TPWD to publish tightened party‑boat safety rules, raises minimum insurance and inspection requirements
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Summary
TPWD announced a comprehensive proposed rewrite of party‑boat safety rules, proposing higher minimum liability insurance, five‑year dry‑dock or underwater inspections, clarified accreditation requirements for inspectors, and new scheduling and recordkeeping provisions.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department proposed major revisions on Nov. 5 to the rules governing "party boats" — large livery vessels carrying more than six paying passengers — citing a series of incidents and a steady growth in the industry since 2008.
Cody Jones, assistant commander and state boating law administrator, reviewed the Department's rule package developed under Subchapter G of the Water Safety Act (chapter 31 of the Parks and Wildlife Code). The amendments would: add and clarify definitions (including "owner's agent," "accredited marine surveyor" and "stability letter"), require inspections by accredited marine surveyors or naval architects, require periodic dry‑dock or underwater inspections at five‑year intervals, set a higher per‑incident minimum liability limit of $500,000, specify personal flotation‑device counts (including a child‑sized PFD at 10% of occupancy minimum), require maintenance of required documents on board, and require stability testing after structural alterations or reportable incidents.
Jones cited a string of serious incidents — capsize, fatal slide injuries, propeller strike and operating without required insurance — and said the program has grown from 31 party boats in 2008 to about 135 today. He said 70% of owners already maintain policies exceeding the present $300,000 minimum and recommended the increase to $500,000 to reflect inflation and risk. The proposal would also clarify that U.S. Coast Guard K/T‑class certifications can substitute for TPWD inspection requirements in federally navigable waters and would codify scheduling rules to avoid inspection bottlenecks.
Why it matters: The amendments respond to repeated safety episodes and uneven compliance observed in saturation patrols and inspections. They set an updated insurance floor and create more rigorous inspection, documentation and recordkeeping requirements intended to reduce risk to passengers.
What's next: Chairman Foster authorized staff to publish the proposed party‑boat rule amendments in the Texas Register for public comment. The department said it will continue enforcement patrols and work with owners to bring non‑compliant vessels into compliance.
Attribution: Cody Jones, Assistant Commander and State Boating Law Administrator, presented the proposal and cited recent incidents and enforcement results.