk the easy stuff first. don’t like gas? Well, theirs didn’t and
perhaps the biggest single stream Putting the right fuel into your now our insured is being blamed for
of revenue at your facility. A single customer’s boat. As a claims manager, a couple of hundred thousand dollars
accident can take that all away in an my adjusters and I have to review of damage. I could recount this
instant. cases brought forward by other several times over. The names have
PGA Marina carriers (subrogation) against the been changed, but the fact pattern is
in Florida marinas we insure for cases involving often the same. So, what do we, as
has this sign alleged improper fueling. “Gas in an industry do to prevent this type
(left) posted diesel” or “diesel in gas” can result of accidental fueling from occurring?
at the fueling in, at a minimum, the need to pump A couple of simple things come to
dock, notifying the fuel tanks and dispose of the mind.
boaters to pay contaminated fuel to more complex
attention to the repairs to engines (diesel engine
Three-Syllable Rule
type of fuel they injectors don’t really like gas). In my Train your staff the three-syllable
need for their experience, however, all of these rule. Your staff can’t be asked to
boats. improper fueling have one thing in know what type of fuel every boat
For this common… the boat owner pumped
article, and a continued on page 4
3
Virginia Flood Awareness
Virginia’s hurricane season starts aren’t prepared. Finding out
June 1 and lasts until Nov. 30. You if you live in a high-risk flood
can’t control the weather, but you can zone is as easy as entering an
prepare for it. This hurricane season, address on the Virginia Flood
make sure your family has a plan and Risk Information System. If
is protected with flood insurance. you live in coastal Virginia During Hurricane Michael, the Dan
Follow DCR on Facebook and Twitter know if you live in a hurricane evacu- River region alone suffered roughly
to stay up to date throughout hurri- ation zone and what that means. Use $12.9 million in damages. Floods
cane season. the Virginia Department of Emer- aren’t limited to mapped flood risk
gency Management’s Know Your areas either. In fact, many of the
Know Your Risk Zone map to find out. 2,000 homes that were flooded in
Flooding — whether from hurri- Hurricanes don’t just hit coastal 2016 during Hurricane Matthew
canes, rain events, or storm surge Virginia. In 2018, Hurricanes Flor-
— is the most common and costly ence and Michael tore through continued on page 6
natural disaster, but most Virginians central and western areas of the state.
Fuel Dock Safety: Complacency Kills, to use the three-syllable rule and
continued from page 3 confirm, more than once if neces-
sary, what type of fuel your customer
needs. That is the boat owner’s/ wants, but more importantly, needs.
operator’s responsibility. Period. This and proper signage and color-
But we can help them not screw up, coding are essential to keep the very
right? The three-syllable rule is as highest of standards at your fuel dock.
“Keep it Simple Stupid” (KISS) as it
comes. Train your staff to ask each Well-Managed Fuel Dock
operator: “Do you want ‘GAS-O-LINE’ My best advice to summarize is
OR ‘DIE-SEL-FUEL’?” If they screw that your fuel dock, if managed well
that up, they deserve the headaches. and professionally, should take all
Next, be sure your pumps are well that NFPA 303 and especially 30A to
marked. Many facilities have the heart and make it your fueling Bible.
diesel fuel set far away from the gas and permanently marked (H24.13.6 Your staff needs to be incredibly well
but that is not as necessary as good, for gas and 33.12.3) but unfortu- trained and disciplined. All customers
clear, and legible signage on each nately, unlike your car, the design must follow the rules, or they can fuel
dispenser. NFPA requires 3” block of the fills can allow the introduc- up elsewhere.
lettering prominently displayed on tion of the wrong fuel into the tank Before fueling, make sure that
the pump that says “GASOLINE” or because, while there is a standard the boat is off; the bilge blowers are
“DIESEL FUEL.” The hoses should be for the opening of the gas fill(1-1/8” engaged and remain engaged during
color-coded. Most standards call for minimum), that standard does not the entire fueling process; the engine
green for diesel and black for gas exist for diesel fills. We expect that hatch is closed; the cabin hatch is
but you should be sure to check your boat owners should be capable of closed; and the bilge pumps are off.
