TOMBIGBEE

Fire hazards should be minimized. 46 CFR 142.220. Oil accumulation in engine room. Remove oil accumulation

Machinery and electrical systems must be designed and maintained to provide for safe operation of the towing vessel and safety of persons onboard under normal and emergency conditions. 46 CFR 143.205. Switchboard and generator panel at pilot house both have open access to current carrying parts. Make enclosures safe.

Each towing vessel must have either a self-priming, power-driven, fixed fire pump. 46 CFR 142.325. Fire pump has a leak at the pump. Make repairs.

Closure devices must be provided for deckhouse or hull penetrations, which open to the exterior of the vessel and which may allow water to enter the vessel. These devices must be suitable for the expected route. 46 CFR 144.330. All doors on main deck need to have working gasket and operational dogs. Make repairs to dogs and gaskets.

Each lifejacket must have a lifejacket light approved under approval series 161.012 or 161.112 securely attached to the front shoulder area of the lifejacket. 46 CFR 141.240. Life jacket in engine room has inoperable light. Make repairs.

Vessel experienced mechanical failure resulting in loss of Starboard Main engine

Vessel experienced mechanical failure resulting in loss of Starboard Main engine.

Policies and procedures to provide direction for the safe operation of towing vessels and protection of the marine environment in compliance with applicable U.S. law, including the Title 46 CFR." Upon an inspection and discussion with the engineering crew, the fire pump seal is has been damaged/worn for the past 7 months, with notification to the management on Nov 2019, Dec 2019, and Apr 2020, without proactive management and repair. Not only has the vessel taken on excessive amounts of water causing the bilge alarm to activate (stability concern), but the crew have since kept the fire pump water uptake valve closed during operations. Since closed, and if a fire emerges within the engine room, the crew will be unable to open the valve, rendering the fire pump inoperable.

All suction valves necessary for the operation of the fire main must be kept in the open position or capable of being opened from the same place where the remote fire pump control is located. A lack of fire pump repairs have caused unsafe crew responses to avoid leakage. Repair the fire pump seal and train crew of the dangers that a closed uptake valve poses.

The owner, managing operator, or master of a towing vessel must ensure that the vessel’s fire suppression and detection equipment complies 46 CFR 142 and is in good working order. The fire detection system, portables, and semi-portable are overdue for servicing as of May 2020, service all equipment.

Each towing vessel must be maintained and operated so as to minimize fire hazards and to ensure the following: (a) All bilges and void spaces are kept free from accumulation of combustible and flammable materials and liquids insofar as practicable. Bilge had up to 3 inches of oily water, remove and clean the bilge.

Each towing vessel must be fitted with a general alarm that Is capable of notifying persons in any accommodation, work space, and the engine room. Although the engine room has red lights, audible general alarm is also required, and also install enough audible alarms to be heard on the external decks (stern/mid/bow).

A B–II portable fire extinguisher must be located near the storage room or cabinet. Vessel has 3 fire lockers on the second deck without portables, add 3 portables "near" the fire lockers, of 1 per fire locker for whatever fire locker is being used for storage.

Machinery and electrical systems must be designed and maintained to provide for safe operation of the towing vessel and safety of persons onboard under normal and emergency conditions. Clean the port generator windings covered in oil, & assess if the stbd side needs cleaning

The safety of the towing vessel is the responsibility of the master and includes: (1) Adherence to the provisions of the COI; (2) Compliance with the applicable provisions of this subchapter; (3) Compliance with the TSMS, if one is applicable to the vessel. The master of the vessel is unaware of what Navigation Assessments are, what situations constitute unsafe/hazardous conditions, and when they need to be reported to the USCG. Train the master and recommend all crew of all of the above.

Each towing vessel must have a reliable means to provide notification when an emergency condition exists or an essential system develops problems that require attention. The following alarms must be provided: (1) Port/Stbd Main engine low lubricating oil and high cooling water (2) Port/stbd generator low lubricating oil and high cooling water (3) High bilge levels;(6) Low hydraulic steering fluid levels, if applicable; and (7) Low fuel level, if fitted with a day. Provide all applicable alarms, audio/visual alarms at op. station.