JOAN PLUCK

The master of a towing vessel must ensure that drills are conducted and instructions are given to ensure that all crew members are capable of performing the duties expected of them during emergencies. This includes abandoning the vessel, recovering persons from the water, responding to onboard fires and flooding, or responding to other threats to life, property, or the environment. The vessel crew was not identified or available to conduct drills or display crew competency to complete initial inspection for certification. Vessel crew must be identified and complete all COI inspection items pertaining to crew competency to the satisfaction of attending USCG Marine Inspectors.

A towing vessel must carry adequate and up-to-date charts, maps, and nautical publications for the intended voyage, including: Charts, including electronic charts acceptable to the Coast Guard, of appropriate scale to make safe navigation possible. Towing vessels operating on the Western Rivers must have maps of appropriate scale issued by the Army Corps of Engineers or a river authority; “U.S. Coast Pilot” or similar publication; Coast Guard light list; and Towing vessels that operate the Western Rivers must have river stage(s) or Water Surface Elevations as appropriate to the trip or route, as published by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or a river authority, must be available to the person in charge of the navigation watch. Vessel did not have any charts or publications onboard.