Life Jacket Type Code Labels Go Away: Clarification

Dear Editor:

A press release issued Sept. 30, 2014, “Life Jacket Type Code Labels Goes Away” discusses the US Coast Guard’s recent move to eliminate on Oct. 22 the familiar Type I-V code labeling requirements for recreational boat life jackets.

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS) supports this move. We would like to provide some clarification and additional information to our original release:

• Type coding is being removed as a USCG requirement as of October 22nd. However, manufacturers will continue to use Type I-V coding until newer labels are designed and approved, and new standards are adopted.

• Removing type coding is simply the first step in a multi-year process, which includes designing new labels and developing new, ‘harmonized’ standards. Once that is accomplished, manufacturers will then be able to get jackets approved under the new standards. It’s at that point that we’ll see life jackets without the current type coding on their labels.

• Our friends in the life jacket manufacturing community further advise that 2017 is likely the earliest they could potentially see any new life jacket standards on production lines.

• Current life jackets that have Type I-V coding on their labels will be legal to sell and wear for the useful life of the jacket.

The original press release is here: BoatUS.com/lifejackettypecode

Thank you,

D. Scott Croft

Vice President Public Affairs

Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS)