MIAMI EXPRESS

The company and the ship shall comply with the requirements of the International Safety Management Code. For the purpose of this regulation the requirements of the code shall be treated as mandatory. The company should establish procedures to ensure that the ship is maintained in accordance with the provisions of the relevant rules and regulations established by the company. The technical and/or operational nature of the deficiencies noted below provide objective evidence of a serious failure of the implementation of the ISM Code. An external ISM audit report, satisfactory to the Coast Guard, must be submitted prior to clearance of this deficiency and departure. 74 SOLAS (24) IX/3.1 ISM CODE PART A/10.1 Code 30bc

The purpose of this regulation is to provide means of escape so that persons on board can safely and swiftly escape... Escape routes shall be maintained in a safe condition, clear of obstacles..Multiple external, weathertight doors marked “Escape Route” or with a green “Exit” sign on multiple decks had a nut welded and a T-bolt screwed into the nut which prevents opening of the dog. This crude add-on is a time-consuming obstacle that is contrary to swift escape. The master stated he was unaware of the add-on. 74 SOLAS (24) II-2/13.1.2 Code 30 bc

Any main and auxiliary steering gear control system operable from the navigational bridge shall comply with the following: in the event of a failure of electrical power supply to the control system, an audible and visual alarm shall be given on the navigational bridge. The power failure alarm for each steering gear was audible at the navigational bridge but not visual. In the event of a failure of electrical supply an audible alarm sounds, the visual alarm was not illuminating. One cannot discern which alarm is energized in conjunction with the audible alarm. No non-conformity report was submitted. 74 SOLAS (24) II-1/29.8.4 Code 30 bc

The following fire protection systems shall be kept in good order to as to ensure their required performance if a fire occurs: fire detection and alarm systems. The smoke detector alarm panel on the bridge was found turned off. When turned on, a general fault alert was chiming. The master claimed to be unaware of any issues with the system, and no non-conformity report had been submitted. 74 SOLAS (24) II-2/14.2.1.1.2 Code 30 bc

Rescue boats shall be stowed: in a position suitable for launching and recovery. The rescue boat is launched by falls directly astern, aft of the ship’s propellers. It cannot be launched when the ship is proceeding at a speed of 5 knots as required by III/17.3. The Administration has thus exempted the ship from complying with all of III/17 on the basis that the ship “proceeds at a relatively low speed which will enable the vessel to come to a full stop within a short period of time” and that the “SOLAS Training Manual is amended to show special instructions for the launching of the rescue boat.” However, the manual provided by the crew related to recovery operations failed to address special instructions for launching of the rescue boat. No alternative location or means of safely recovering a person from the water are addressed or provided if conditions are such that it is unsafe to recover from the stern either due to light loading condition, sea state, wind, or a combination of these factors. 74 SOLAS (20) III/14.2 Code 40 ac

Each vessel must have the following: An illuminated magnetic steering compass, mounted in a binnacle, that can be read at the vessel’s main steering stand. The bulb to illuminate the magnetic compass was extinguished, rendering the heading information undiscernible. No non-conformity report had been submitted. 33 CFR 164.35(b) Code 17 bc

Whenever the Government concerned shall have determined that a vessel of special construction or purpose cannot comply fully with the provisions of any of these Rules with respect to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, such vessel shall comply with such other provisions in regards to the number, position, range or arc of visibility of lights or shapes, as well as to the disposition and characteristics of sound-signalling appliances, as her Government shall have determined to be the closest possible compliance with these Rules in respect to that vessel. The Administration exempted the ship from COLREG 1972, Annex I, Section 2(i)(i), concerning the spacing of two or three lights in a vertical line, without detailing how alternative compliance has been achieved and ensured. COLREG 1972 Part A, Rule 1(e) Code 40 ac

The condition of the ship and its equipment shall be maintained to conform with the provisions of the present regulations to ensure that the ship in all respects will remain fit to proceed to sea without danger to the ship or persons on board. The CO2 space was found with approximately two inches of water on the deck. The base of the structural fire protection in this space was orange, indicating that the water level may rise higher at certain times and that this is an ongoing issue which may have compromised the fire integrity of the insulation. 74 SOLAS (20) I/11(a) Code 17 bc

The master, owner, operator, agent, or person in charge of a vessel bound for a port or place in the United States, unless specifically exempted by § 151.2015 of this subpart, must ensure the maintenance of written or digital records that include the information required to be reported by § 151.2060 of this subpart and the sediment information in paragraph (a)(1) of this section. Certification of accurate information. Include the master, owner, operator, agent, person in charge, or responsible officer's printed name, title, and signature attesting to the accuracy of the information provided and that the activities were in accordance with the ballast water management plan required by § 151.2050(g). The master had not signed and attested to ballast water logs since August 2025. The ballast water equipment was continued to be used and logged by the Chief officer. 33 CFR 151.2070(a)(2) Code 17 bc

