Coast Guard Issues Mandatory Recall of Dangerous Houseboats
reported as drowning accidents to CO poisoning.
The study showed the most dangerous concentrations were associated with houseboats that are equipped with swim platforms and electrical generator exhaust systems that vent through the transom/rear panel into a cavity formed by the vessel’s rear deck area. The study demonstrated that CO emissions could induce severe CO poisoning in exposed outside areas. Previously it was thought that CO emissions were primarily a problem that affected cabins or enclosed spaces on boats.
The Coast Guard has determined that the evidence from the Lake Powell study established a substantial potential for injury to the public due to this particular design and was indicative of a national problem. Therefore, it issued a letter on December 21 requesting that all manufacturers of houseboats with the defective design to contact the Coast Guard and identify the number of affected vessels manufactured. In addition, they were asked to provide a solution for the problem, describe their plan for correcting the problem on boats already sold and those to be constructed as well as their plan for notifying owners/operators.
Captain Ron Weston, Chief of the Coast Guard’s Boating Safety Office, stressed, "The effort of these individuals is truly significant. They were able to link external carbon monoxide poisoning to a number of deaths previously reported as drownings on Lake Powell. This is an important contribution to public safety. It reflects a dedication that we in the Coast Guard greatly appreciate. Public service and protecting the public is what the Coast Guard is all about, and clearly that is what these individuals and all those that assisted them are about. They worked long and hard to identify the true cause of these tragic deaths. They deserve both our appreciation and gratitude for what they have accomplished."
"The Department of Interior is continuing to assist the Coast Guard in getting the safety message out. This will help us reach a broad base of the recreational boating public. With the media’s help, delivery of this important safety message can be expanded significantly," Weston said.
Weston concluded, "The Coast Guard cannot stress enough how valuable the cooperation of the various agencies and concerned manufacturers has been. Preventing mishaps is an essential investment that is equal in importance to our investments in emergency response capabilities. This is truly the goal of everyone dedicated to the health, safety, and welfare of the public."
-uscg-
For more information see websites at:
http://safetynet.smis.doi.gov/cohouseboa...
Latest Articles