N.Y. Navigation Law Section 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 4 (No title)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.

Source: Section 13 — Inspector; duties, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/NAV/13 (updated Sep. 20, 2024; accessed Oct. 25, 2025).

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Verified:
Oct. 25, 2025

Last modified:
Sep. 20, 2024

§ 13. Inspector's source at nysenate​.gov

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