MISS SOUTHERN

There must be an installed or portable bilge pump for emergency de-watering. Vessels bilge pumps were not plugged in and placed in the bilge properly. Bilge pumps need to be hardwired and mounted in the bilge.

Electrical connections must be suitably installed to prevent them from coming loose through vibration or accidental contact. Port Generator had dead end wires that need to be suitably installed.

Electrical components that pose an electrical hazard must be in an enclosure. Lighting fixture over the port generator needs the cover properly installed.

The following list of items must be recorded in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel:(1) Personnel records, in accordance with § 140.400;(2) Safety orientation, in accordance with § 140.410;(3) Record of drills and instruction, in accordance with § 140.420;(4) Examinations and tests, in accordance with § 140.615.

Towing vessel greater than eight meters in registered length that is engaged in towing a barge or barges subject to this part, except a towing vessel that is engaged in towing a barge or barges subject to this part. Vessels Security Plan is expired.

Chemical testing of personnel must be conducted as required by this subpart and in accordance with the procedures detailed in 49 CFR part 40. Vessel needs to provide paperwork for their DAPI.

Regardless of the option chosen to obtain a COI, upon obtaining a COI each towing vessel must then undergo a drydock and internal structural examination a the following intervals: A vessel that is exposed to salt water not more than 6 months in any 12-month period since the last examination or initial certification must undergo a drydock and internal structural examination at least once every 5 years. Vessel missed drydock exam date and internal structure exam. Drydock exam and internal structure exam date was 30 September 2024. Vessel is prohibited commercial operations until credit drydock and internal structure exam is completed. 46 CFR 137.300 (a)(2)

All lifesaving equipment must be tested and maintained in accordance with the minimum requirements of § 199.190 of this chapter, as applicable. The Master must ensure all lifesaving equipment is properly maintained and ready for use at all times. Upon inspecting the vessels 6 man buoyant apparatus, it was found to be laying on the deck, dirty and in poor condition. The company is required to replace buoyant apparatus, water light and all attachments. Vessel is allowed to continue to use the apparatus until new one is properly installed.

Paints, coatings, or other flammable or combustible products onboard a towing vessel must be stored in a designated storage room or cabinet when not in use. (b) If a storage room is provided, it may be any room or compartment that is free of ignition sources. (c) If a dedicated storage cabinet is provided it must be secured to the vessel so that it does not move and must be either: (1) A flammable liquid storage cabinet that satisfies UL 1275 (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter); or (2) A flammable liquid storage cabinet that satisfies FM Approvals Standard 6050 (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter); or (3) Another suitable steel container that provides an equivalent level of protection. Vessel's paint locker was found to be deteriorated/wasted at the bottom back which will allow an extreme amount of oxygen to enter locker during a fire. Company is required to remove or replace in accordance with the above standards.

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) Main engine low lubricating oil pressure. Vessels stbd main engine oil pressure gauge is inoperable. Master is to ensure all required gauges are in good working order.

The person in command of a documented vessel must have on board that vessel the original Certificate of Documentation currently in effect for that vessel. The Certificate of Documentation on the vessel at the time of the inspection expired on June 30, 2022. The owner was able to provide a photocopy of the current Certificate of Documentation valid until June 30, 2023. The original COD must be on board at all times while the vessel is underway.

All portable fire extinguishers, semi-portable fire-extinguishing systems and fire-detection systems must be inspected, serviced and tested at least once every 12 months. The last maintenance and servicing of the portable and semi-portable fire extinguishers was conducted in April 2021. A fire servicing company attended the vessel and conducted the annual servicing and maintenance on the fire extinguishers and the inspection and testing of the fire detection system.

Every towing vessel of 26 feet or over in length while navigating must have two VHF radios installed at the operating station. The vessel currently only has one VHF radio at the operating station. Provide an additional VHF radio to meet the requirements of the Bridge to Bridge Radiotelephone Act and to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to December 22, 2022.

