5 Star Safety Program
Alaska's Uninspected Passenger Vessel (UPV) Safety Program
Learn more about charter boat safety and efforts made to improve it for crew and passengers on uninspected passenger vessels
A few years ago, Captain Ed Page with the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office in Juneau, Alaska proposed a new safety program for Alaska's charter boats. Several incidents with charter boats sparked concern for the safety of charter boats and highlighted the potential for tragedy on the water. Most charter boats are what the Coast Guard likes to call Uninspected Passenger Vessels or UPVs. UPVs are limited by regulation to carry only six passengers, so they are commonly called six-pack boats.
Working with the charter industry, the Coast Guard developed the equipment requirements for vessel participation in the program. The goal was to develop a voluntary standard to improve charter boat safety that didn't result from a top down regulatory approach. The result is called the Uninspected Passenger Vessel Voluntary Five Star Safety Program or more simply the 5 Star Safety Program. It should be noted that 5 Star program is meant only for UPV operators and doesn't apply to inspected passenger vessels. Inspected vessels are known as subchapter T boats and must comply with very rigorous safety requirements.
Inspectors from the Coast Guard Auxiliary assign the one to five star ratings based on a list of additional safety equipment carried on the vessel. This equipment represents an investment in safety that goes beyond the minimum standards required by law. Vessels passing the voluntary examination can bear a distinctive sticker that outlines the safety equipment carried by the boat and operators can use these safety ratings in their advertising. Charter boat operators may qualify for reduced insurance premiums by participating in the safety program.
Watch for this program in your region. It has been adopted from Alaska with some modifications for national use.
What do the safety stars represent?
- One Star – The vessel complies with all regulations imposed on six-pack vessels. Operators need to have a safety program in place for passengers and crew that includes posting a written safety briefing onboard the vessel. A log is kept that documents training and drills conducted on the vessel.
- Two Star – After meeting the basic requirements of the first star, the second star is granted for the installation of a high capacity bilge pump and high water warning alarm.
- Three Star – The third is awarded for carriage of an additional emergency communications device. This can be a 5-watt handheld VHF marine radio or portable satellite telephone.
- Four Star – A fourth star is issued for possession of a properly installed and registered 406 MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). The EPIRB can be a Class I or II device to qualify.
- Five Star – The final star is awarded for providing a Coast Guard approved survival craft. This can be an inflatable life raft or inflatable buoyant apparatus. The inflatable craft can be a canister or valise type and must be able to carry all passengers onboard. A vessel that is equipped with an equivalent amount of built-in level floatation can also meet this requirement.