state regulations to be compliant. pumping the correct fuel into their Confirm prior to fueling if the vessel
Fuel nozzle covers should be green boat, so that is why I guess there are requires “Gas-O-Line” or Die-Sel-
for diesel and I personally think red no further safeguards at the fill loca- Fuel.” Let the boat operator fuel
for gas. You may also look into nozzle tion, but perhaps we need to rethink his or her boat. Observe the fueling
covers or tags to attach to them that this as an industry. process as best as possible.
say “diesel” or “gas.” In addition to any fire suppres- Once fueling has been completed
It goes without saying, that unless sion system required by NFPA 303 or and the hose has been returned to
your state requires your staff to actu- 10, it is recommended that marinas the dispenser, the bilges need to be
ally fuel the boat, your fuel dock include a rolling high volume Amerex visually examined, and the engines
crew member should hand the pump 489, or similar, on the fuel dock. Fuel and systems should be restarted
to the boat owner/operator to fuel dock attendants should be trained to or energized only once it has been
his or her own boat. ABYC requires use it twice per year. determined that there is no spilled
that the fuel fills on deck be clearly All boiled down… train your staff fuel, odors or hazards present.
4
NOAA begins transition to electronic navigation charts
The National Oceanic and Atmo- notified of this chart’s
spheric Administration (NOAA) cancellation in the U.S. Coast
began to implement its sunset plan Guard Local Notice to Mari-
for paper nautical charts last month, ners. A note in the lower Notice. While NOAA is sunsetting its
starting with the current paper chart left corner of the chart will state that traditional nautical chart products,
18665 of Lake Tahoe. After August, it is the last paper edition and it will it is undertaking a major effort to
NOAA’s electronic navigational chart be canceled six months later on Aug. improve the data consistency and
will be the only NOAA nautical chart 26. NOAA will continue to announce provide larger scale coverage within
of the area. This is the first traditional the cancellation of additional paper its electronic navigational chart
paper chart to be fully supplanted by charts as the sunset plan progresses, product suite.
an electronic chart as part of NOAA’s initially based on volume of sales Over the next four years, NOAA
Office of Coast Survey Raster Sunset or downloads, and in regions with will work to ease the transition to
Plan, which includes a new process improved NOAA electronic naviga- electronic products by providing
to notify mariners of the transition tional chart coverage. Cancellation access to paper chart products based
of individual paper charts to elec- of all traditional paper and associ- on electronic data. The online NOAA
tronic charts. These charts are easier ated raster chart products will be Custom Chart tool enables users to
to update and maintain, keeping completed by January 2025. create their own paper and PDF charts
mariners safer with up-to-date infor- NOAA announced the start of a from the latest NOAA ENC data.
mation on marine hazards. five-year process to end traditional Source: AIWA E-News March 2021
As part of the sunset plan, released paper nautical chart production in
in 2019, mariners will be officially late 2019 via a Federal Register
3 tips from the BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water
ANNAPOLIS, Md., April 26, 2021. locations at nearly 600 marinas, these factors by putting down the
The nation’s biggest recreational boat clubs, and other waterfront cellphone, practicing using S.C.A.N.
boating safety event of the year, locations across the country. procedures to avoid distracted
National Safe Boating Week, took ≈2. Learn from what the U.S. Coast boating, taking a free boating
place May 22–28. The annual event Guard boating safety reports tell safety course, slowing down, and
helps remind boaters to keep boating us: Operator inattention, improper driving more defensively, espe-
safety front and center all season lookout, operator inexperience, cially in congested boating areas.
long. How can you be a safety hero excessive speed, and alcohol rank Alcohol use is the leading known
aboard your boat? Here are three as the top five primary contributing contributing factor in fatal boating
tips from the BoatUS Foundation for factors in accidents. This summer, accidents, so save the celebration
Boating Safety and Clean Water. recreational boaters can focus on for after the boat is safely tied up
≈1. The best life jacket is the for the night. Boat operators also
one you will wear, meaning need to recognize they are respon-
one that’s comfortable. sible for the safety of their guests,
There are many lightweight including inebriated ones.
