摘要: |
I was diagnosed with liver cancer last year and it was decided that a transplant was the best and right thing to do. (Although a transplant is an extremely difficult and long surgery, and a multitude of things can go wrong.) I underwent surgery in October, and it was a success. I am now back in the saddle and ready to go. While recuperating, I received many calls from friends and Passenger Vessel Association members. While talking to them, many brought up the subject of inexperienced Coast Guard inspectors out in the field and how some inspectors were going back and changing what had been standard operating procedure for years. This is not anything new. However, when there is a pattern like this one it should receive some attention. For a large majority of operators who are new at operating a commercial boat, it can be unsettling. In my case, since I am one of the few operators who are in the streamlined inspection program (SIP), I get insulated from much of this because the Coast Guard and my company, BB Riverboats, have an agreement on what criteria is used to report deficiencies. As most of you know, the way this is done is though form 835 (notice of Merchant Marine Inspection Requirements). For SIP users, it is done through a correction report and is kept in a file at BB Riverboats. |