I came across this in the Coast Guard Authoriztion Act that just passed the House and is in the Senate. Looks like Rep Landry is looking after his people. More reading at http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-112hr2838rfs/pdf/BILLS-112hr2838rfs.pdf .
My opinion only but they should add more medical equipment, especially meds, to what it takes to get the stand by vessel endorsement on the COI. I understand the DWH medics had nothing to work with once they reached the boat.
§ 80701. Standby vessels
11 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The owner or operator of a
12 manned facility, installation, unit, or vessel shall locate a
13 standby vessel—
14 ‘‘(1) not more than 3 nautical miles from such
15 manned facility, installation, unit, or vessel while it
16 is performing drilling, plugging, abandoning, or
17 workover operations; and
18 ‘‘(2) not more than 12 nautical miles from such
19 manned facility, installation, unit, or vessel while it
20 is performing operations other than drilling, plug21
ging, abandoning, or workover operations.