WENDY JO

There must be an installed or portable bilge pump for emergency de-watering. Any portable pump must have sufficient hose length and pumping capability. Ships crew was unable to get Engine room aft bilge suction line to make suction due to faulty isolation valve. Make bilge line fully operational and make available to attending marine inspector. action code 705 Prior to towing operations.

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. MI observed leak off the PORT MDE lube oil filter manifold. Fix leak and make available for inspection to the attending marine inspector.

Each towing VSL operating in Oceans and coast wise service must have a line throwing appliance approved under approval series 160.040. MI observed line throwing device and auxiliary lines were expired. Procure new Line throwing devices.

Each towing vessel must be equiped with navigation lights, shapes, and sound signals in accordance with the international regulations for prevention of collisions at sea (COLREGS) or 33 CFR part 84 as appropriate to its area of operation. MI observed anchor light inoperable. Repair or replace anchor light.

Safety orientations and other crew training must be documented in the TVR, or official logbook. Ship was unable to provide documentation on crew members required safety orientation and ship specific training. Provide documentation and attestation to crew members ship specific and required training as per 46CFR140.410(a)-(d).

The emergency duties and duty stations required by this section must be posted at each operating station and in a conspicuous location in a space commonly visited by crew members. Station bill with required positions and emergency responsibilities was not posted anywhere on the VSL. Create and post emergency station bill in a conspicuous location.

MI found several spots in hull plating of the engine room that had multiple clad welds. Provide a detailed drawing of the engine room bilge showing the locations of all clad weld. Also, provide a gauging report of the hull plating that contains clad weld to local OCMI.

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. MI identified leaks from the fuel oil filters on both port and starboard main engines.

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. MI identified minor leaks on the steering gear hydraulic rams.

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. MI observed the following unsafe electrical installations: The bridge breaker panel was missing proper labeling, and multiple dead-end exposed wiring were observed on 2nd deck exterior bulkhead above cylinders, under the bridge conning station and in battery charger in storage space under bridge.

Electrical components that pose an electrical hazard must be in an enclosure. MI identified potable water pump plugged in to outlet rather than hardwired in enclosure.

Flammable and combustible products must not be stored in machinery spaces, unless they are stored in a suitable container that meets the requirements of § 142.225 of this subchapter. Plastic trash receptacles (03) were located in the engine room.

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. MI found Port and Stbd shaft seal leaking excessively.

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. MI found Port and Stbd Main Diesel Engine with excessive lube oil leaking from the filter housing.

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. Inspector identified a hydraulic leak from the aft deck port side steering unit.

Each towing vessel operating in oceans and coastwise service must have a line throwing appliance approved under approval series 160.040. Inspector found that the vessel lacked the required number of line throwing components as set forth by 160.040. The vessel had only one full complement of components. The following should be placed on board the vessel: Four Service Lines, Four Rocket Projectiles and Four Primer-Ejector Cartridges. A) At least four Rocket Projectiles; each projectile must have a fire resistant bridle and leader (two of the projectiles shall be buoyant). B) At least four primer-ejector cartridges fitting the chamber of the pistol, gun or launcher. C) At least four “Service Lines” of 4mm minimum diameter and 500 pounds breaking strength. The length of each “Service Line” is determined through testing and equipped by the manufacturer. Each line shall be coiled, faked, or reeled in its own faking box or reel. D) An “Auxiliary Line” of at least 1500 feet in length with a breaking strength of not less than 9,000 pounds and resistant to UV deterioration.

Relief valves must be tested in accordance with 143.245 (Twice every five years, with no more than three years elapsing since last test). Inspector found that relief valves had not been tested within the required time frame.

The owner, managing operator, master or officer in charge of a navigation watch of a towing vessel must ensure 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. Inspector found that the airlines for the towing gear winch were inoperable.

Sufficient lighting suitable for the marine environment must be provided within crew working and living areas. Inspector found that the protective globe for the top bunk light within the crews missing.

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. Inspector found that the electrical outlet within the crew head had reversed hot/neutral wires.

The master of a towing vessel must ensure that each crewmember participates in fire-fighting drills and receives instruction at least once each month. Inspector found that not all crewmembers had participated in the required monthly schedule.

The master of a towing vessel must ensure that drills are conducted and instructions are given to ensure that all crewmembers are capable of performing duties during an emergency to include (1) abandoning the ship (2) recovering persons from the water, (3) responding to flooding, (4) responding to other threats to life, property or the environment. Inspector found that not all crewmembers had participated in the required drills/instructions.

Closure devices must be provided for deckhouse or hull penetrations which open to the exterior or the vessel and which may allow water to enter the vessel. Inspector found nonfunctional dogs on the port holes within the engine room.

The owner or managing operator must implement procedures to identify and mitigate health and safety hazards including safe food handling. Inspector found that a protective rail/guard was not installed on the stove-top to prevent the shifting of cooking ware (pots/pans,etc.) while underway.

Each towing vessel must be equipped with navigation lights in accordance with COLGREGS or 33 CFR part 84 as appropriate to the area of operation. Inspector found a broken bulb installed in the lower tow light on the masthead.

Electrical systems and equipment must function properly and minimize system failures and fire and shock hazards. Grounding cable terminal for battery chargers was found sheared off from bulkhead in engine room.

Fire hose must be a lined commercial fire hose 15 meters (50 feet) in length, at least 40 millimeters (1.5 inches) in diameter, and fitted with a nozzle made of corrosion-resistant material capable of providing a solid stream and a spray pattern. Fire hoses onboard were not lined commercial fire hose.

Each towing vessel must have a fire-detection system installed to detect engine room fires. Fire alarm in engine room was damaged during testing rendering the fire detection system inoperable.