N.Y. Navigation Law § 55: Stairways and passageways

§ 55. Stairways and passageways. 1. Every public vessel certified to

carry passengers shall be provided with (a) permanent stairways and

other sufficient and safe means convenient for passing from one deck to

the other, and (b) passageways large enough to allow persons freely to

pass, which shall be open fore and aft of the length of the vessel, and

to and along the railings, which shall be functional, unobstructed and

passable whenever the vessel is engaged in carrying passengers.

2. In addition to any other requirement imposed by this section,

public vessels certified to carry more than twenty passengers shall be

provided with a minimum of two means of egress on each deck which shall

be functional, unobstructed and passable whenever the vessel is engaged

in carrying passengers.

3. Any person who operates a public vessel, and any owner of a public

vessel who permits a person to operate such vessel, in contravention of

the requirements of subdivision one of this section, shall be guilty of

a violation punishable as set forth in section seventy-three-c of this

article.

4. Any person who operates a public vessel, and any owner of a public

vessel who permits a person to operate such vessel, in contravention of

the requirements of subdivision two of this section, shall be guilty of

a misdemeanor punishable as set forth in section seventy-three-b of this

article.

5. The license of any master, pilot, engineer, or joint pilot and

engineer who operates a public vessel in contravention of any of the

requirements of this section may be subject to the suspension or

revocation of his or her license pursuant to section sixty-four-a of

this article.