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class="grid-container text-center maxw-desktop"> <h1 class="text-normal text-white margin-0"> ADA Access to Passenger Vessels: Finding Safety Equivalence Solutions for Weathertight Doors with Coamings </h1> </div> </div> <div class="maxw-full"> <div class="grid-row"> <aside id="toc" class="desktop:grid-col-3 margin-bottom-2 padding-right-2 border-right-width-2"> <div class="padding-2 bg-white height-viewport overflow-y-scroll sticky"> <nav role="navigation" class="toc-subnav usa-accordion" aria-multiselectable="true" aria-label="Table of contents subnavigation"> <ul class="usa-sidenav"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <button class="top-level-accordion usa-accordion__button text-center text-uppercase text-heavy" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="subnav-list" > Table of Contents </button> <ul id="subnav-list" class="usa-accordion__content usa-sidenav__sublist"> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <button class="subnav-anchor usa-current usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="subsections" > About </button> <ul id="subsections" class="usa-accordion__content usa-sidenav__sublist" aria-label="Page sections navigation"> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <button class="subnav-anchor usa-current usa-accordion__button" aria-expanded="true" aria-controls="subsections" > About </button> <ul id="subsections" class="usa-accordion__content usa-sidenav__sublist" aria-label="Page sections navigation"> </ul> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/introduction-phase-1/" > Introduction Phase 1 </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/us-fleet/" > U.S. Fleet Case Studies Phase 1 </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/summary/" > Summary (Phase 1) </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/references-phase-1/" > References and Notes (Phase 1) </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/appendix-a-coast-guard/" > Appendix A Coast Guard Documentation for Inspected Passenger Vessel (Phase 1) </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/phase-2/" > Phase 2 A Risk Management Approach to Reconfiguration Design Solutions </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/introduction-phase-2/" > Introduction (Phase 2) </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/approach-phase-2/" > Approach (Phase 2) </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/risk-management/" > Risk Management Methodology (Phase 2) </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/application-phase-2/" > Application and Examples (Phase 2) </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/summary-action-phase-2/" > Summary and Actions (Phase 2) </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/references-phase-2/" > References (Phase 2) </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/appendix-a-phase-2/" > Appendix A (Phase 2) </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/appendix-b-phase-2/" > Appendix B (Phase 2) </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/appendix-c-phase-2/" > Appendix C (Phase 2) </a> </li> <li class="usa-sidenav__item"> <a class="subnav-anchor bg-white" href="/research/pv/weathertight-doors/appendix-d-phase-2/" > Appendix D (Phase 2) </a> </li> </ul> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </aside> <div class="desktop:grid-col padding-0"> <div id="content" class="usa-prose margin-3 padding-3 bg-white border anchored"> <div id="toc-source-content"> <h3 id="phase-1-background-and-history">Phase 1: Background and History</h3> <p><em>October 2004</em> <img src="https://www.access-board.gov/images/vessel-doors/report-1_clip_image002_0000.jpg" alt="vessel sailing in harbor" /></p> <blockquote> <p>Prepared for: The U.S. Access Board</p> <p>Prepared by:<br /> U.S. Department of Transportation<br /> Research and Innovative Technologies Administration<br /> John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center<br /> Cambridge, Massachusetts</p> <p>Michael G. Dyer<br /> NOTICE : <em>Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or use of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United State Government or any agency thereof.</em></p> </blockquote> <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p> <p>This report examines possible approaches to provide for both marine safety and disability access at doors into passenger accommodation spaces on U.S. passenger vessels. The Architecture and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board’s ultimate objective is to assist designers and operators in improving wheelchair access without compromising the vessel safety provisions of the sills at these doorways. This report contains the results of “Phase 1” of the project, which are 1) to examine the application of the current governing safety regulations; and 2) to present several brief technical case studies examining the design and regulatory review of weathertight doors on K and T boats.</p> <p><strong>Acknowledgements</strong></p> <p>The authors wish to thank the numerous organizations and individuals who graciously provided their time, knowledge and guidance in the development of this report. Our sponsors at the Architecture and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board have been supportive. We owe thanks to many in the Coast Guard who responded to our inquiries and contributed their time, their knowledge, and their experience. They include Mr. Tom Jordan and Mr. Al Penn (Coast Guard Headquarters), LT Jason Hall and CWO4 Jim Hinde (Marine Safety Office, Boston), CWO Ray Rock (Marine Safety Office, Providence), and LCDR Tony Wiest (Marine Safety Center).</p> <h4 id="abbreviations">Abbreviations</h4> <blockquote> <p>ADA - Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990<br /> ADAAG - ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (2003)<br /> ATBCB - Architecture and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board<br /> CFR - Code of Federal Regulations<br /> COI - Certificate of Inspection<br /> COTP - Captain of the Port<br /> ILLC - International Load Line Convention<br /> IMO - International Maritime Organization<br /> MBTA - Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority<br /> OCMI - Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection<br /> PVA - Passengers Vessels Association<br /> PVAAC - Passenger Vessel Access Advisory Committee</p> </blockquote> </div> <div class="noprint"> <section role="navigation" aria-label="return to top of page" class="noprint"> <div class="margin-x-auto text-center"> <a class="text-primary text-no-underline" href="#"> <img src="/assets/uswds/img/angle-arrow-up-primary.svg" class="usa-media-block__img margin-y-3 padding-1 maxh-10 center" aria-hidden="true" /> <span class="usa-button margin-x-0">Back to Top</span> </a> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="usa-footer site-footer" role="contentinfo"> <div class="footer-section-bottom bg-base-lighter"> <div class="grid-container maxw-desktop"> <div class="grid-row padding-3"> <div class="tablet:grid-col text-center"> <span class="logo-links"> <a href="/guidance.html">Guidance Documents</a> <a href="/about/policy/accessibility.html">Accessibility</a> <a href="/about/par.html">Budget and Performance</a> <a href="/about/no-fear-data.html">No FEAR Act Data</a> <a href="/about/policy/foia.html" title="Freedom of Information Act">FOIA</a> <a href="/about/policy/privacy.html" title="Privacy Policy">Privacy</a> <a href="https://osc.gov/agency" title="U.S. Office of Special Counsel">OSC.gov</a> <a href="https://usa.gov" title="Have a question about government services?">USA.gov</a> <br /> <a class="footer-logo media_link" href="/"> <img src="/images/usab-logo.svg" alt="usab logo" width="50" /> </a> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script src="https://content.govdelivery.com/overlay/js/1997.js"></script> <!-- Digital Analytics Program roll-up, see https://analytics.usa.gov for data --> <script id="_fed_an_ua_tag" src="https://dap.digitalgov.gov/Universal-Federated-Analytics-Min.js?agency=U.S. Access Board" ></script> <!-- imported js modules --> <script src="/assets/js/uswds.min.js"></script> <script src="/assets/stickyfilljs/stickyfill.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/anchor-rsd.js"></script> <script src="/assets/video-js/video.min.js"></script> <script src="/assets/youtube-video-js/Youtube.min.js"></script> <script src="/assets/jquery/jquery.min.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/jquery.dataTables.min.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/natural.js"></script> <script src="/assets/swiper/swiper-bundle.js "></script> <script src="/assets/jquery-toast-plugin/jquery.toast.min.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/toast-rsd.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/swiper-rsd.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/datatables.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/external-links.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/anchorify.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/app.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/menu.js"></script> <script src="/assets/fontawesome-free/js/all.min.js"></script> <script src="/assets/dompurify/purify.min.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/toc-subnav.js"></script> <script src="/assets/js/opendetails.js"></script> </body> </html>