For Immediate Release: 01/08/2021 Press Contact
Commercial Vessel Licensing Authority
E-Mail: Info@mycvla.com
United States Coast Guard Guidance Licensing USVI Small Commercial Vessel Regulations
Happy new year to everyone from here at Commercial Vessel Licensing Authority (CVLA), we hope you managed to celebrate the holidays despite the strange times we are all facing, together we will get through this! We have a quick announcement on law updates and how we can help you through some of these changes.
On 8th December 2020, the US Coast Guard announced a further guidance to section 319 of the “Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation act of 2014 (Pub. L. No.113-281 (S.2444))” with regards to Uninspected Passenger Vessel operations within the USVI. Vessels under 24 meters may now carry up to a maximum of 12 passengers if they receive Certificates of Inspection and letters of compliance.
The company, CVLA, has been named as the certifying authority by the USVI Coast Guard and all owners and operators should contact CVLA to receive their certifications. If you are in need of these certifications then you can contact CVLA, who has streamlined this process for you to make it as easy as possible, via email: Info@mycvla.com, by phone: 1-855-340-0009 (extension 6), or head to mycvla.com for more information.
“These are mandates that were already in place, and these boats need these licenses to operate properly, but since BVI (British Virgin Islands) has been closed no one has been able to get the proper certification. Through a joint effort between us here at CVLA and the US Coast Guard, it’s now possible for boats here in the US to get these licenses. This makes it much more convenient for boats overall.”
The new amendment states that vessels under 24 meters can now only carry up to twelve total passengers if the US Coast Guard determines that the vessel complies with the requirements established by the United Kingdom Code of Practice for the Safety of Small Commercial Motor or Sailing Vessels.
Previously, US-flagged vessels would have obtained a Yellow Code (for motor vessels) or a Blue Code (for sailing vessels) from the British Virgin Islands to show their compliance.
However, the British Virgin Islands are no longer issuing these licenses and so there is no way to obtain the proper certifications in the US. Through a joint effort between the US Coast Guard and CVLA, it is now possible for you to obtain these licenses and by using modern-day automated web technologies and systems it is also easier than ever!
While the Coast Guard issued a statement saying that they have determined this change will be “substantially self-implementing” (Marine Safety Information Bulleting 03-15 Change 01), there are specific steps that need to be taken if owners and operators wish to carry seven to twelve passengers.
In order to respect the new changes, the vessels must be in compliance with the Yellow or Blue Codes. To verify their compliance with these Codes, the vessel must be examined by a certifying authority, CVLA is the only official certifying authority on behalf of the US Coast Guard and has designed the process with your convenience in mind, just visit mycvla.com to find out more.
Once a valid copy of the Small Commercial Vessel Certificate demonstrating compliance has been issued it must be kept on board the vessel to which it is relevant. The new certifying authority also includes a decal system for displaying on your vessel.
If you need to gain certification of compliance, inspections, stabilities, vessel registration or you would like any information regarding the new changes then do not hesitate to contact us! You can contact us by email at Info@mycvla.com, by phone on 1-855-340-0009 (extension 6), head to mycvla.com for more information, or even to our Facebook page.