On each towing vessel, gauges must be installed at the machinery location for each main propulsion engine and auxiliary engine for low oil pressure, high cooling water temperature and engine RPM's. There were no gauges installed in the machinery space. Properly install all gauges for each main propulsion engine and auxiliary engine and demonstrate proper operation to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to December 22, 2022

Emergency lighting must be provided for all internal crew working and living areas. Emergency lighting sources must provide for sufficient illumination under emergency conditions to facilitate egress from each space and must be either. Emergency lighting in engine room not functioning when tested. Make repairs to the emergency lighting located in the engine room and demonstrate proper operation to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to December 22, 2022

Safety orientation for crew members for their first voyage on a particular towing vessel and non-crew members must be completed and documented in the TVR in accordance with 46 CFR 140.410(d). The vessel did not have any records of a Safety Orientation for any crew members or non-crew members who recently embarked on the vessel. Properly document the safety orientation for all crew members and non-crew members in the TVR to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

The owner or managing operator must implement a health and safety plan in accordance with 46 CFR 140.500. There was no health and safety plan developed by the company. The plan must identify and mitigate the health and safety hazards outlined in 46 CFR 140.510 and be compiled in one single plan to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

All crew members must be provided with health and safety information and training in accordance with 46 CFR 140.515. Once the health and safety plan is developed, ensure all crew members are familiar with and have been provided training with the information in the health and safety plan and the training is documented in the company records to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021

The officer in charge of a navigational watch must conduct a navigation assessment for the intended route and operations prior to getting underway in accordance with 46 CFR 140.635. The master was not conducting a navigational assessment that met all items as listed in the regulations. Ensure all elements of a Navigational Assessment are completed and the navigational assessment is documented in the TVR to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021

Prior to assuming duties related to the safe operation of a towing vessel, each crew member must receive training to ensure that they are familiar with navigational safety terms and duties in accordance with 46 CFR 140.645. There is no record in the TVR that documents navigation safety training for the crew. Properly conduct and document the navigation safety training for each crew member and record in the TVR to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

The master of each towing vessel must record the oil residue discharges and disposals from the vessel in accordance with 46 CFR 140.655. There is no record in the TVR of the discharge or disposal of any oil residue from the vessel. Ensure all oil disposals from the vessel and any accidental discharge from the vessel is captured in the TVR to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior toOctober 15, 2021.

The owner, master, or operator of each vessel towing alongside or pushing ahead shall ensure that the face wires, spring lines, and push gear are frequently inspected and remain in serviceable condition In accordance with 33 CFR 164.76. The results of the towing gear inspection must be captured in the TVR in accordance with 46 CFR 140.820(a). Conduct an inspection of all towing and terminal gear and capture the results of that inspection in the TVR to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

The master of each towing vessel must maintain all receipts and other records documenting the inspections and tests of all lifesaving equipment must be retained for at least 1 year and made available upon request in accordance with 46 CFR 141.235(b) and 46 CFR 199.190 Provide the records of lifesaving appliances tests and inspections for the last one year in the TVR to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

Essential systems or equipment on each towing vessel must be regularly tested and examined. Tests and examinations must verify that the system or equipment functions as designed. If a component is found unsatisfactory, it must be repaired or replaced. Test and examination procedures must be in accordance with manufacturer's instructions in accordance with 46 CFR 143.245. There was no record of regular testing or examinations of the systems or equipment recorded in the TVR. Conduct all required tests and examinations of the vital equipment to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021

The owner or managing operator of a towing vessel must establish procedures to address fall overboard prevention and recovery of persons in the water, including, but not limited to, Personal protective equipment, Safely working on the tow, Safety while line handling, Safely moving between the vessel and a tow, pier, structure, or other vessel and Use of retrieval equipment in accordance with 46 CFR 140.425. The vessel did not have any fall overboard prevention procedures developed. Develop fall over board prevention procedures to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

This towing vessel is subject to bridge to bridge requirements in accordance with 33 CFR 26.03(a)(3) and must maintain a radio station log as prescribed by 47 CFR 80.409(f)(3). The Radiotelephony record logs entries must include all the requirements of 47 CFR 80.409 paragraphs (e)(1), (3), (5) (6), (7), (10), and (11). Provide and properly maintain a ships radio station log to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

Each towing vessel must ensure that each watertight door and watertight hatch 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” in accordance with 46 CFR 144.160(e). During a walk through of the vessel, it was observed that all the water tight doors and hatches were not marked. Properly mark all watertight doors and hatches as described above to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

The official number of each towing vessel, preceded by the abbreviation “NO.” must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals not less than three inches in height on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull and the number must be permanently affixed to the vessel in accordance with 46 CFR 67.121. There was no official number permanently marked on the vessel in accordance with 46 CFR 67.121. Permanently mark the official number as described above to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

