Be aware that CH-1 to the VE Manual, COMDTINST M16796.8A, has been issued. The change can be found in the on-line version of the manual.

The change is essentially a swap out of Pages 3-11 and 3-12 and is an amendment to Item #4a, VISUAL DISTRESS SIGNALS. Specifically, the change is to the definition of Coastal Waters and eliminates conflicting verbiage so that the definition is now in accordance with 33 C.F.R. 175.101.

 Paddlecraft Videos:

https://americancanoe.org/education/resource-library/educational-videos/

 Instructions for reporting VE's:

 1) Vessel Examiners are to report their time in accordance with the instructions on the back of the 7038 form which states "Hours are the time spent performing the VSC". The options for reporting time at a location when not performing a VSC are as follows:

a) Asking people if they want a VSC, discussing the merits of having a VSC and/ or just talking about boating safety in general can be totaled and reported on a 7030 as PA COMREL (10J).

b) Time waiting for the next VE with no interaction with the public can be totaled and reported on the monthly 7029 as 99B.

2) On the electronic 7038 pdf, form the smallest increment of time allowed in the hours field is 1 hour. That would be the minimum allowable amount of time. The maximum allowable time should not exceed the total number of VSCs done (and is normally less). If the time is longer, state that in the remarks.

NOTICES

The Coast Guard has withdrawn the Certificate of Approval (160.037/23/0)for NAMMOLIAB AB
Orange Smoke Hand Distress Signal, and the approval status of this certificate is now marked as
“Former- Do Not Use.”This action was taken because the chemical makeup of the signal was
changed in October 2013 without Coast Guard approval and the signal that was manufactured is at risk of spontaneous combustion when dropped.

These smoke signals may be labeled and marketed as “Polar MK 4” by NAMMOLIAB AB or as
“IKAROS” by Hansson Pyrotech. “IKAROS” Hansson Pyrotech is the more current manufacturing
name. Datrex Inc., of Kinder, LA, is the only distributor for these products in the United States.
There are approximately 2,790 signals with the potentially defect in the US market.

Datrex has removed all of its remaining stock from sale and is working with customers to replace
these potentially dangerous signals. Any signal manufactured after October 2013 must be
properly disposed of and replaced with a product that satisfies the vessel’s carriage requirements.
For questions or concerns, contact Datrex at 337-738-4511 or via email at datrex@datrex.com.
This safety alert was developed by the Coast Guard Office of Design and Engineering Standards
and distributed by the Office of Investigations and Casualty Analysis. Any questions, comments,
or incidences of accidental ignition involving these signals under this Certificate of Approval should
be  sent to: HQS-PF-fldr-CG-INV@uscg.mil
 

Following are the current versions of Verification forms for use in Division 5.
7054  P-ATON Report Form
7055  Bridge Report Form
77-5a NOAA Chart Update Report Form