MARY BENNETT

Drug Testing Programs must be conducted in accordance with 49 CFR Part 40. Company and vessels Captain unfamiliar with various elements of the program/policy. Alcohol testing strips were expired, and master was unable to provide lab testing forms. Company is required to complete DAPI program audit. DER to schedule when ready.

Each towing vessel must have a reliable means to provide notification when an emergency condition exists. The following alarms must be provided: (7) Low fuel level, if fitted with a day tank. The vessel's main tanks can only be gagued on the main weather deck and there is no way to determine fuel levels without leaving the superstructure to the open deck in heavy wx.

A towing vessel with overnight accomodations and alternatiing work shifts when pulling, pushing, or hauling alongside one or more barges, must have a system to detect when its master or mate becomes incapacitated. Master could not activate the pilothouse alerter system.

(a) Pressure vessels over 5 cubic feet in volume and over 15 pounds per square inch maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) must be equipped with an indicating pressure gauge (in a readily visible location) and with one or more spring-loaded relief valves. The total relieving capacity of such relief valves must prevent pressure from exceeding the MAWP, as established by the manufacturer, by more than 10 percent.

The owner, managing operator, master or officer in charge of a navigational watch of a towing vessel must ensure the following: (a) The strength of each component used for securing the towing vessel to the tow and for making up the tow is adequate for its intended service. (b) The size, material, and condition of towlines, lines, wires, push gear, cables, and other rigging used for making up a tow or securing the towing vessel to a tow must be appropriate for:

This regulation applies to all towing vessels covered by this subchapter. The drydock examination must be conducted while the vessel is hauled out of the water or placed in a drydock or slipway. The Coast Guard inspector or surveyor conducting this examination must: Examine the exterior of the hull, including bottom, sides, headlog, and stern, and examine all appendages for damage, fractures, wastage, pitting, or improper repairs. In the #1 Ballast/Fwd Peak found the stbd corner plate attached to the vertical keel stiffner and the vertical keel stiffener with missing/wasted weldment. Marked areas to be repaired. Inspected the lazzarette and found a sharp inset where the stern plate meets the bottom plate to have a sharp inset at the weld. Also, found the stern bulkhead to be buckled caused the horizontal transverse flange stiffener to be severly bukled where it is welded to the stern plate. Please provide repair proposal.

A vessel that is exposed to salt water more than 6 months in any 12-month period since the last examination or initial certification must undergo a dry dock and internal structural examination at least twice every 5 years, with not more than 36 months between examinations. The vessels current dry dock and internal structural exams will need to be completed no later than September 30, 2023. Make your vessel available for a hull examination and internal structural exam prior to any movement.

A towing vessel may not be operated without having on board a valid COI issued by the Coast Guard. The vessel's current COI expired on September 26, 2023. Submit an Application for Inspection, Form CG-3752 to the OCMI and make your vessel available for inspection. Vessel is not permitted to operate until successful completion of the inspection and a new Certificate of Inspection is issued to the vessel.

Each towing vessel must be fitted with a general alarm and a supplemental flashing red light in the engine room where background noise makes a general alarm hard to hear in accordance with 46 CFR 143.235(b)(3). The red flashing light and the audible alarm was inoperable when the general alarm was tested in that space. Make repairs to the red flashing light to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to January 10, 2023.

Pressure vessels over 5 cubic feet in volume and over 15 pounds per square inch maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) must be fitted with spring loaded relief valves and be clearly marked with the MAWP in accordance with 46 CFR 143.300. The SRV's must be tested at least twice in five years with no more than three years between tests. The Master was unable to provide evidence that the SRV's were installed and the last test date. Provide documentation of the latest test or Installation to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to January 10, 2023.

The operator of a vessel with a capacity of 250 or more barrels of oil shall provide transfer procedures that meet the contents of 33 CFR 155.750. The vessel was utilizing oil transfer procedures but the procedures did not meet all the required content as required. Provide complete and detailed oil transfer procedures to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to January 10, 2023.