inflatable life jackets that ≈3. Remember to wear an engine
fit the bill. Check the cutoff switch if your boat is less
jacket’s label to ensure it’s than 26-feet, traveling on plane or
approved for your type above displacement speed. Some
of boating. If the kids are exemptions apply to this new rule
visiting, don’t be tempted went into effect April 1, including
to put a child in an ill- if the vessel has an enclosed helm.
fitting adult life jacket. The Engine cutoff switches can prevent
BoatUS Foundation’s Life boat strike injuries after an operator
Jacket Loaner program for has been ejected from the vessel or
kids offers a free and easy displaced from the helm.
way to borrow an infant,
child or teen life jacket for
the day or weekend with
5
These 5 Earth Day Tips Keep Waters Clean All Season Long
April 22 marked 51st annual environmental celebration
ANNAPOLIS, Md., April 13, 2021. the wrap it can be reused for a ≈4. Prevent a spill by refueling
Back in 1970 on the first Earth Day, second season. your boat with care. Always have
going out boating often meant ≈2. If you trailer your boat to an absorbent pad, fuel nozzle
tolerating polluted waterways. We’ve different waterways each summer, absorbent “donut,” or “bib” (to
come a long way since then. Largely leave the uninvited aquatic hitch- soak up back splashes) when
gone are the foul-smelling air and hikers at home by following “Clean, you pump. Actively listen to fuel
unswimmable waters, remnants of a Drain, Dry,” ensuring your boat, being dispensed into the fuel
prior age. How can boat owners keep trailer and motor are cleaned nozzle receptacle. Slow down the
the momentum going? The BoatUS thoroughly (including any tackle or dispensing pump as fuel reaches
Foundation offers five simple Earth watersports gear) and allowed to the top of the tank – usually when
Day tips for boaters to follow all dry completely before splashing in you start to hear bubbling or
summer long. a different body of water. gurgling noises rising from the fuel
≈1. Take time to prepare your filler tube. Refuel portable tanks
boat’s shrinkwrap for recycling ≈3. The earth may be 71% water, ashore.
by removing vents, strapping or but it’s no place for trash. Always
have a trash receptacle aboard, and ≈5. Help keep discarded fishing line
zippers. Only the plastic film can be and soft baits out of the water by
recycled. Many shrinkwrap recy- when underway ensure nothing
goes overboard. (A waste can with building a fishing line recycling bin
cling programs today are offered and placing it in your community.
at the local level, so if your marina a closable lid helps.) A second
receptacle for recyclables also helps To learn how, go to BoatUS.org/
does not recycle, ask your county Monofilament.
government. Some boaters have honor Earth Day and make cleanup
found that by carefully removing easier at the end of the boating day.
Virginia Flood Awareness
continued from page 4
were outside the mapped floodplain. requiring some residents to be Learn more about sea level forecasts
Also, hurricanes don’t just hit coastal rescued from their homes and through ADAPTVA.
Virginia. In 2018, Hurricanes Florence resulting in damaged buildings and Anywhere it can rain, it can flood.
and Michael tore through central and road closures. Make sure you know your risk and
western areas of the state. During Tides can also impact flood risk, you’re prepared.
Hurricane Michael, the Dan River and they’re not only found along the
region alone suffered roughly $12.9 coast. Tidal waters extend inland to Virginia Department of Conservation
million in damages. places like Richmond and Fredericks- and Recreation
Although it’s hurricane season, burg, as well as north, like Alexandria 600 East Main Street, 24th floor
flooding doesn’t only occur during and Arlington. The Virginia Institute Richmond, VA 23219-2094
hurricanes or named storms. In of Marine Science developed Tide- 804-786-6124
February 2020, southwest Virginia watch, a map that forecasts water
communities had severe flooding levels to help visualize the magni-
after experiencing heavy rain, tude and impacts of coastal flooding.
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