Coast Guard tells lawmakers it will work to avoid harming fishermen after policy letter drew industry backlash
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Summary
Members warned that Coast Guard Policy Letter 24‑02 on classification is undermining the alternative compliance pathway and harming small shipbuilders and fishermen; the Coast Guard said it is engaging stakeholders and will avoid immediate compliance actions while seeking a path forward.
Representative Van Drew told the Subcommittee he believes Coast Guard Policy Letter 24‑02 "is undermining congressional intent" behind the alternative compliance pathway and should be withdrawn because it is making compliance cost‑prohibitive for working fishermen and domestic shipyards.
"Policy letter 24 0 2 reverses that choice," Van Drew said, adding that vessels are operating under temporary safety stickers while owners scramble to pay retroactive classification costs. He urged the Coast Guard to withdraw the letter immediately and work with the industry to avoid harming livelihoods.
Rear Admiral David C Bharata said the Coast Guard is "tracking this issue very closely" and acknowledged the service has met with stakeholders, including marine surveyors. He said the policy letter is an attempt to set a broadly understood safety standard and that the service is trying to avoid taking enforcement actions that would disrupt operations while it identifies a way forward.
Members asked for continued engagement and timely updates on progress. Bharata promised continued engagement and said the Coast Guard will keep the committee informed about any reports or milestones.
(Reporting note: article quotes members and witnesses as spoken in the hearing; where the transcript uses shorthand or inconsistent spellings, the statements are attributed to the speaker named in the record.)