Maritime News
This page is designed as an overview of current issues affecting the maritime industry.
New Volatile Organic Compounds Emissions Regulations
The State of Maryland’s Department of the Environment (MDE) has proposed new regulations governing the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from pleasure craft coating operations. VOCs, for the purposes of this regulation, are chemicals that are commonly found in many products used in boat construction and maintenance, such as bottom paints and gelcoats. The proposed regulations (COMAR §§ 26.11.19.27-1) will affect many marinas and private boat owners throughout the state, as they will make some commonly-used paints and coatings obsolete, and impose greater liability upon the yards where coating operations are permitted. More...
2012 Maryland Legislative RecapThe Maryland General Assembly has proposed a series of legislative changes that will significantly impact the Maryland maritime community. The proposed changes range from imposing a new tax on vessel purchase of new and used boats to increasing fees for boat registration. Moreover, the newly proposed fee schedule for water based construction projects could make a simple pier repair cost thousands in application fees alone. This office is not a lobbying firm, but we have received much correspondence from clients and the maritime community asking for us to share this information with the general public. Below, we have identified some of the proposed legislation that will impact the maritime industry. Some of the proposed bills maybe beneficial to the maritime community, however we have singled out those bills that will directly have a “negative” impact on the maritime industry and the casual boat user:
We would like to thank Boat US, Marine Trades Association of Maryland, and other Maryland maritime business and persons who have helped contribute information about these and other proposed changes. For more information on these and other proposed legislature, please contact your Representative and/or Senator.
US Coast Guard Weight Restriction Now in Effect
As of December 1, 2011, the US Coast Guard calculated weight capacity has been increased to 185 pounds per passenger, regardless of gender. Recreational vessels and cruise ships are not effected by this new regulation. The new restriction follows a 2004 report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, where it found that the average weight for a man between the ages of 20 to 75 is 191 pounds and 164 for women. Moreover, the change comes shortly after two tragic boating accidents, in Baltimore and New York, where the vessels involved were carrying the proper amount of passangers, but an excessive amount of weight.
Maritime Law Enforcement Information Network
A new system of surveillance is coming to the Chesapeake Bay. Called the Maritime Law Enforcement Information Network, it is a network of cameras and radar to help monitor activity on the bay. This system will allow dispatchers to track and intercept suspicious vessels and to better assist distressed boaters. The cameras have a 3 to 5 mile range, while the radar can pick up 3-foot objects from up to 7 miles away. Law enforcement officers and dispatchers will be able to monitor situations in real time and respond to them accordingly. The system will also allow officers to set up electronic "lines" around sensitive areas that would activate alarms and cameras when crossed by a vessel. It is a powerful surveillance system that could transform maritime law enforcement on the Chesapeake Bay.
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