Vessel Safety Checks
THIS IS A GOOD METHOD TO RECRUIT MEMBERS
AND
LET THE PUBLIC SEE THE USPS IN ACTION
USPS VESSEL SAFETY CHECKS
District 21 VSC Chair
P/C Charles Scott, JN
(GBSPS)
cscott0@comcast.net
Online Form Submission
The electronic form does not require all the information of the original inspection. However, electronic reporting should afford us quicker recording and savings on postage. For your convenience, a copy of the National VSC Committee’s Instructions for online submittal is included with this article. However, please note the following key points:
* Data can be submitted only for certified Vessel Examiners (VE)
* The Squadron VSC Chair (or Squadron designee) is responsible for submissions
* The online form (and additional information on VSCs) can be accessed off the National Web page: http://www.usps.org/national/vsc/
* When all the VSCs have been entered YOU MUST FIRST CLICK THE RED PRINT BUTTON to create a printed copy for your records! THEN, after you have printed out your copy, click the Red Submit Button to send the data to Headquarters. NOTE : THE SYSTEM DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO SAVE AN ELECTRONIC COPY TO DISC! If you submit the form before you print, you will have lost the ability to make a hard copy for your files.
* Please keep your printed hard copy for your files (should any questions or difficulties arise).
VSC Online Submittal Instruction
Background
Historically, all the data from the VSC completion forms (7012/204) was manually typed into a database at USPS headquarters. This process has been fraught with inefficiency, errors and time delays from the beginning. Your National VSC Committee worked with the headquarters staff and the IT department to create a much more reliable, efficient and timely process. This new process utilizes online recording of the VSC data by the districts or squadrons, whichever is your local procedure. Remember, data can only be submitted for certified Vessel Examiners. Please assure that all VEs have been previously certified, by submitting the properly signed VE-2 form to headquarters, before attempting to submit their VSC completions.
The New Process
The Squadron VSC Chair is responsible to input and submit the VSC data.The responsibility for data integrity remains with the VSC Chairs. Where there is no Squadron VSC Chair, the Commander, or their designee, is responsible. The completed report forms CANNOT BE SAVED to your computer, so YOU MUST PRINT A COPY for your own records . The 7012/204 forms are no longer to be sent to headquarters for any VSCs that have been recorded via this new process. The original completed 7012/204 forms are to be retained at the local level as a back up system of checks and balance.
We will maintain the ability to handle the receipt and recording of forms at headquarters, during the transition period. This online form collects only the minimum amount of data required for headquarters record keeping.
The data field descriptions are below :
Squadron Account – This is the four-digit number assigned to your squadron for all of the national records (contact your squadron commander or National for your number). If your squadron’s number is less than four digits, place zeros in the otherwise blank fields (00XX or 0XXX).
District – This is the one or two digit number for your District (21).
Date Submitted – The system automatically completes this field.
From this point on, complete the data for each VSC, and then click the red Add button to move the data in the lower section. Then, enter the data for the next VSC, etc., etc., etc., until either the form is full or you have entered all the VSCs for this period.
Note: Districts/Squadrons should submit their data on a weekly basis. This is a 24/7 system – your reports can be sent any time, day or night.
Member Certificate Number – The certificate number (one letter and six digits) for the VE who performed the VSC goes here for each individual VSC.
Boat Registration Number – The registration or documentation number of the vessel goes here. If the vessel is one not required to register, such as small manually powered boats and small sailboats with no engine, use “No-Number” in place of the registration number.
Date – This is the date the VSC was performed.
Pass/Fail – This records whether the vessel passed or failed the VSC.
Once the data for one VSC has been entered , click the red Add button. Then enter the data for the next VSC and so on.
IMPORTANT : When all the VSCs have been entered click the red Print button to create a printed a copy for your records. Next, after you have printed your copy click the red Submit button to send the data to headquarters.
The red Add button moves the completed data from input line to the body of the document.
The red Delete button will delete any line of data that is highlighted.
The red Print button will print the current form including the data.
The red Reset button will reset/erase all data on the input line, including the member certificate number.
The red Submit button submits the entire page to headquarters.
Your help, cooperation and adherence to these few new changes in the program will serve to significantly reduce errors and the unreasonable workload we are now imposing on our National Headquarters Staff.
Questions regarding this process should be addressed to Stf/C Bob Miller ~ boatsafe@comcast.net.
Thanks, in advance, for your help and assistance,
The Vessel Safety Check Committee
The Recreational Boating Safety Visitation Program (RBSVP)
Please visit the National Web page (http://www.usps.org/national/vsc/) to learn more about a new program (launched in 2005) that will be under the VSC Department. The general purpose of the Recreational Boating Safety Visitation Program (RBSVP)is to promote safe boating for the recreational boating public through the aid of local businesses, offices and marine dealerships. The Program Visitor (PV) is the designation given to those members participating in this program. The Program Visitor must become a visible source of safety information and resource for federal, state, and local boating safety requirements, the Coast Guard Recreational Boating Safety Program and local educational programs. The long-range goal of this program is for the PV to visit every program partner (business location) each month in order to maintain open lines of communication with the Coast Guard, the Auxiliary, and USPS. The PV is expected to keep their program partners apprised of all federal, state and local requirements. The RBSVP is viewed as an excellent alternative for those members who may no longer be able to participate in the VSC program. Ideally, this exciting new program will be another important tool in promoting both safe boating and our individual squadrons.
To Find Out More, Visit the
USPS VSC web site
or the
USCGAux/USPS VSC web site
Webmaster
D/1st/Lt Audra D. Gilley