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In-Water Inspection Requirements and Main Possible Deficiencies

  • November 29, 2022
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Item 1 – Stability Booklet not onboard. (CVLA can provide at request).

All sailing multihulls greater than 6meters must have a stability information booklet onboard or information in the vessel manual.

All vessels’ categories 0 and 1 must have a stability information booklet onboard.

Item 2 – All sailing vessels to have Sail Plan onboard. (17)

Item 3 – Stability Letter from CVLA. Not onboard. (CVLA will provide but vessel needs to carry onboard when received).

Item 4 – Captain’s Logbook, all vessels must keep a log. Electronic are OK.

Item 5 – USVI Commercial Registration (REG) not onboard. (17)

Item 6 – Have SOLAS TABLES  1 and 2, Minimum Training Manual onboard and other access to

current almanac and tide charts.  (Request CVLA Drive folder to access documents).

Item 7 –  Current SCV2 not onboard.  (Ask CVLA for a copy to fill out and carry onboard when filled out).

Item 8 –   FWD Collision Bulkhead required. Vessels over 12m/ 39ft. (17)

Item 9 –    USVI REG Displayed on port/sb bow. (Decal only required on portside for USCG COD vessels).

Item 10 – Vessel Name required on stern of the vessel.

Item 11 – Paper Chart of area of operation (USVI) including STX updated to 2019 or newer.

Item 12 – Fixed Magnetic Compass required.

Item 13 – Handheld Compass, all vessels require means to take bearings over 360 degrees.

Item 14 – Smoke Detector, required in hallways and galley.

Item 15 – 3X  Thermal Protective Aids (TPAS). (Space Blankets).

Item 16 – Emergency Lighting (flashlights).

Item 17 – A Fixed VHF radio required. Transmits and receiving on channel 22A & 16.

Item 18 – Ship’s Station License. All vessels require a printed onboard a CURRENT ships station license, MMSI and call sign.

Item 19 – Handheld VHF radio required by all vessels Emergency 2-way coms.

Item 20 – Emergency VHF Antenna. For sailing vessels only incase of dismasting.

Item 21 – Adult Life Jackets. 1 per adult person. (17)

                  Type 1 USCG Approved.

                  Each must have vessel name clearly written upon it.

                  Each must have reflective tape affixed.

                  Each must have a whistle on string attached.

                  Each must have a light attached, working and in date . ( Lights required category 4).

Item 22 – Child Life Jackets. 2 total required . (17)

                  Type 1 USCG Approved.

                  Each must have vessel name written upon it.

                  Each must have reflective tape affixed.

                  Each must have a whistle on string attached.

                  Each must have a light attached and in date. (Lights required category 4).

Item 23 – Flares Red Handheld (USCG Approved). (17)

  • Category 0,1,2,3, requires a total of 6 in date/// Category 4 requires a total of 3 in date.

Item 24 – Flare’s Orange Smoke Signals (USCG Approved). All vessels require 2 in date.

Item 25 – Flare’s Parachute. (USCG Approved).

  • Category 0 requires a total of 12 in date /// Category 1 requires a total of 6 in date.
  • Category 2 and 3 requires a total of 4 in date /// Category 4 do not require any.

Item 26 – Fire Pump– All vessels 15 meters or greater must have some form of sea water.

                   fire pump and hose   to reach the entirety of the vessel. Wash down hose, Hose and

                   valve   teed into a/c raw water pumps etc. will be accepted.

                    Or must carry an extra 2 X 13A/113 extinguishers to the requirements in Item 28/29

Item 27 – Fire Buckets all vessels shall have 2 fire 

                   buckets clearly labeled FIRE. and to each 

                   have a lanyard attached to the handle. (17)

Item 28 – Fire Extinguisher Engine Space. Must have                    fixed fire extinguishing system both.

                  Correctly sized and in date.

        (Must be tagged annually and USCG approved)

                  OR provision through boundary layer (fire                         port) to allow access for portable.

                  fire extinguisher discharge. (fire ports                           authorized but min agent as fire inspector).         

 This fire extinguisher is to have a minimum rating of

                 13A/113 B or similar. (Must be tagged annually and USCG approved) (17)

                 This fire extinguisher is included in the requirements listed in Item 29.

Item 29 – Fire extinguisher Accommodation Spaces. Required for all exits a Minimum (MIN) 2.5lb ABC. (17)

( ALL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS MUST BE USCG APPROVED please contact CVLA for information if unsure). 

Item 30 – Emergency Exits need labelling either EMERGENCY EXIT or green running men. (2 Means of Escape for each accommodation space).  (17)

Item 31 – Automatic Gas Detection equipment. All vessels with propane require a gas detector.