Fire-fighting systems and appliances shall be kept in good working order ...The fire main on upper deck port side and cargo deck midships were actively leaking water. 74 SOLAS (24) II-2/14.2.1.2 Code 17 bc

The condition of the ship and its equipment shall be maintained to conform with the provisions of the present regulations to ensure that the ship in all respects will remain fit to proceed to sea without danger to the ship or persons on board. The Hz gauge on the emergency diesel generator appeared to be malfunctioning. When started, the Hz should indicate 50 Hz but instead indicates 46 Hz and decreases with time. 74 SOLAS (24) I/11(a) Code 40 ac

Ships fitted with AIS shall maintain AIS in operation at all times... The AIS was inoperable for at least 30 days. 74 SOLAS (24) V/19.2.4.7 Code 17 bc

All ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards... shall, in addition to the requirements of paragraph 2.2, be fitted with: an echo-sounding device, or other electronic means, to measure and display the available depth of water. The echo depth sounding device was inoperable. 74 SOLAS (24) V/19.2.3.1 Code 40 ac

...not less than two [lifebuoys with self-igniting lights] shall also be provided with life buoy self-activating smoke signals complying with the requirements of paragraph 2.1.3 of the Code and be capable of quick release from the navigation bridge... The self-activating smoke signals on both bridge wings for the quick release ring buoys were expired. 74 SOLAS (24) III/7.1.3 Code 17 bc LSA Code 2.1.3

Install and operate a BWMS that has been approved by the Coast Guard under 46 CFR part 162, in accordance with § 151.1512(b) of this subpart. Following installation of a BWMS, the master, owner, operator, agent, or person in charge of the vessel must maintain the BWMS in accordance with all manufacturer specifications. The BWTS was inoperable. The [name withheld] was not logging that it was inoperable as required. 33 CFR 151. 1510(a)(3) Code 17 bc

Such a plan shall be prepared based on guidelines developed by the Organization and written in the working language of the master and officers. The plan shall consist at least of: the list of authorities or persons to be contacted in the event of an oil pollution incident. The SOPEP contact information was not updated. MARPOL I/37.2.2 Code 17 bc

All ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of a paragraph 2.3, with the exception of paragraphs 2.3.3 and 2.3.5, and the requirements of 2.4, have: a gyro-compass, or other means, to determine and display their heading by shipborne non-magnetic means, being clearly readable by the helmsman at the main steering position. These means shall also transmit heading information for input to the equipment referred to in paragraphs 2.3.2, 2.4 and 2.5.5. The gyro-compass at the main steering position was inoperable and not providing heading information. 74 SOLAS (24) V/19.2.5.1 Code 17 bc

All ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards shall, in addition to meeting the requirements of a paragraph 2.3, with the exception of paragraphs 2.3.3 and 2.3.5, and the requirements of 2.4, have: a gyro compass heading repeater, or other means, to supply heading information visually at the emergency steering position if provided. The gyro compass repeater was not supplying heading information visually at the emergency steering position. 74 SOLAS (24) V/19.2.5.2 Code 17 bc

If the vessel’s automatic identification system (AIS) radar, radio navigation receivers, gyrocompass, echo depth sounding device, or primary steering gear stops operating properly, the person directing the movement of the vessel must report or cause to be reported that it is not operating properly to the nearest Captain of the Port, District Commander, or, if participating in a Vessel Traffic Service, to the Vessel Traffic Center, as soon as possible. The AIS, echo depth sounding device, and gyro repeater were found inoperable but were not reported to the COTP or the District Commander. 33 CFR 164.53(b) Code 17 bc

The Administration shall satisfy itself that the general structural strength of the ship is adequate for the draught corresponding to the freeboard assigned. A one meter long, eight centimeter deep inset on the port bow was observed. The master was unaware of the inset and had no documentation for a notification to Class. ICLL 66/88 Reg. 1(1) Code 40 ac

Lifejackets shall be so placed as to be readily accessible, and their position shall be plainly indicated. The lifejackets located on the navigational bridge were stowed behind a desk which required clambering over and between equipment to access. 74 SOLAS (20) III/7.2.2 Code 17 bc

The Administration may, if it considers that the sheltered nature and conditions of the voyage are such as to render the application of any specific requirements of this chapter unreasonable or unnecessary, exempt from those requirements individual ships or classes of ships which, in the course of their voyage, do not proceed more than 20 miles from the nearest land. The Administration exempted the ship from III/17; however, the ship had to proceed more than 20 miles from the nearest land to arrive in this port. 74 SOLAS (20) III/2.1 Code 40 ac

The master, owner, operator, agent, or person in charge of any vessel equipped with ballast water tanks that operates in the waters of the United States must follow these practices: Remove fouling organisms from the vessel’s hull, piping, and tanks on a regular basis and dispose of any removed substances in accordance with local, State and Federal regulations. Excessive biofouling was present on the ship’s hull. 33 CFR 151.2050(f) Code 50 bc