(a) This subpart applies to each vessel operated on waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and on the high seas beyond the territorial seas for vessels owned in the United States that:

(1) Is operated by its operator for recreational purposes; or

(2) Is required to be numbered under this part.

(b) This subpart does not apply to a vessel subject to inspection under Title 46 U.S.C. Chapter 33.

(a) When, as a result of an occurrence that involves a vessel or its equipment, a person dies or disappears from a vessel, the operator shall, without delay, by the quickest means available, notify the nearest reporting authority listed in appendix A of this part of:

(1) The date, time, and exact location of the occurrence;

(2) The name of each person who died or disappeared;

(3) The number and name of the vessel; and

(4) The names and addresses of the owner and operator.

(b) When the operator of a vessel cannot give the notice required by paragraph (a) of this section, each person on board the vessel shall notify the casualty reporting authority or determine that the notice has been given.

(a) The operator of a vessel shall submit the casualty or accident report prescribed in § 173.57 to the reporting authority prescribed in § 173.59 when, as a result of an occurrence that involves the vessel or its equipment:

(1) A person dies;

(2) A person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid;

(3) Damage to vessels and other property totals $2,000 or more or there is a complete loss of any vessel;

(4) A person disappears from the vessel under circumstances that indicate death or injury.

(b) A report required by this section must be made:

(1) Within 48 hours of the occurrence if a person dies within 24 hours of the occurrence;

(2) Within 48 hours of the occurrence if a person is injured and requires medical treatment beyond first aid, or disappears from a vessel; and

(3) Within 10 days of the occurrence or death if an earlier report is not required by this paragraph.

(c) When the operator of a vessel cannot submit the casualty or accident report required by paragraph (a) of this section, the owner shall submit the casualty or accident report.

(a) Each report required by § 173.55 of this subpart must be in writing, dated upon completion, and signed by the person who prepared it.

(b) Each report must contain, if available, at least the following information about the casualty or accident:

(1) Number and name of each vessel involved;

(2) Name and address of each owner of each vessel involved;

(3) Name of the nearest city or town, the county, the State, and the body of water;

(4) Time and date the casualty or accident occurred;

(5) Location on the water;

(6) Visibility, weather, and water conditions;

(7) Estimated air and water temperatures;

(8) Name, address, age, or date of birth, telephone number, vessel operating experience, and boating safety training of the operator making the report;

(9) Name and address of each operator of each vessel involved;

(10) Number of persons onboard or towed on skis by each vessel;

(11) Name, address, and date of birth of each person injured or killed;

(12) Cause of each death;

(13) Weather forecasts available to and weather reports used by the operator before and during the use of the vessel;

(14) Name and address of each owner of property involved;

(15) Availability and use of personal flotation devices;

(16) Type and number of each fire extinguisher used;

(17) Nature and extent of each injury;

(18) Description of all property damage and vessel damage with an estimate of the cost of all repairs;

(19) Description of each equipment failure that caused or contributed to the cause of the casualty;

(20) Description of the vessel casualty or accident;

(21) Type of vessel operation (cruising, drifting, fishing, hunting, skiing, racing, or other), and the type of accident (capsizing, sinking, fire, explosion, or other);

(22) Opinion of the person making the report as to the cause of the casualty, including whether or not alcohol or drugs, or both, was a cause of or contributed to causing the casualty.

(23) Characteristics of the reporting operator's vessel, including—

(i) Make;

(ii) Model;

(iii) Type: authorized terms are “air boat”, “auxiliary sail”, “cabin motorboat”, “houseboat”, “inflatable boat”, “open motorboat”, “paddlecraft”, “personal watercraft”, “pontoon boat”, “rowboat”, “sail only”, or “other”;

(iv) Beam width at widest point;

(v) Overall length of vessel;

(vi) Depth from transom to keel;

(vii) Horsepower;

(viii) Propulsion: authorized terms are “air thrust”, “manual”, “propeller”, “sail”, “water jet”, or “other”;

(ix) Fuel: authorized terms are “electric”, “diesel”, “gas”, or “other”;

(x) Engine drive type: authorized terms are “inboard”, “outboard”, “pod drive”, “sterndrive”, or “other”;

(xi) Hull material: authorized terms are “aluminum”, “fiberglass”, “plastic”, “rubber/vinyl/canvas”, “steel”, “wood”, or “other”; and

(xii) Model year;

(24) Name, address, and telephone number of each witness;

(25) Manufacturer's hull identification number, if any, of the reporting operator's vessel; and

(26) Name, address, and telephone number of the person submitting the report.

A report required by § 173.55 must be submitted to:

(a) The reporting authority listed in appendix A of this part where the vessel number was issued, or, if the vessel has no number, where the vessel is principally used; or

(b) The reporting authority where the casualty or accident occurred, if it occurred outside the State where the vessel is numbered or principally used.