Each towing vessel must be equipped with a means to detect smoke in the berthing spaces and lounges that alerts individuals in those spaces in accordance with 46 CFR 142.330(b). This may be accomplished by an installed detection system, or by using individual battery-operated detectors meeting UL 217. There were no smoke detectors in any of the overnight accommodations or the detectors were inoperable when tested. Provide or repair all smoke detectors to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

Each towing vessel must have a fire-detection system installed to detect engine room fires and the system is installed, tested, and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's design and instructions in accordance with 46 CFR 142.330(a)(2). The fire detection system has batteries that are 8Ah inside the cabinet which the manufacturer states they are not to exceed 7Ah. Ensure fire detection system is operated and maintained in accordance with manufacturers instructions to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

Each towing vessel must be equipped with at least one fire axe that is readily accessible for use from the exterior of the vessel in accordance with 46 CFR 142.227. There was no fire axe on board. Provide a suitable fire axe and properly mount it in an accessible location to be readily available in an emergency to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

Each towing vessel must be equipped with at least two portable, battery-powered lights. One must be located in the pilothouse and the other at the access to the engine room in accordance with 46 CFR 143.410(c). There was no portable light provided at or near the access to the engine room. Vessel master provided a portable light at the access to the engine room prior to completion of inspection. Corrected on the spot.

Each towing vessel must have a reliable means to provide notification at each operating station when an emergency condition exists or an essential system develops problems that require attention in accordance with 46 CFR 143.230. There were no alarms for low oil pressure for both main engines, high cooling water temperature for both main engines, Auxiliary generator low lube oil pressure and high cooling water temperature and low steering fluid levels. Install an audible and visual alarm for low oil pressure in way of both main engines and provide proof of the high water temperature alarms for both generators to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

Each towing vessel must have all piping for flammable or combustible liquid, seawater cooling, or firefighting systems must be fitted with isolation valves that are clearly marked by labeling or color coding that enables the crew to identify its function in accordance with 46 CFR 143.250. All piping for vital systems was neither marked or color coded. Properly mark or color code all piping throughout the vessel as described above for ready recognition of the system by the ships crew to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

Each life float on a towing vessel must be fitted with a lifeline, pendants, a painter, and floating electric water light approved under approval series 161.010 in accordance with 46 CFR 141.325(c). This includes a sea painter in accordance with 160.010-4(j). The sea painter attached to the life float was deteriorated and unserviceable. Provide a suitable sea painter of at least 100 feet in length and secure around the body of the life float to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

Fuel systems for each towing vessel main engines and generators must have a documented maintenance plan to ensure proper operation of the system in accordance with 46 CFR 143.255. The vessel did not have any documented maintenance plan or owners manual that detailed for maintenance of the fuel systems. Provide a documented maintenance plan for all fuel systems for the main engines and generators to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

For the emergency fuel shut off system on every towing vessel, 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 in accordance with 46 CFR 143.260(e). The emergency fuel shut offs were not clearly marked as described above. Properly mark all remote fuel shut off valves indicating the purpose of the valve and the way to operate it o the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021

Users must always maintain their Automatic Identification System in an effective operating condition and ensure the accuracy of all broadcasted dynamic, static and voyage information in accordance with 33 CFR 164.46(d). This vessel currently is transmitting a previous call sign and MMSI number and is transmitting a false IMO Number. Update the broadcast information on the AIS to include the correct MMSI Number, Call Sign and IMO Number to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021

A towing vessel of 26 feet or more in length and more than 600 horsepower must have a properly installed and operational Coast Guard Approved, Class A, Automatic Identification System in accordance with 46 CFR 164.46(b)(1)(ii). The vessel is currently using a class B device to comply with the AIS carriage requirements. Provide and demonstrate proper operation of a Class A, Automatic Identification System to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to October 15, 2021.

All owners and operators of an existing towing vessel must have a valid COI prior to the specified phase-in period. This vessel is one of the associated fleet that has not obtained a valid COI. The vessel shall be made available for a Coast Guard COI inspection within 90 days. If an inspection is not completed prior to this date, the action for this deficiency shall be changed to a 60 (Rectify deficiencies prior to movement) and the vessel may no long be permitted to operate.