Workboat Regulatory Compliance: Boatracs, MCI, Join Hands

Boatracs announces strategic partnership with Maritime Compliance Internationa (MCI)l to provide Subchapter M compliance solution.

The two companies are collaborating in the development of a new electronic forms software product for the workboat market designed specifically for compliance management of the upcoming Coast Guard 46 CFR Subchapter "M" regulation.

The new product is based on Boatracs' industry leading electronic forms platform, Boatracs BTForms.  BTForms is currently in use on almost 200 vessels to simplify the process of collecting accurate vessel data for dispatch, Health, Safety and the Environment (HSE), maintenance and management.

Boatracs is working with Kevin Gilheany, owner of Maritime Compliance International and a recognized industry expert in maritime regulatory compliance, to develop a Subchapter M compliance product that is easy to use and affordable.

"Subchapter M, with all of its grandfathering, exceptions and other applicability specifications, is the most complex regulation ever produced by the U.S. Coast Guard," said Gilheany, a Coast Guard retiree himself.  "The biggest challenge is to determine exactly what is required for each individual vessel in a fleet.  I have greatly simplified this process for vessel owners and operators by using a list of questions to determine the optimum level of compliance. Whether an operator chooses inspection by Coast Guard or a third party auditor, this product is designed to make complying with Subchapter M manageable for any size fleet."

Boatracs is utilizing the expertise of Maritime Compliance International and building a forms-based software product that is installed on an on-board PC.  Based on certain input information, the product will automatically generate a vessel survey checklist and all of the corresponding forms required to meet the regulations for that particular vessel.