The Marine Safety Center published an update to technical note MTN 01-08: “Marine Safety Center Review of Rigid Hull Inflatable Vessels.”

The MTN provides an alternative design standard equivalent to certain regulatory requirements found in 46 CFR Subchapters T and S for rigid hull inflatable and rigid hull foam collar small passenger vessels (RHIs). The major changes include adjustment of minimum collar material properties and clarification of acceptable drainage criteria and stability requirements.

This MTN applies to RHIs that:

a. are constructed of a rigid hull;
b. are less than 65 feet in length;
c. carry 49 or fewer passengers in domestic service on any route;
d. have collar volume of at least 60 percent of the full-load displaced volume; and
e. have collars constructed with air-filled chambers or buoyant foam.

For full details, review the MTN, or contact the Marine Safety Center Small Vessel Branch Chief at (202) 795-6734 or msc@uscg.mil.

This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official source documents, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These documents remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.