N.Y. Navigation Law § 13: Inspector; duties

§ 13. Inspector; duties. The inspector shall annually, and at such

other times as they shall deem it expedient, or as the commissioner may

direct, inspect every public vessel, except vessels which navigate on

waters over which the United States exercises active control. The

inspector shall also annually, and at such other times the inspector

deems expedient or as the commissioner may direct, inspect any vessel

operated on privately or publicly owned underground non-navigable

waterways with no navigable inlet or outlet that carry passengers for

compensation, either received directly or where provided as an

accommodation, advantage, facility or privilege at any place of public

accommodation, resort or amusement. The inspector shall carefully

examine the hull, the propelling and auxiliary machinery, the electrical

apparatus and the vessel's equipment. They shall require such changes,

repairs and improvements to be made as deemed expedient for the

contemplated route. No vessel, or propelling machinery thereof shall be

allowed to be used if constructed in whole, or in part, of defective

material, or which because of its form, design, workmanship, age, use or

for any other reason is unsafe. The inspector shall also fix the number

of passengers that may be transported. The inspector shall require that

the boilers, on all public vessels which are propelled by steam engines,

be inspected and approved for safety of operations by inspectors of the

New York State Department of Labor, Bureau of Boilers. Every boiler and

appurtenances thereof shall be constructed, maintained and operated in

accordance with the Department of Labor rules and regulations pertaining

to boilers. The inspector shall also, whenever they deem it expedient,

visit any vessel licensed under this chapter and examine into its

condition for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not any party

thereon, having a certificate, or license, from the inspector, has

conformed to and obeyed the conditions of such certificate, and the

provisions of this chapter. The owner, master, pilot, engineer or joint

pilot and engineer of such vessel, shall answer all reasonable questions

and give all the information in their power in regard to said vessel, or

its machinery or equipment and the manner of managing the same. The

inspector provided for in this chapter is authorized to make further

rules and regulations applying generally to all vessels, or especially

to one or more of them. The inspector shall, as far as practicable, be

governed by the general rules and regulations prescribed by the United

States coast guard. To the extent applicable as determined by the

inspector exercising their duties under this section, part two of

article four of this chapter shall apply to vessels operated on

privately or publicly owned underground non-navigable waterways with no

navigable inlet or outlet that carry passengers for compensation, either

received directly or where provided as an accommodation, advantage,

facility or privilege at any place of public accommodation, resort or

amusement.