PEPIN

Propulsion machinery, including main engines, reduction gears, shafting, bearings, and electrical equipment and systems, must:(1) Be maintained to ensure proper operation. Operator reported water in the STBD MDE engine.

Each towing vessel must carry at least one appropriately-sized lifejacket, approved under approval series 160.002, 160.005, 160.055, 160.155, 160.176, or 160.255 for each person on board. The vessel is restricted to three persons onboard until they get a fourth lifejacket on the vessel.

A towing vessel of at least 26 feet, but less than 79 feet, in length must carry a minimum of two lifebuoys located on opposite sides of the vessel where personnel are normally present. Lifebuoys are not installed at locations where personnel are normally present.

Each lifejacket must be marked: With Type I retro-reflective material approved under approval series 164.018. The arrangement of the retro-reflective material must meet IMO Resolution A.658(16) (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter). The retro-reflective tape of all 3 of the lifejackets onboard needs to be replaced.

Lifejackets must have the following attachments and fittings: 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. One of the lifejacket lights was not working and needs to be replaced.

Each watertight door and watertight hatch must be marked on both sides in clearly legible letters at least 25 millimeters (1 inch) high: “WATERTIGHT DOOR—KEEP CLOSED” or “WATERTIGHT HATCH—KEEP CLOSED”. The two forward watertight hatches need to be labeled.

The hull of each documented vessel must be marked as required by part 67 of this chapter. The hailing port of the vessel must be marked on some clearly visible exterior part of the stern of the vessel. The hailing port is missing from the stern.

No later than July 22, 2019, the owner or managing operator must implement a health and safety plan. The health and safety plan must document compliance with this part and include recordkeeping procedures. health and safety is missing the following: procedures for an unsafe condition and procedures for equipment usage.

A towing vessel must carry adequate and up-to-date charts, maps, and nautical publications for the intended voyage, including: “U.S. Coast Pilot” or similar publication. Vessel needs new and up to date U.S. Coast Pilot.

Each towing vessel must be equipped with navigation lights, shapes, and sound signals in accordance with the International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) or 33 CFR part 84 as appropriate to its area of operation. The anchor light needs to be replaced.

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. The wire in the cable on the mast corroded and exposed and needs to be properly insulated to prevent an electrical hazard.

Each towing vessel must be fitted with a general alarm that: Is activated at each operating station and can notify persons onboard in the event of an emergency. There needs to be a general alarm at the aft operating station.

An exposed hazard such as gears and rotating machinery, must be protected by a cover, guard or rail. This is not meant to restrict access to towing equipment such as winches, drums, towing gear or steering compartment equipment necessary for the operation of the vessel. There is an exposed rotating belt hazard on the starboard side aft engine air compressor.

All suction valves necessary for the operation of the fire main must be kept in the open position or capable of operation from the same place where the remote fire pump control is located. When testing fixed fire pump, it was observed that fire main sea suction valve was closed. CORRECTED ON THE SPOT.

Portable and semi-portable fire extinguishers must be inspected, maintained, and tested in accordance with the inspection, maintenance procedures, and hydrostatic pressure tests required by Chapters 7 and 8 of NFPA 10, Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers. The spare fire extinguisher in the crew mess/galley needs to be placed in an approved bracket.

The connections of flexible cable plugs and socket outlets must be designed to prevent unintended separation. The potable water pump was found to be electrically connected using a flexible cable plug that is not designed to prevent unintended separation.

Rails or equivalent protection must be installed near the periphery of all decks accessible to crew. Equivalent protection may include lifelines, wire rope, chains, and bulwarks that provide strength and support equivalent to fixed rails. Railings need to be installed on both the forward and aft sections of the vessel in the areas not containing the interior grab rails on the house of the vessel or the aft step deck prior to the vessel completing its next drydock in July 2027.

The connections of flexible cable plugs and socket outlets must be designed to prevent unintended separation. Permanently installed extension cord found installed in engine room overhead that is not designed to prevent unintended separation.

Alarms required by 46 CFR 143.203(a) must: (1) Be visible and audible at each operating station. The alarm located at the operating station may be a summary alarm; if the alarm at the operating station is a summary alarm, the specific alarm condition must be indicated at the machinery or bilge location; (2) Have a means to test actuation at each operating station or have a continuous self-monitoring alarm system which actuates if an alarm point fails or becomes disabled; (3) Continue until they are acknowledged; and (4) Not interfere with night vision at the operating station. The aft operating station on this vessel does not have the required alarms installed.

