AMERICAN CHALLENGER

Propulsion machinery, including main engines, reduction gears, shafting, bearings, and electrical equipment and systems, must: Have suitable propulsion controls to provide the operator full control at each operating station. Port side main engine unable to shutdown from main op station. Repair prior to commercial operations.

Alarms must: be visible and audible at each operating station. Both main engine alarm panels show false alarms for oil temperature and pressure at main operating station. Repair prior to commercial operations.

A record of the type, size, and servicing of each towline used to make the vessel fast to her tow must be available to the Coast Guard for review. Provide documentation to attending Marine Inspector for newly installed towline within one week.

Fire extinguishing equipment and detection: Receipts and other records generated by these inspections and tests must be retained and made available upon request. Provide fire servicing records for all equipment to attending Marine Inspector within one week.

Electrical systems and equipment must function properly and minimize system failures and fire and shock hazards. Machinery space electrical panel open at rear of panel, generator batteries exposed to dripping water. Replace electrical panel covering to minimize shock hazard and protect battery within one week.

Electrical connections must be suitable installed to prevent them from coming loose through vibration of accidental contact. Battery connections secured with wingnuts. Provide suitable battery connection means within one week.

The dry dock examination must be conducted while the vessel is hauled out of the water or placed in a dry dock or slipway. Examine the exterior of the hull, including bottom, sides, head-log, and stern, and examine all appendages for damage, fractures, wastage, pitting, or improper repairs. Pot rudder bottom was wasted and stbd rudder bottom was holed and had a compromised weld on the port side. Make proper repairs on marked areas to the satisfaction of the attending marine inspector or classification society. 46 CFR 137.330(a)(1)

(b) A towing vessel must be maintained and operated so the watertight integrity and stability of the vessel are not compromised. Submit repair proposal to address identified substantial and excessive wastage.

Machinery and electrical systems must be designed and maintained to provide for safe operation of the towing vessel and safety of persons on board under normal and emergency conditions. While in transit to Long Beach from Honolulu, the vessel reported a failure of their main bus tie breaker. This was caused by a loose wire connection from the breaker to the forward bus bar, which created an arc. The breaker has been electrically isolated and all propulsion and electrical systems on board remain fully functional. Vessel shall effect permanent repairs to the electrical system to the satisfaction of an attending marine inspector prior to departing.

Each towing vessel operating on oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or beyond 3 nautical miles from shore upon the Great Lakes must carry a Category 1, 406 MHz satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) that meets the requirements of 47 CFR part 80. Vessel does not have an operational EPRIB onboard as required by regulation. Vessel is restricted to a Lakes, Bays, and Sounds route until a registered, serviced, EPIRB is onboard the vessel. Vessel must demonstrate EPRIB is registered and operation to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard marine inspector.

46 CFR 144.145: Vessel must also provide procedures for verification of compliance with design standard: (g)(6) As referred to in this section, the term plan may include, but is not limited to drawings, documents, or diagrams of the following: (6) Machinery installation, including, but not limited to: (iv) Fuel transfer and service system, including tanks. Day tank fuel supply line in engine room overhead with non-metallic hose. Show proof that installed non-metallic hose is in accordance with approved fuel piping system.

Vessel was not in compliance with Stability Letter dated October 31, 2002 issued by ABS on behalf of the Coast Guard. Specifically, under Operating Restrictions, paragraph No. 5, Tanks. Vessel’s records and crew statements confirm that fuel was loaded into ballast tank No. 1 forward and ballast tank No. 2 aft center on 17MAY2024 prior to its departure from Honolulu, HI to Palau. As a result, the operating restrictions stipulated in the vessel’s stability letter were not followed, which prohibited the vessel from maintaining a proper trim. The vessel must demonstrate compliance with its stability letter to the satisfaction of the attending USCG marine inspector and ABS.

46 CFR 143.205(a): 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. USCG discovered unapproved alterations/modifications to the No. 1 forward center ballast and No. 2 aft center ballast pipe manifolds located in the engine room. Ballast piping system must be restored IAW original approved plans. Final repairs and operational test must be attested by the attending USCG Marine Inspector. Submit repair plan to USCG for review.