The master of each towing vessel must record the date and time when a navigation watch stander, including the master, officer in charge of a navigational watch, and lookout assumes a watch and is relieved of a watch in the Towing Vessel Record (TVR) in accordance with 46 CFR 140.400(c). The vessel was maintaining a record of the times when the Master and the Mate Pilot assumed the watch and were properly relieved but there was no record of the watches for the deckhands when they were standing lookout duties. Properly document the personnel records in the TVR to record the date and time when each watch stander assumes and is relieved of the watch to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to January 16, 2022.

The fire-detection system, including detectors and alarms, on each towing vessel, must be tested at least once a year in accordance with 46 CFR 142.240(a)(8). The Master was conducting a simple lamp test to verify the operation of the system which did not test the heat detectors themselves in each zone. Provide a means to test all heat detectors and the fire alarm system to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to January 16, 2022.

Each towing vessel operating on oceans, coast wise, limited coast wise, 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 46 CFR 141.380. The hydrostatic release unit and float free arrangement was damaged and needs to be replaced. Replace or renew the HRU and ensure the EPIRB is stowed in a float free arrangement to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to January 16, 2022.

On every towing vessel, each auxiliary generator must be equipped with gauges at the machinery location to indicate engine lubricating oil pressure, engine RPM and engine cooling water temperature in accordance with 46 CFR 143.230(c). The gauges were hanging loose or missing completely from both auxiliary generators. Properly repair, reinstall and demonstrate the proper operation of engine lubricating oil pressure, engine RPM and engine cooling water temperature gauges to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector prior to January 16, 2022.

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 in accordance with 46 CFR 143.230. The bilge high level alarm was mis marked at the operating station so that the crew would not be notified in the event of flooding. Provide and label the entire alarm panel on the bridge to ensure all alarms are correctly indicated in the event of an emergency at the operating station to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector no later than January 16, 2022.

On every Towing Vessel, all installed bilge piping must have a check/foot valve in each bilge suction that prevents unintended back flooding through bilge piping in accordance with 46 CFR 143.275. The fixed bilge piping on board was only an inch and a half pipe that extended to the floor of the bilge. Properly install a strainer and check valve to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector no later than January 16, 2022.

Propulsion machinery, including main engines, reduction gears, shafting, bearings, and electrical equipment and systems, must: Be maintained to ensure proper operation; Be suitable for route and service; and Have suitable propulsion controls to provide the operator full control at each operating station. Engine is non-operable due to a broken hydraulic line. Vessel is not to leave the port of Charleston and is to conduct required repairs within 48 hours.

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 in accordance with 46 CFR 143.230. During a test of the bilge high level alarm that is required in 46 CFR 143.230(a)(5), the alarm panel was mislabeled and there was no indication of what the alarm was for,. In addition, there were two labels for a bilge alarm on the panel that were not for bilge high level. Properly label the bilge high level alarm and determine what the two mislabeled (bilge) alarms.

Pressure vessels over 5 cubic feet in volume and over 15 pounds per square inch maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) must be equipped with a pressure gage in a visible location, be fitted with spring loaded relief valves and be clearly marked with the MAWP in accordance with 46 CFR 143.300. There was no indication as to what pressure the relief valve would release and the MAWP was not marked in a visible location on the tank. Properly mark the MAWP on the tank and provide a Safety Relief Valve rated for not more than 220 psi.

A towing vessel must carry a combination of day and night visual distress signals a portable watertight container carried at the operating station that must be of a bright color and must be clearly marked in legible contrasting letters at least 12.7 millimeters (0.5 inches) high with “DISTRESS SIGNALS” in accordance with 46 CFR 141.375. The vessel has a bright colored, watertight container but it is not marked with “DISTRESS SIGNALS”. Properly mark the container with the distress signals

The bow stem beam in the forward #1 ballast tank was damaged with several cracked/damaged vertical welds and is torn at the turn as the bow stem becomes the keel bar. Properly clean/gouge all welds and affix full penetration welds for the length of the bow stem as original plans and construction required. Crop/renew tornm section of the beam at the turn.

