One provision mandates a person operating a boat under 26ft must wear an engine cutoff device

Last week’s passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act by the US House of Representatives includes some key provisions sought and supported by the marine industry through the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA).

One such provision mandates a person operating a boat under 26ft must wear an engine cutoff device while the vessel is underway. This important safety measure was supported by law enforcement, manufacturers and the recreational boating community at large.

The measure follows last year’s move, when Congress required manufacturers to install these devices in most boats under 26ft, something many boat manufacturers have been doing for years.

The bill also grants the Coast Guard “equivalency authority”, allowing for streamlining approval of the recreational boating industry construction standards and new technologies, while maintaining the highest level of safety.

NMMA will continue to monitor the progress of this bill in the Senate and work with Congress to ensure this bill gets to the president’s desk.

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