The Bureau of Marine and Recreational Vehicles is responsible for promoting boating safety on the waters of New York State. Focus is placed on three areas toward this goal: boater education, law enforcement, and regulatory efforts. The Marine Services Representative will be expected to participate in all three areas. Candidates for the position will be expected to be available to travel throughout the State, especially during the boating season.
The main responsibility of a Marine Services Representative is to annually inspect “Public Vessels”; any motorized vessel carrying passengers for hire on sole-state waters as well as license their operators. There are approximately 425 vessel inspections conducted each year and approximately 1300 licenses issued annually. The candidate will be responsible for traveling to vessels statewide and conducting thorough inspections in accordance with Bureau procedures and administering both written and practical exams to prospective operators.
The Bureau also administers several other programs related to safe boating in which the candidate may participate including, Outreach and Education, Marine Law Enforcement Training, Incident Report Compilation, Hull Identification Number Issuance, Regatta and Floating Object Permit Issuance, and placing Aids to Navigation.
The outreach program includes working on Public Service Announcements, representing the agency at boat shows and other boating events, and in the development of printed material to be made available to the boating public. The candidate may also be asked to assist in teaching NYS Safe Boating Courses.
The Marine Law Enforcement (MLE) Training program develops and conducts five training courses for MLE personnel, statewide, on an annual basis, including a basic MLE course, an advanced vessel operator course, a personal watercraft operator course, and a course teaching officers how to detect intoxicated vessel operators.
Marine Services issues permits for regattas (approx. 120) and floating object permits (approx. 300) on state waters. The process includes reviewing each application for completeness, database updates, and working closely with law enforcement to ensure public safety during regattas, and to ensure that the floating objects do not pose a hazard to other boaters.
The Bureau collects and reviews all recreational boating incidents in New York – approximately 200 – 250 per year and authors an Annual Boating Report based on the statistics of these incidents.
The Bureau reviews applications for Hull Identification Numbers (HIN) and issues in accordance with Bureau procedure.