Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Boating Capacity Standards Act of 2013”.
Boating Capacity Standards Act of 2013
A BILL
To require all recreational vessels to have and to post passenger capacity limits and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Definitions
In this Act:
Passenger— The term passenger includes any individual aboard a vessel.
Recreational vessel— The term recreational vessel—
means any vessel that is—
manufactured or used primarily for pleasure; or
leased, rented, or chartered to a person for the pleasure of that person; and
does not include a vessel that—
is subject to Coast Guard inspection; and
is engaged in commercial use; or
carries paying passengers.
Sec. 3 Capacity limits for recreational vessels
In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall—
establish standards for determining the maximum passenger capacity for recreational vessels, which shall be expressed in whole number of passengers and in pounds;
require each manufacturer of a passenger vessel to post such maximum passenger capacity on the passenger vessel in accordance with subsection (b); and
require each operator of a passenger vessel to ensure that—
such maximum passenger capacity is posted in accordance with subsection (b); and
notice of the need to balance the weight carried by the vessel to avoid capsizing is posted in accordance with subsection (b).
Elements of display— The maximum passenger capacity, maximum carrying capacity in pounds, and notice of the need to balance the carried weight for a passenger vessel—
shall be permanently displayed in a legible matter; and
shall be located so as to be clearly visible to a passenger boarding the passenger vessel.
Penalties— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commandant of the Coast Guard shall publish regulations that establish appropriate penalties for a manufacturer of a recreational vessel that does not comply with the requirements under this section.
Application— The requirements under this section shall apply to any recreational vessel manufactured after the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act.