This rulemaking will develop guidelines under the ADA for access to ferries, cruise ships, excursion boats, and other vessels. These guidelines will supplement the Board’s ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles. The Board established the Passenger Vessel Access Advisory Committee to develop recommendations on the guidelines to be developed. This committee met extensively over a two-year period and provided its recommendations in the form of a report presented to the Board at a meeting in Miami Beach, Florida, on November 17, 2000. Report Summary
Current Status: The committee's report was publicly released on December 18, 2000.
What’s Next: The Board will propose guidelines based on the Advisory Committee’s report.
Background: When guidelines for transit vehicles originally were issued under the ADA, the Board and the Department of Transportation (DOT) decided that further study was needed before guidelines could be developed for passenger vessels. The agencies sponsored a study that examined the impact of access to vessels and shore facilities. This project was completed in July 1996 and provided valuable information for rulemaking. The Board and DOT also held an information meeting with organizations representing people with disabilities and the marine industry to determine the scope and complexity of the rulemaking.
In August 1998, the Board created the Passenger Vessel Access Advisory Committee to provide recommendations for a proposed rule addressing accessibility guidelines for newly constructed and altered passenger vessels covered by the ADA. This committee explored ways to achieve access in view of various design considerations and made recommendations that the Board will use in proposing guidelines. Identifying the types of vessels to be addressed was also part of the committee’s mission. A wide variety of vessels were taken into consideration, from those used primarily for transportation, such as ferries, to those used for recreation or other purposes, such as gaming boats, cruise ships, and sightseeing boats. The Committee was composed of 21 members who represent owners and operators of various passenger vessels, designers of passenger vessels, organizations representing individuals with disabilities, among others.
Rulemaking History: