Effective 18 April 2018, the US Coast Guard has amended the monetary property damage threshold amounts for reporting a marine casualty and for reporting a type of marine casualty called a "serious marine incident". Coast Guard regulation 46 C.F.R. 4.05-1(a)(7) increases the reportable marine casualty property damage from USD 25,000 to USD 75,000, and 46 C.F.R. 4.03-(2)(a)(3) increases the "serious marine incident" property damage threshold from USD 100,000 to USD 200,000. The prior threshold amounts had been in place since the 1980s and, as a result, vessel owners and operators were required to report minor incidents. The new regulations with increased monetary thresholds are intended to reduce the burden of marine casualty reporting on vessel owners and operators.
With these new monetary thresholds in place, mandatory drug and alcohol testing are now required for serious marine casualties where property damage exceeds USD 200,000. Mandatory drug and alcohol testing continues to be required for other serious marine incidents as set forth in 46 C.F.R. 4.03-2.
Regardless of property damage costs involved, other marine casualties such as groundings, bridge strikes, losses resulting in vessel maneuverability, impacts on vessel seaworthiness, loss of life, injury requiring professional medical treatment, or significant harm to the environment must still be reported.
The CG-2692, Report of Marine Casualty, Commercial Diving Casualty, or OCS-Related Casualty, and the CG-2692B, Report of Mandatory Chemical Testing Following a Serious Marine Incident Involving Vessels in Commercial Service have both been revised to account for the amended marine casualty property damage thresholds.
Vessel owners and operators are encouraged to review the new forms and ensure the new forms are used for future marine casualty reporting to the US Coast Guard.
Skuld North America stands ready to respond to inquiries and assist members with the completion of the updated 2692 forms.