Means must be provided for stopping each fan in a ventilation system serving machinery spaces and for closing, in case of fire, each doorway, ventilator, and annular space around funnels and other openings into such spaces. Vessel does not have a means for closing openings in ventilation intake funnel on PORT and STBD funnel.

The officer in charge of a navigational watch must conduct a navigation assessment for the intended route and operations prior to getting underway. Vessel does not complete navigation assessments prior to getting underway.

Individual circuit breakers on switchboards and distribution panels must be labeled with a description of the loads they serve. Breaker panel in the mess deck is not properly labeled for individual breakers.

Electrical systems and equipment must function properly and minimize shock hazards. Breaker panel in engine room is missing required blank within electrical panel.

Lifebuoys must have the following attachments and fittings. (2)At least two lifebuoys on a towing vessel greater than 26 feet must be fitted with a floating electric water light approved under approval series 161.010 or 161.110. STBD side lifebuoy floating light did not work.

Each watertight door and watertight hatch must be marked on both sides in clearly legible letters at least 25 millimeters (1 inch) high: “WATERTIGHT DOOR—KEEP CLOSED” or “WATERTIGHT HATCH—KEEP CLOSED”. All water tight hatches on the main deck are missing proper labeling.

A towing vessel must be maintained and operated so the watertight integrity and stability of the vessel are not compromised. Both PORT and STBD aft deck hatch's have wasted sealing edge and will not properly seal to prevent water ingress.

The following systems must be equipped with gauges at the machinery location: (1) Main engine lubricating oil pressure and main engine RPM and (3) Auxiliary generator engine lubricating oil pressure and auxiliary generator engine RPM. Main engines and auxiliary generators do not have RPM gauges installed in the machinery space.

Portable and semi-portable fire extinguishers must be inspected, maintained, and tested in accordance with the inspection, maintenance procedures, and hydrostatic pressure tests required by Chapters 7 and 8 of NFPA 10. (ii) Monthly inspections required by NFPA 10 may be conducted by the owner, operator, person-in-charge, or a designated member of the crew. Crew is not conducting and documenting monthly fire extinguisher inspections per NFPA 10 and galley fire extinguisher was found with tamper seal missing.

All pressure vessels must have the Maximum Allowable Working Pressure (MAWP) indicated by a stamp, nameplate, or other means visible to the crew. Air compressor pressure vessel has no markings visible to indicate MAWP.

46 143.260 (e)Each remote valve control must be marked in clearly legible letters, at least 25 millimeters (1 inch) high, indicating the purpose of the valve and the way to operate it. Valves are not labeled with operating instructions.

46 CFR 143.275: There must be an installed or portable bilge pump for emergency dewatering. Renew bilge system and perform testing.

46 CFR 142.220: Each towing vessel must be maintained and operated so as to minimize fire hazards. Empty and clean bilges in engine room and fwd compartment taking care not to inadvertently discharge into the waterway.

46 CFR 142.325(c): Each life float and rigid buoyant apparatus must be fitted with a... electric floating water light.

46 CFR 142.325(a)(2): A fixed fire pump must be capable of being energized remotely ... and at the pump. Renew means of local starting at the fire pump.

46 CFR 143.205(c)(1): Propulsion machinery including shafting must be maintained to ensure proper operation. Renew or replace starboard side shaft packing to eliminate leakage.

Each life float must be fitted with a life line, pendants, painter, and floating electric water light approved under approval series 161.010. Provide painter and floating water light. 46 CFR 141.325(c)

Survival craft must be marked in accordance with the requirements of 199.176 and 199.178 of this chapter. Properly mark the life float and associated paddles. 46 CFR 141.315

The float-free link is designed to be broken by the buoyant force of the life float or buoyant apparatus so that the float or apparatus breaks free of a vessel that sinks in water deeper than the length of the painter. Provide properly sized weak link. 46 CFR 160.073

Each towing vessel must have a reliable means to provide notification when an emergency condition exists. High bilge alarm reads low l/o pressure on the bridge. Local indication in the engine room is correct. Prove proper operation of the bridge alarm. 46 CFR 143.230

Towing vessels 65 feet or less may meet the requirements in 33 CFR 183.810 or paragraph (a) of this section. Replace the broken light cover on the stbd running light, and replace the lens on the mast head light. 46 CFR 143.415

Machinery must be designed and maintained to provide for safe operation of the towing vessel and for the safety of persons on board. Indicators of exhaust leaks were found. Make permanent repairs to the starboard main engine exhaust. 46 CFR 143.205