MISS MARION

The owner or managing operator of a towing vessel that has selected the TSMS option must examine or must have examined the following systems, equipment, and procedures to ensure that the vessel and its equipment are suitable for the service for which the vessel is certificated: (6) Means provided for pumping bilges. Vessels TSMS has a procedure that requires the quarterly testing of the vessels bilge system but the procedure does not ensure the bilge system does in fact take suction. Attending MI's attempted to conduct an op test of the vessels bilge system and the bilge pump suction could not be demonstrated nor does the vessels system indicate fully how this is achieved. 46 CFR 137.320

There must be an installed or portable bilge pump for emergency dewatering. Any portable pump must have sufficient hose length and pumping capability. All installed bilge piping must have a check/foot valve in each bilge suction that prevents unintended backflooding through bilge piping. Vessels bilge pump failed to take suction. 46 CFR 143.275

Each towing vessel must have a means to monitor and control the amount of thrust, rudder angle, and (if applicable) direction of thrust, at each operating station. Each towing vessel equipped with rudder(s) must have a means to monitor and control the position of the rudder(s) at each operating station. Vessel does not have means to monitor and control position of the rudder(s) at operating station. 46 CFR 143.225(a)(b)