MILTON

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. Both port and starboard rudder shafts sheared at base of rudder support tubes. Repair as required to the satisfaction of the Third Party Organization (TPO).

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. Records for crew training were not available during inspection. Provide documented proof of crew training to OCMI for review.

Carriage requirement. A towing vessel must carry a combination of day and night visual distress signals indicated in Table 141.370 of §141.370 for specified areas where the vessel operates. Vessel did not have 3 day and 3 night visual distress signals onboard as required for a vessel on a rivers route. Correct as required.

Each towing vessel must carry at least one appropriately-sized lifejacket, approved under approval series 160.002, 160.005, 160.055, 160.155, or 160.176, for each person on board. COI requires 09 approved lifejackets onboard and vessel only had 08 approved lifejackets onboard. Add 01 lifejackets meeting requirements established in 46 CFR 141.340 as required.

A towing vessel must be maintained and operated so the watertight integrity and stability of the vessel are not compromised. Port and starboard shaft seals leaking excessively. Repair as required.

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. Oiled soaked sorbent pads found in engine room bilge. Remove oiled sorbent pads from bilge.

Each exhaust pipe from an internal combustion engine which is within reach of personnel must be insulated or otherwise guarded to prevent burns. Both port and starboard propulsion engine has missing exhaust lagging between turbocharger and exhaust riser. Install missing lagging as required.

Each exhaust pipe from an internal combustion engine which is within reach of personnel must be insulated or otherwise guarded to prevent burns. Starboard generator missing protective covering at manifold. Install cover as required.

All seals and gaskets must be properly maintained to prevent leaks of flammable or combustible liquid, as those terms are defined in 46 CFR subpart 30.10, into the machinery space. Starboard propulsion engine leaking oil from hose fitting at one drop / 4 seconds. Repair as required.

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. Bulwarks on stern of vessel are of inadequate height to meet this requirement. Install rails or equivalent protection of sufficient height (30 inch minimum).

The owner or managing operator must implement procedures to identify and mitigate health and safety hazards, including but not limited to slips, trips and falls. Storage space above engine room generators has an unsound deck with wasted metal being covered by plastic material. Crop out wasted metal to good material and repair to original condition.

The functional requirements of a TSMS include procedures for reporting accidents and non-conformities. Questioned master of vessel on procedures for reporting non-conformities, master of vessel was not aware of reporting requirements outlined in TSMS Manual. Conduct training to ensure compliance with reporting unsafe conditions/non-conformities.

The TSMS option requires a report detailing each internal survey of a towing vessel. Each report must include a descriptive list of: (i) All non-conformities remaining at the end of each survey; (ii) The required corrective actions; (iii) The latest date of required corrective action; and (iv) A description of the means by which the corrective actions were verified; The owner or managing operator must provide objective evidence of compliance with this part in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel. Deficiency identified in audit for exhaust covering has exceeded its required correction date (Finding 16438). Make corrections as required.