BOAT BUILDING IN MEXICO- rules and regs???

[Ike]

I read your description of what you want to do with the barge. In mexico that may be OK. However in the US it may be a whole different story. It could be construed as a vessel taking passengers for hire. There are plenty of floating restaurants, gambling barges, bars etc but they are all considered vessels taking passengers for hire. That means you have to submit plans to the USCG and it has to meet US requirements, even non motorized barges. If it's built in Mexico it may not even be permitted because of the Jones Act. I suggest you contact a USCG Marine Safety Office and ask them some specific questions.

In Mexico it is probably Puertos Y Marina Mercantes you are looking for (That's Ports and Merchant Marine) http://www.sct.gob.mx/puertos-y-marina-mercante/