To: OWNERS, OPERATORS and MASTERS.
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 In accordance with United States Coast Guard (USCG) Policy Letter CG-CVC Policy Letter 15-04 (Guidance on Port State Control Examinations for Foreign Flagged Yachts) published on 18 November 2015, all foreign registered pleasure yachts of 300GT and over are subject to inspection under 46 United States Code Section 3301 (7).
1.2 In response to this, the Cayman Islands Shipping Registry published Shipping Notice 02/2016 Rev 2 which sets out the requirements for Cayman Island Ships regardless of Certification Type. GC-CVC 15-04 and CISN 02/2016 Rev 2 supersedes any previous understanding that vessel safety certification is non-Mandatory for vessels of 300 GT or more.
1.3 The purpose of this guidance note is to remind ship owners, managers and masters that all vessels of 300 GT or more operating in US Navigable waters (which includes the US Virgin Islands) must be provided with valid vessel safety certification, prior to entering into service in US waters. This also serves to remind operators of the obligations in respect to other statutory requirements that apply to Cayman Islands Ships wherever they may be.