Chapter 04. Safety Equipment
Regulation .01 Definitions.LinkCopy Citation
A.
In this chapter, the following terms have the meanings indicated.
B.
Terms Defined.
(1)
“Aground” means a vessel that is touching the bottom and unable to move.
(2)
“Underway” means a vessel that is not aground, at anchor, or tied to shore.
(3)
“Upper Potomac River” means that portion of the Potomac River and its tributaries above the Maryland/District of Columbia boundary near Little Falls.
Regulation .02 Life Saving Equipment.LinkCopy Citation
A.
The operator of each vessel not subject to inspection by the Coast Guard shall be required to carry one lifesaving device of a type approved by the Coast Guard for each person aboard.
B.
In this regulation the term “vessel” has the meaning stated in COMAR 08.04.01.25 and includes any sailboat, ice boat, sailboard, canoe, kayak, rowboat, paddle boat, raft, or any other device capable of being used as a means of transportation on water or ice.
C.
The operator of a sailboard may meet the requirement set forth in §A, of this regulation, by wearing the following equipment so that positive buoyancy is provided to the operator:
(1)
Neoprene wetsuit or drysuit;
(2)
Closed-cell foam design padded chest, waist, or seat harness; or
(3)
Combination of the equipment specified in §C(1) and (2), of this regulation.
D.
From October 15 to May 15, inclusive, an operator of a sailboard shall wear a neoprene wetsuit or a drysuit which covers the entire torso of the body.
E.
This regulation does not apply to any person participating in a sanctioned exhibition, regatta, marine parade, tournament, or any other vessel competition or event for which the Secretary or the Secretary's designee has granted written exemption.
Regulation .03 Equipment.LinkCopy Citation
The classes of boats and vessels and the equipment required on them shall be controlled by those classifications and equipment requirements set out and contained within the Federal Boat Act of 1940, the Federal Boat Act of 1958, the Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, Title 33, Sub-Chapter S, Code of Federal Regulations and Title 46, Sub-Chapter C, Code of Federal Regulations, and as they may be amended or superseded hereafter.
Regulation .04 Upper Potomac River Life Saving Equipment.LinkCopy Citation
A.
Except for persons aboard a vessel operating under a current Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection and in compliance with current Coast Guard regulations, a person aboard a vessel, raft, or tube shall wear a U.S. Coast Guard Approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (PFD) at all times while underway on the Upper Potomac River and its tributaries, during the period beginning at 12:01 a.m. each November 15, and ending at 12 midnight each succeeding May 15.
B.
At all other times a vessel, raft, or tube shall be equipped with a U.S. Coast Guard approved Type I, II, III, or V personal flotation device (PFD) for each person aboard while underway on the Upper Potomac River and its tributaries.
Chapter annotations
Authority: Natural Resources Article, §§8-704 and 8-712, Annotated Code of Maryland
History: Effective date: August 10, 1974 (1:1 Md. R. 23)
History: Chapter renumbered effective June 23, 1976 (3:13 Md. R. 721)
History: Regulation .01 amended as an emergency provision effective June 10, 1987 (14:14 Md. R. 1564); emergency status expired October 10, 1987
History: Regulation .01 amended effective January 14, 1988 (15:1 Md. R. 18
History: Regulations .01 and .02 recodified as Regulations .02 and .03, respectively, and new Regulations .01 and .04 adopted as an emergency provision effective March 30, 1990 (17:8 Md. R. 969); emergency status expired June 30, 1990
History: Regulations .01 and .02 recodified as Regulations .02 and .03, respectively, and new Regulations .01 and .04 adopted effective April 29, 1991 (18:8 Md. R. 864)
History: Regulations .01—.04 recodified from COMAR 08.04.06 to COMAR 08.18.04 effective February 3, 1992 (19:2 Md. R. 153)
History: Regulation .01B amended effective September 29, 2003 (30:19 Md. R. 1330)
History: Regulation .02B amended effective February 17, 2003 (30:3 Md. R. 177)
History: Regulation .04 amended effective May 24, 1993 (20:10 Md. R. 849); September 29, 2003 (30:19 Md. R. 1330)