46 CFR 140.205 (a): A vessel must be operated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and in such a manner as to afford protection against hazards to life, property and the environment. Ballast tanks No. 1 forward center and No. 2 aft center must be free of all fuel and cleaned prior to carrying ballast. Prior to returning to service, ballast tanks must be certified gas free by a marine chemist for USCG’s inspection. Vessel must also provide procedures for verification of compliance with design standards in accordance with 46 CFR 144.145 respectively: (g)(6) As referred to in this section, the term plan may include, but is not limited to drawings, documents, or diagrams of the following: (6) Machinery installation, including, but not limited to: (iv) Fuel transfer and service system, including tanks; (v) Piping systems including: bilge, ballast, hydraulic, combustible and flammable liquids, vents, and overflows.

46 CFR 140.205(a): A vessel must be operated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations and in such a manner as to afford protection against hazards to life, property and the environment. Remove all oily waste in bilges and properly dispose of ashore in accordance with local ordinances.

46 CFR 143.205(c)(1 and 2): Propulsion machinery, including main engines, reduction gears, shafting, bearings, and electrical equipment and systems, must: Be maintained to ensure proper operation and be suitable for route and service. Repair leak to port side shaft to the satisfaction of the attending USCG Marine Inspector.

46 CFR 15.401 (b) and (c): A person may not employ or engage an individual in a position to hold an MMC unless that individual maintains a current medical certificate. Company employed an individual as the OS with an expired medical certificate during the voyage from 18MAY2024 to 20JUN2024. Crewmember’s medical certification for national endorsement expired on 20SEP2023 and for STCW expired on 20SEP2020. Prior to departure, all persons employed or engaged in a position to hold an MMC must have proof of a current medical certificate.

Each towing vessel must have either a self-priming, power-driven, fixed fire pump, a fire main, and hoses and nozzles in accordance with paragraphs (a) through (d) of this section; or a portable pump, and hoses and nozzles, in accordance with paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section. Found small hole in discharge side of fire pump piping.

Station documents must be readily available to the licensed operator(s) on duty during the hours of service of the station and to the authorized Commission employees upon request. The vessel's call sign is not updated on the FCC Documents.

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. Steering RAM seal failed. Replace seal to the satisfaction of a Coast Guard Marine Inspector. 46 CFR 143.205(a)

Each towing vessel must be equipped with a means to detect smoke in the berthing spaces and lounges that alerts individuals in those spaces. This may be accomplished by an installed detection system, or by using individual battery-operated detectors meeting UL 217 (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter). Detection systems or individual detectors must be kept operational at all times when the crew is onboard the towing vessel. The smoke detector in the galley was removed.

Electrical connections must be suitably installed to prevent them from coming loose through vibrations or accidental contact. Port searchlight junction box mounting bracket is missing.

Electrical components that pose an electrical hazard must be in an enclosure. Power breaker junction box for house A/C unit is severely rusted and needs remounting.

Each mattress must comply with either: The Consumer Product Safety Commission Standard for Mattress Flammability and not contain polyurethane foam; or IMO Resolution A.688(17)

Pressure vessels over 5 cubic feet in volume and over 15 pounds per square inch maximum allowable working pressure must be equipped with an indicating pressure gauge and with one or more spring loaded relief valves. Port side relief valve for air compressor is not working.

Electrical systems and equipment must function properly and minimize system failures and fire and shock hazards. Port generator gauges for water temperature and RPM needs to be repaired.

Electrical systems and equipment must function properly and minimize system failures and fire and shock hazards. Remove dead end cable/antenna from behind bridge house.

Each towing vessel must be equipped with an industrial type first aid cabinet or kit, appropriate to the size of the crew and operating to the size of the crew and operating conditions. Vessel's first-aid kit has expired items throughout the kit.

(a) A towing vessel may not be operated without having onboard a valid COI issued by the Coast Guard as required by § 136.202. (b) Each towing vessel certificated under the provisions of this subchapter must be in full compliance with the terms of the COI. Vessel is not able to meet the Sub M phase-in requirements of 46 CFR 1360.202 and is restricted from movement until vessel can complete a Certification of Inspection.