Steamboat Inspection Service

The Steamboat Inspection Service was a United States agency created in 1852 to safeguard lives and property at sea. It merged with the Bureau of Navigation in 1932 to form the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection which, in 1936, was reorganized into the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation, which in turn became part of the United States Coast Guard in 1942. The safety inspection of merchant vessels documented under the flag of the United States has been authorized in varying degrees by Congress and required by law since 1838. In the early days, Congress hesitated to pass adequate safety laws for fear of interfering with the growing and economically important steamboat industry. However, as the industry grew and the general public became aware of the need for marine safety laws, Congress began to act to protect the public, beginning with passing a law on July 7, 1838, to "provide better security of the lives of passengers on board of vessels propelled in whole or in p... (see more)