ECOSSE

The master of a towing vessel must ensure that each crewmember participates in fire-fighting drills and receives instruction at least once each month. The instruction may coincide with the drills, but is not required to do so. All crewmembers must be familiar with their fire-fighting duties, and, specifically how to:(1) Fight a fire in the engine room and elsewhere onboard the towing vessel, including how to:(i) Operate all of the fire-extinguishing equipment onboard the towing vessel;(ii) Stop any mechanical ventilation system for the engine room and effectively seal all natural openings to the space to prevent leakage of the extinguishing agent; and(iii) Operate the fuel shut-off(s) for the engine room. Most of the crew of the M/V ECOSSE with the exception of the Engineer, was not aware that the vessel did not have an installed fixed fire-fighting system. While conducting a fire drill in the engine room space, the master explained that the reason the crew was not attacking the fire inside the engine room was because the vessel had a fixed fire-fighting system and they trained the crew to muster and wait until the installed fixed fire-fighting put out the fire. Yet, the vessel does not have a fixed fire fighting system with the exception of fire extinguishers, which questions the quality of the training provided and the overall crew's familiarity with the vessel's equipment and machinery. 46 CFR 142.245

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: high bilge levels, and how hydraulic steering fluid levels, if applicable. Alarms 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. Vessel's bilge alarm was actuated in the engine room several times, but the alarm was never visible nor audible from the alarms panel on the bridge (wheelhouse). Additionally, the starboard M/E gearbox pressure sensor was disconnected. It is unclear of whether such sensor triggers an alarm or provides some kind of indication of the pressure to some panel. Engineer was not able to indicate the purpose for this pressure sender unit as labelled on the equipment. 46 CFR 143.230

All portable fire extinguishers, semi-portable fire-extinguishing systems, fire-detection systems, and fixed fire-extinguishing systems, including ventilation, machinery shutdowns, and fixed fire-extinguishing system pressure-operated dampers on board the vessel, must be inspected or tested at least once every 12 months. Vessel was not able objective evidence that all fire extinguishers had been tested this last year as well as the fire detectors, specifically the engine room. The certificate provided referenced that only extinguishers were tested IAW NFPA 10but after inspecting several extinguishers, the tag reflected a 2024 date instead of a 2025 date as some did. Furthermore, the certificate never referenced the testing of the heat detector in the engine room or the alarm. 46 CFR 142.240

The owner or managing operator must implement procedures to identify and mitigate health and safety hazards, including but not limited to: electrical. Vessel had several batteries in the engine room and on the weather deck that were not properly secured for sea. Additionally, in the aft machinery space from the engine room, one battery was found holding the watertight door open; thus, compromising the watertight integrity of the space. 46 CFR 140.510

Containers, brackets, racks, and other similar stowage locations for lifesaving equipment must be marked with symbols in accordance with IMO Resolution A.760(18) indicating the device stowed in that location. PFD's and immersion suits on board the vessel were not properly marked. 46 CFR 199.170 (a)

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”. Each escape hatch and emergency exit used as means of escape must be marked on both sides in clearly legible letters at least 50 millimeters (2 inches) high: “EMERGENCY EXIT, KEEP CLEAR”. Watertight doors and hatches weren't properly labelled. 46 CFR 144.160 (e) & (f)