Passenger Vessels Homepage

About this Rulemaking

The Board is developing guidelines under the ADA for access to ferries, cruise ships, excursion boats, and other passenger vessels.  These guidelines will supplement the Board’s ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Transportation Vehicles.

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Proposed Guidelines

• Proposed Passenger Vessel Accessibility Guidelines (available for comment through Regulations.Gov until September 23, 2013)     PDF Version
• Overview     PDF Version
• Summary of Changes from 2008 Draft
• Regulatory Assessement and Initial Flexibility Act Analysis
• Press Release

Additional Related Documents

Documents in this grouping, as well as vessel case studies and public comments, are available through Regulations.gov

• Mobility Device Use and Hearing Impairments Among Individuals and Households (February 15, 2013)
  • Includes Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) Data on Mobility Device Use and Hearing Impairment
• Guest Rooms with Mobility Features
  • Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), PVAG Access Scoping Economic Impact Study (June 23, 2008)
  • Volpe Center Review of CLIA Report above

Draft Guidelines and Comments

• 2004 Draft, Notice of Availability, Draft Regulatory Assessment Plan, ANPRM and comments
• 2006 Draft, Notice of Availability, extension, and comments
• 2008 Draft (comments were not requested), List of Changes, draft vessel case studies, and Information Meeting Report

Advisory Committee Reports

• Passenger Vessels Access Advisory Committee (PVAAC) Report (2000)
• Passenger Vessels Emergency Alarms Advisory Committee (PVEAAC) homepage and report (2008)

Research

• Access for Persons with Disabilities to Passenger Vessels and Shore Facilities
• ADA Access to Passenger Vessels:  Finding Safety Equivalence Solutions for Weathertight Doors with Coamings: 
  • Background and History (Phase I)       PDF version
  • A Risk Management Approach to Reconfiguration Design Solutions (Phase II)       PDF version

Related Information

• Proposed Guidelines Background
• How the Board Develops Guidelines
• The Department of Transportation (DOT) issued ADA regulations to protect the rights of passengers with disabilities aboard vessels (see 49 CFR Part 39).  The rule took effect November 3, 2010.

For further information contact:

• phone:  202-272-0012 (voice) or 202-272-0082 (TTY)
• e-mail:  pvag@access-board.gov
• fax:  202-272-0081