Demonstrate proper operation of the portable fire pump in accordance with 46 CFR 142.325(e). The pump must be self-priming and power driven with a minimum capacity of at least 80 gallons per minute. This deficiency was corrected by providing a Honda Pressure WH20X portable pump rated at over 100 GPM, during the deficiency follow-up, ensure the pump is properly stowed, removed from the storage container and operate to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector. The vessel will be restricted from operations if the above deficiency is not corrected no later than November 22, 2019

Provide an approved line throwing appliance in accordance with 46 CFR 141.385. The specifications for the line throwing appliance must meet 46 CFR 160.040-4. The line throwing appliance onboard must have a total of four (04) rocket projectiles, not less than four (04) primer-ejector cartridges which fit into the launcher and four (04) service lines. The vessel will be restricted from operations if the above deficiency is not corrected no later than November 22, 2019

Demonstrate proper operation of all emergency fuel shut offs in accordance with 46 CFR 143.260 to the satisfaction of an attending Coast Guard Marine Inspector. Both the forward and after fuel tank remote shut offs will be tested. The vessel will be restricted from operations if the above deficiency is not corrected no later than November 22, 2019

Properly label both emergency fuel shut off valves located on the starboard side main deck, indicating the tank that will be shut off and the way to operate the valve in accordance with 46 CFR 143.260(e). Markings must be in clearly legible letters of at least one inch in height. The vessel will be restricted from operations if the above deficiency is not corrected no later than November 22, 2019.

Remove all dead end wiring that present a potential shock hazard as identified and discussed with the vessel Master in accordance with 46 CFR 143.400(a). There was one cable located aft of the port side main engine and appeared to be an old alarm. A second dead end wire was identified off the starboard side generator. The vessel will be restricted from operations if the above deficiency is not corrected no later than November 22, 2019.

Provide or replace the wasted insulation/lagging around the exhaust in way of both main engines to prevent a possible fire hazard and protection of the crew in accordance with 46 CFR 144.830. The vessel will be restricted from operations if the above deficiency is not corrected no later than November 22, 2019.

Provide a supplemental flashing red light as part of the general alarm system suitable to alert crew members in the event of an emergency in the engine room in accordance with 46 CFR 143.235(b)(3) . In addition, provide signage that includes the words “Attention General Alarm—When Alarm Sounds or Flashes Go to Your Station.”

Demonstrate proper operation of the portable fire pump in accordance with 46 CFR 142.325(e). The pump must be self-priming and power driven with a minimum capacity of at least 80 gallons per minute.

Properly store all flammable and combustible products in a designated storage room or cabinet when not in use in accordance with 46 CFR 142.225. In addition provide one additional 40: B portable fire extinguisher located near the space.

Provide a fire axe and properly mount it on an exterior bulkhead of the vessel in accordance with 46 CFR 142.227.

Replace all unserviceable retro reflective tape in way of all life ring buoys on the vessel in accordance with 46 CFR 141.360.

Provide a detailed list of duties in the event of an emergency for each crew member on the vessel in accordance with 46 CFR 140.405. Detailed duties must be developed for all the potential emergency situations as outlined in 46 CFR 140.405(b).

Remove all expired medications in the first aid kit in accordance with 46 CFR 140.435 and replace with current medications.

Update the Automatic Identification System on board the vessel to transmit the correct MMSI number and call sign for the vessel in accordance with 33 CFR 164.46.

Make necessary repairs to the marine band radar and demonstrate that it meets all the requirements of the RTCM standard for marine radar equipment in accordance with 46 CFR 140.710 and 33 CFR 164.72(a)(1)(ii).

Provide and maintain a radio log that meets all the entries in accordance with 47 CFR 80.409(f).

Provide labeling and insure that values are closed so that when fire main is started that slops are not taken from the bilge.

Provide retro tape on the ring bouys.

Show USCG that company is participating in a drug testing program.

Provide a copy of the U.S. Inland Nav Rules on board vessel.

Provide all fuel vents with flame screens.