TED COOK

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. Existing grid cooler leak for the port main engine ring gear. Vessel shall make repairs to the grid cooler at drydock. Recommend a CG marine inspector attend drydock to oversee repairs.

The master must ensure that all hatches, doors, and other openings designed to be watertight or weather-tight function properly. Engine room escape hatch is seized closed. Make repairs to ensure emergency escape hatch functions as designed.

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; (2) Main engine high cooling water temperature; (3) Auxiliary generator engine low lubricating oil pressure; (4) Auxiliary generator engine high cooling water temperature; (5) High bilge levels; (6) Low hydraulic steering fluid levels and (7) Low fuel level, if fitted with a day tank. Alarm set-points for the above mentioned alarms have not been tested. Bilge alarms could not be accurately identified and corresponded with the alarm panel. Conduct alarm set-point testing and bilge alarm test with an operable panel in the presence of an attending CG Marine Inspector.

The following systems must be equipped with gauges at the machinery location:(1) Main engine lubricating oil pressure and main engine RPM;(2) Main engine cooling water temperature; Digital panel on main engines does not display lubricating oil pressure, engine RPM, or cooling water temperature. There are no additional gauges installed to verify parameters. Repair digital control panel to display applicable parameters or install required gauges.

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. Visual distress signals onboard are expired. Replace visual distress signals in accordance with the carriage requirements indicated in Table 141.370.

Ground found on phase "A".

Each towing vessel must have a fire-detection system installed to detect engine room fires. The owner or managing operator must ensure the following: The system is installed, tested, and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's design manual. The Fire detection panel is inop and producing audible and visible alarm when power is applied to the panel.

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, as prescribed in paragraphs (a)(1) through (8) of this section. The installed portable fire extinguishers and fixed fire detection systems inspections have expired and need to be serviced.

Fixed fire-extinguishing systems must be inspected and tested, as required by table 142.240 of this section, in addition to the tests required by §§ 147.60 and 147.65 of subchapter N of this chapter. The pressure switches on the fixed CO2 system were found inop during testing of shutdowns for ventilation and main machinery.

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.(b) Storage areas are kept free from accumulation of combustible and flammable materials insofar as practicable. The STBD AFT fuel tank supplying the SSDG's is leaking and accumulating diesel fuel in the #4 STBD void space.

To stop the flow of fuel in the event of a fire or break in the fuel line, a remote fuel shutoff valve must be fitted on any fuel line that supplies fuel directly to a propulsion engine or generator prime mover. The remote fuel shut-off valves outside the space were inoperable.