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  E-News – Safer Boating: CO Poisoning Prevention

October 12, 2005

Volume 1, Number 3

Good News – Engineering Controls

As the Coast Guard and the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) prepare for the October 19 th CO Control Technology meeting ( Miami Convention Center , Room A 204, 10:30 – noon ) in Miami , good news about engineering controls is flying. (See page 2 for the meeting agenda.)

•From Tom Sutherland, Westerbeke: “In March 2005, NIOSH evaluated carbon monoxide emissions and exposures associated with Westerbeke Safe-CO™ gasoline generators.  I'm pleased to inform you the generators performed extremely well and truly offers boat owners a safe alternative.  Please click on the following web link to see the full report: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/surveyreports/pdfs/ectb-171-36a.pdf Follow-up testing on the same two generators with accumulated hours of operation is scheduled for mid November 2005.

•Tom also shared more good news: “W e recently improved our Safe-CO™ generators by implementing a “return-less” fuel system which eliminates the need to install a fuel return line. The new system reduces installation labor time and the number of parts required to complete the installation.  Another major benefit of the new system is its ability to operate in extreme heat conditions without vapor-locking.”   

• Westerbeke also announced that “Forever Earth,” a floating environmental laboratory in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, was recently outfitted with two of the lowest generating carbon monoxide generators available. The two 22.5 kW Westerbeke Safe-CO™ Series gasoline-fueled generators were installed aboard Forever Earth to provide on-board electrical power for the wide-ranging missions of this inspirational vessel. The Forever Earth vessel, donated by Forever Resorts (operators of several fleets of houseboats) features state-of-the-art electronics, low-pollution engines and generators, important safety features and an onboard classroom/ laboratory, with a primary focus of encouraging learning in the sciences for local youth.

•Kohler Power Systems recently announced their new line of marine generators that significantly reduce CO emissions. Kohler reports that their new generators cut CO by 99%, results they say are confirmed both EPA emissions and Kohler reliability tests.  The Kohler 5ECD and 7.3ECD models are available for immediate delivery, while the 10-15kW models will be available in first quarter 2006. For more information, go to the following link: http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2005/09/21/143550.html

These developments are among the many cited by Richard Blackman , US Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety. Dick says: "Look at what has happened in the past couple of years: CO-Free gensets from Westerbeke and Kohler; catalytic converters on propulsion engines (testing is well along with work ongoing to assess and resolve some of the "ancillary problems); at least two major engine manufacturers have catalyzed propulsion engines at the concept stage of development; diesels have been proven in skiboat application (if we can get by the cost factor-boaters still watching their money); more states continue to pass safe towing legislation; we're doing some work to encourage development of an effective outdoor CO detector/alarm (there's a detector now, but the alarm algorithms are proving problematic in the open air)."

Issues on the agenda for presentation at the upcoming Coast Guard / ABYC CO Control Technology meeting include:

•Karl Seppala of MASIMO will discuss the RAD-72 carboxyhemoglobin monitor

•Tom Sutherland of WESTERBEKE will provide an update about the CO-Free Generator

•Dave Marlow will report on the National Marine Manufacturer's Association /ABYC/Coast Guard CO Label Project

•Mike Bingen will provide an update on the new KOHLER reduced CO generator

•MTI/ABYC will report on progress with the outdoor CO monitor/alarm

•ANCON and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health will report on testing of express cruiser boats

•Jim Carroll of SOUTHWEST RESEARCH/EPA will report on Saltwater Catalyst Testing

•Pete Chisholm of MERCURY MARINE will present results of catalyzed propulsion engine testing

We will provide a summary of the minutes of this meeting when we receive them. If you want further information about any of the presentations, please contact Dick Blackman at RBlackman@comdt.uscg.mil or Cindy Love (ABYC) at clove@abycinc.org for presenters' contact information.

Bad News – Another Poisoning Death:

Unfortunately, as the research and application of controls develop, deaths continue. There has been another boat-related CO poisoning incident that resulted in the death of a young woman. News of her death at Lake Tapp in Washington can be found at the following link:

http://www.komotv.com/news/story.asp?id=38693

Jenda Jones, 22, was an excellent athlete from the state of Washington . She was on a break from the physical therapy program at Loma Linda University the week she died. She and an unidentified woman were hanging onto the swim platform at the stern of a boat as the motor was running at a slow speed. Jenda apparently let go and slipped beneath the surface. She was in the water 30 to 40 minutes before her body was located by sheriff's deputies. Blood sample analysis confirmed CO poisoning.

This is the second such death on Lake Tapp in Washington , and the fourth CO poisoning incident that we know of occurring nationwide this summer. (See the CO Update Number 2 for information on the other incidents.)