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ESSENTIAL BOAT POLICY ELEMENTS

The following list gives topics that are essential to every NOAA boat policy regardless of location or size of boat.

PFDs

Personal Flotation Devices, or PFDs, are required equipment (appropriately sized!) aboard every boat. Unfortunately, just because they are required aboard every boat, people still will not routinely wear them. Remember...no one plans on falling overboard. Every policy should include a statement(s) detailing when, where, and perhaps even what type, of PFD shall be worn. Wearing a PFD should be mandatory at all times for almost all boat operations, especially when working on deck, near the side, or in the vicinity of a surf zone. The exceptions to this "rule" would be when wearing an inherently bouyant PFD would increase the risk of injury or be detrimental to mission accomplishment. When could this happen? It could occur when:

1. A boat has an enclosed space AND there is a risk of capsizing the boat with personnel working in the enclosed space; or,
   


2. A boat has an enclosed space and personnel can reasonably expect to spend the vast majority of their time aboard the boat in the enclosed space AND the PFD would hamper the mobility and comfort of the personnel working in the enclosed space.

Even with these exceptions, there are manually inflatable PFDs (NOT inherently bouyant) which may be worn that do not significantly encumber personnel during the accomplishment of their tasks. The manually inflatable feature would not increase the risk of becoming entrapped inside an enclosed space in the unfortunate event of a capsize. Obviously, given the wide variety of boat operations with in NOAA, a NOAA level policy on PFD use may not be best suited to reduce all the inherent operational risk through out the agency. Field activities must consider all types and features of the PFDs aboard their boats when deciding where and when wearing a PFD is appropriate.

Coxswain

Every boat, or group of boats working in close proximity, must be under the control of a coxswain whose primary responsibility is to ensure the safe navigation of the boat(s) at all times. Coxswains must not have their attentions routinely diverted from this duty by research goals or mission objectives.  

Surf Zone Operations

Every boat operation conducted in or near a high energy surf zone, including high energy surf zone beach landings, must give the risks inherent to the operation and list personal protective gear or risk abatement measures to be employed prior to conducting operations and in the event of capsizing. For example: 1. Prior to entering a surf zone, examine the direction and period of all swells and the resultant breaking waves; 2. Maintain a lookout on the side of the boat facing seaward from bow to stern; 3. Personnel must wear crash helmets, PFDs, and must have emergency gear (flares, EPIRB) at the ready in case of capsizing.

Alcohol & Drugs

Although there are existing prohibitions on alcohol and illegal drugs in the NOAA work place, a specific statement prohibiting the use or possession of these items aboard small boats should be standard in any boat policy or vessel operations manual.