In 2010, Congress Passed a Law That Required Ferry Operators

Essay

In 2010, Congress passed a law that required ferry operators to have survival crafts on board for all passengers, including boats used for tours, dinner cruises, whale-watching, and charter fishing. The law requires sufficient equipment to keep all passengers out of the water, instead of existing regulations that permitted a certain percentage of life jackets for passengers who could physically float in the water until rescued. The Coast Guard had simply required a life jacket for every passenger prior to the law change. Ferry boats in the United States and along its coastlines total 200 million per year. From 2000-2011, 244 people died and 14 people went missing from ferry boats. It will cost $1,373 per survival craft and $400-$500 per year for maintenance for each boat. The Passenger Vessel Association resisted implementation because of the expense and how few people die as a result of ferry accidents. Evaluate the stakeholders and ethical issues in this debate.