                  The gas detector must be able to be tested with an alarm. (17)

Item 32 – Propane Emergency Action Card must be displayed neap propane appliance in galley.

Item 33 – All vessels fitted with a galley require a Fire Blanket mounted near the stove. (17)

Item 34 – MARPOL. Waste Placard required.

Item 35 – MARPOL. Pollution Placard required.

Item 36 – First Aid Kit. A reasonable kit for vessels intended use required.

                  Must not have expired items and stock required by the code. (17)

Item 37 – Bungs/ Plugs. Efficient means of closing above water line through hulls. (17)

Item 38 – Signal/Spot Lamp. All vessels require means of morse code at night.

  •   Vessels Category 0,1,2,3, require search light/spotlight. For Man Overboard.

Item 39 – Safety Harness – A safety harness with lanyard shall be provided for EACH crew member.

Item 40 – Wire Cutters Only sailing vessels require a means of cutting rigging wire.

                   (Options Wire shears, bolt cutters, Battery angle grinder).

Item 41 – Radar Reflector – All vessels shall be fitted with an approved emergency radar reflector.

Item 42 – Sound Signal. All vessels greater than 12 meters  shall have a sound signal.

Item 43 – Vessel’s category 0, 1, 2,3 will have an operating GPS.

Item 44 – Running Lights, all vessels require working approved running lights. (17)

Item 45 – Anchor Light, all vessels require working approved anchor light.       

Item 46 – Barometer, all vessels’ cats 0,1,2,3, and all cat 4 over 12 meters require a barometer.

Item 47 – Life Raft, Type 4 float, tender and or life raft must be enough for all people onboard.

                  Vessels more then 3 miles offshore require a in date life raft capacity for all people.

  • Tender  must have a capacity plate. If used as a life raft and additional Type 4’s. (17)

                  cover all remaining persons if the life raft and tender cannot carry remaining passengers.

Item – 48 2 x Life Buoys (USCG APPROVED for the orange ring). All vessels.

  • Horseshoe, life sing and one must be (1x min 24” orange circular life buoy required).
  • Each must have vessel name written upon the life buoys.
  • Each must have reflective tape affixed to it.
  • 1 must have 18 Meter 60 Feet Buoyant Line
  • Other must have Automatic Float Light (NOT required category 4). (17)

Item 49 – Dan Buoy required – Only on sailing vessels.

Item 50 – All vessels require 2 Means of Starting main engines,

                  Battery change over switch, pull start, jumper cables. (17)

Item 51 – Electric or engine Powered Bilge Pumps.

                  Less than 15 m  to have at least 2 bilge pumps 1.

                   of which “MAY” be power driven 1 must be hand.

                    If under 12m hand pump can be portable.

                   Greater than 15 meters to have at least 1 fixed hand pump and 1 power driven pump.

                   to enable draining of all compartments. Strum boxes to be fitted as required. (17)

Item 52 – Manual Bilge Pump. All vessels require a manual bilge pump.

                   Vessels greater than 12 meters fixed pumping capability to all compartments.

  • Strum boxes fitted where necessary.

                   Vessels less than 12 meters category 2,3,4 as above but may be handheld pump. (17)

Item 53 – High Water Alarm.  All vessels shall have a high-water alarm fitted to all enclosed machinery. (Not required for vessels with outboard engines only). (17)

                  spaces. Alarm required to be audible and visual at the steering (helm) position.

Item 54 – Propane storage and drainage.  (17)

Propane tanks shall be secured, in an area where there is sufficient drainage to remove

gas vapors, not be stored with electrical systems and cannot drain into the interior hall.

Item 55 – Fire dampers, an efficient fireproof means of closing engine space vents

                  to contain fire  extinguishing medium. (17)

 Item 56 – Fuel Shut Off clearly labelled and visible. (17)

                  or labelled  to be visible without moving or  opening anything.

Item 57  – Emergency Fuel Shut Off. All vessels will have a means of shutting of fuel supply to  machinery in case of fire. (17)

  • The valve shall be operated from outside of the engine space.
  • The valve shall be mounted as close to the fuel tank as practical.
  • An outboard fuel tank disconnect will not pass as a valve.

Item 58 – Emergency steering. All vessels must have an effective means of steering in case of

                   remote. 

                  mechanism failure. Emergency tiller, Twin screw, Outboard motor,

                   Auto pilot direct to rudder quadrant etc. (17)

Item 59 – All vessels Anchor Day Shape required. Sailing vessels also require Motor Sailing Cone.

Item 60 – Main Anchor / chain / line size not adequate. (Windlass required <12m vessels). (17)

Item 61 – Kedge Anchor / chain / line do not meet requirements. (17)

Item 62 – Vessel does not have Current CVLA SCVC Decal.

Item 63 – Marking of (do not open at sea) required on required FWD facing skylights and hatches. Item 65 – Sailing vessels only required to carry a Storm Sail. (Reefing system is acceptable cat 3-6).

Item 66 – The Tender required to be Registered with the USVI DPNR.

Item 67 – Tender Registration number to be Displayed on the forward of the hull or tubes.

(Both sides). If USCG documented only decal is required on the portside. 

Item 68- Tender must have a Light for operating at night. (17)

Item 69- Tender must have Life Jackets while carrying passengers and crew. (17)

Item 70- Tender must have a in date Fire Extinguisher when fuel tank is not portable.

Item 71- Tender must carry a Flare while operating at night. (17)

Item 72 – The Tender needs Alternative Propulsion such as oars or extra engine.

Item 73 – The Tender requires an Anchor and tackle. (17)

Item 74 – The Tender must have a means to Bail water. (17)

Item 75 – The Tender must display carrying Capacity.

Item 76 – The vessel is required to have a Ships Bell. Vessels over 20m/ 65’.

Item 77 – The vessel Insurance Required for commercial use. (17)

Item 78 – Vessels require a Ditch Bag. (17)

Item 79 – Min 2 litres of Drinking Water per person. (17)

Item 80 – Boarding Ladder on vessel and tender. (17)

Item 81 – The vessel requires a man overboard drill.

Item 82 – USVI Vessel Business License. (For discussion purposes only with CVLA as of now).

Item 83: Callsign needs to be Posted by fixed VHF.

Item 84-Waste Disposal Plan for Vessels over 40 feet.

Additional information…

USCG Documented vessels required to have USCG approved fire extinguishers with no plastic handles and need to be inspected annually by an approved fire safety inspector and tagged. (New fire extinguishers stamped with the current year on the bottom of the cylinder do not need to be inspected until the following year).

– Vessels require in the USVI to be apart of a drug consortium.

–  The master must carry a valid operating license for the vessel and area operating.

– Qualified Crew for the vessel’s operations.

Once deficiencies are complete the vessel representative or owner will sign off on our form, we provide stating the items are complete to receive your CVLA Small Commercial Vessel Certificate (SCVC).

CODE 17 Requires immediate rectification before operating with paid passengers.


EMAIL DEFICIENCIES by image or video with a descriptive list to vi@mycvla.com
 
Once deficiencies are complete, the vessel representative or owner will sign off on our form.
 
For additional information or questions contact the staff or inspectors for assistance.
 
Provide stating the items are complete to receive your CVLA Small Commercial Vessel Certificate (SCVC). Ver. 11 11/22 Commercial Vessel Licensing Authority (CVLA).
 

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL OUT OF US WATERS.

  • Load LINE CERTIFICATE/ MEASURMENTS AS PER (46 CFR parts 42–47) (46 USC chapter 51) .
  • Not Under Command Lights Required.
  • Flashlights in ever accommodation space or emergency lighting system.

COI, SCVC or MCA Certificate.

Additional Information

KNOW WHAT CATEGORY YOU ARE APPLYING FOR! 

KNOW WHAT CATEGORY YOU ARE APPLYING FOR! THIS IS ON YOUR INSPECTION SHEET.

Category 0 – Unlimited.

Category1 – Up to 150 miles from safe haven.

Category 2 – Up to 60 miles from safe haven.

Category 3 – Up to 20miles from safe haven.

Category 4 – Up to 20 miles from safe haven in favourable weather & daylight.

Category 5 – In designated authorized bay during daylight area in favorable Conditions Only.

Category 6-1 mile from shore in favorable conditions in the bay or protected waters Only.

No. of Persons – Onboard (max. no. of persons – determined from stability tests/results, including a
max. of 12 passengers).

All vessels at a minimum require a in water inspection annually.

All vessels are required to be inspected out of the water every three years or less.

(Please note CVLA or the USCG can request a more frequent inspection) The vessel inspection dates will be added to the vessels Small Commercial Vessel Certificate (SCVC) from CVLA.

 
– Vessels staff require in be in the a drug consortium when operating in the USA/ USVI.
 
– The master must carry a valid operating license for the vessel and area operating.
 
– Qualified Crew for the vessel’s operations.
 
**OW– Out-of-water deficiencies to address.
 
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WARNING:

CVLA insist upon the vessel being in seaworthy condition at all times during the Compliance period
while carrying passengers and failure to maintain the vessel in such condition may result in voiding the
Letter of Compliance.

CVLA or the USCG reserve the right to check the vessel at any time to verify the SCV2 and safety
equipment.

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CVLA Commercial Vessel Licensing Authority US Virgin Islands

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Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm

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2023 CVLA- All Rights Reserved & Powered by Nautical Trips and Consulting, LLC

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Email: info@mycvla.com

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