May 18, 2001 – The V.I. Charteryacht League and the U.S. Coast guard have reached an understanding that could bring luxury charter vessels with a capacity of up to 12 passengers back to homeport in the territory.
At issue is the federal marine safety regulation known as the "six-pack" law, which limits uninspected vessels to six commercial passengers in U.S. waters. The law has worked to the disadvantage of charter operations in the territory because vessels in the British Virgin Islands are governed by the international standard allowing up to 12 passengers.
"The breakthrough that has been achieved is the ability for a yacht to provide safety equivalencies" that will allow the vessel "to meet the inspection criteria without substantially rebuilding the yacht," a release from the charter clearinghouse Flagship on Friday stated.
Such "rebuilding" would have been required to meet requirements "designed for commercial ferries or other-purpose-built inspected vessels and not for sailing yachts," it said.
Lt. Kevin Smith, supervisor of the Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment on St. Thomas, and Susan Chandler, executive director of the Charteryacht League, met with captains and other charter industry personnel to discuss specifics of the program, which has "created a mutual and productive basis for bringing more charteryachts" to the territory, the release said.
Details are being finalized by the Coast Guard for what "essentially will be a modified inspection program, taking into account all relevant safety requirements," it stated
The release noted that Delegate Donna Christian Christensen, Sen. Alicia "Chucky" Hansen and other V.I. government officials have spoken out against the "six-pack" law.
The program could be operational by this summer, the release said, and the territory could begin to reap the benefits next tourist season. Charter vessels carrying 7 to 12 passengers, "being typically the larger and more expensive of the charteryacht fleet, would bring more revenue into the islands as they refuel, reprovision and have their guests fly into and out of St. Thomas as they begin and end their charters from here," the release said.
More information on the program may be obtained by calling Chandler at the Charteryacht League, (340) 774-3944.
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