NEW YORK –The parents of Long Island boating victim, Victoria Gaines, called on the United States Coast Guard to require capacity limits for recreational boats over 20 feet in length and require that those limits be visibly posted onboard to educate and warn operators and their passengers of the vessels’ total passenger capabilities and weight load.  In a letter to Commandant Papp of the U.S. Coast Guard, Schumer urged for the same requirements for recreational vessels smaller than 20 feet be applied to recreational vessels larger than 20 feet and for those capacity limits to be visibly displayed to anyone boarding the boat. Schumer’s request comes after the tragic loss of three children, including Victoria Gaines, 7, when a 34-foot boat carrying 27 passengers capsized in Cove Neck immediately following a July 4th fireworks show. While an investigation examining the reasons for the vessel’s capsizing is still underway, there have been numerous questions raised about overall capacity capabilities for such vessels.

“While we explore what exactly went wrong during this trip, it is vital we do everything possible to ensure that no family ever has to experience the grief that we are currently going through,” said Paul Gaines.

Senator Charles Schumer, who joined the family at a New York City news conference, said “In the memory of the children we lost on that awful day, we can take some simple steps to educate and warn boat owners and their passengers how many people a vessel can safely handle.  It doesn’t make much sense that we require capacity limits be posted for most everything from ballrooms to classrooms, and boats under 20 feet in size, but not recreational vessels over 20 feet.”

In his letter to the U.S. Coast Guard, Schumer noted that the vessel that capsized last week was thirty-four feet long and did not require a U.S. Coast Guard Capacity Information plaque onboard. Schumer argued that such a visibly displayed plaque can help dissuade boat owners, or passengers, from overcrowding a vessel, serving to prevent future tragedies from occurring. Schumer pointed out that the Coast Guard has the clear regulatory authority, and responsibility, to promulgate regulations for the promotion of safety of life as expressed in Title 14 section 2 of the U.S. Code. Schumer called on the Coast Guard to also require that those limits be posted visibly next to the steering console or the stern of boat, and in full view of boarding passengers. 

“It’s my hope that the posting of capacity information will better inform passengers and operators of the capabilities of the vessels they are boarding and operating so that no parent or family member ever has to experience the kind of horrific tragedy we saw last week,” Schumer continued.