CAPT RIES

Each life jacket must have a life jacket light approved under approval series 161.012 or 161.112 securely attached to the front shoulder area of the life jacket. 08 attached Life jacket lights on board beyond the expiration date. Renew expired life jacket lights.

Emergency lighting must be provided for all internal crew working and living areas. Install/ correct emergency lighting or phosphorescent adhesive lighting strips along escape hatches/doorways within engine room.

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. Provide fire equipment test records.

A towing vessel may not be operated without having on board a valid COI issued by the Coast Guard as required by § 136.202. Owners and managing operators must submit Form CG-3752, “Application for Inspection of U.S. Vessel,” to the cognizant OCMI where the inspection will take place. The owner or managing operator must submit the application at least 30 days before the vessel will undergo the inspection for certification. As well as, Any changes to the vessel or manning and a description of any modifications to the vessel. Vessels COI expired 06FEB2025.

A vessel that is exposed to salt water less than 6 months in any 12-month period since the last examination or initial certification must undergo a drydock and internal structural examination at least once every 5 years. The Dry Dock and Internal Structural Exam were due NLT 28FEB2025

The following systems must be equipped with gauges at the machinery location. The STBD generator's installed RPM gauge was not operational. Repair or replace generator RPM at the machinery location.

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. Inspection found the safety relief valve on the water heater in the engine space had been sealed with a plug, therefore not allowing blow-off relief in the event of over pressurization potentially causing a serious risk to crew and vessel. Remove plug and replace the hot water heater safety device in accordance with the manufactures recommendation.

The master must ensure that all hatches, doors, and other openings designed to be watertight or weather-tight function properly. Inspection found water raining into the engine room from the 02 topside hatches appearing to be drawn in by the engine room exhaust fans. Further investigation found hatches were not bolted down and did not have seals.

The master must ensure that all hatches, doors, and other openings designed to be watertight or weather-tight function properly. Inspection found 02 exterior weathertight doors (port & starboard) on the second deck had damaged seals and light leaking through.

Electrical systems and equipment must function properly and minimize system failures and fire and shock hazards. Wires in electronics space under the bridge were overhanging the steering equipment and chaffing. 46 CFR 143.400

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. Inspection found electrical junction box inside port engine room door had exposed wires and no cover plate.

Each towing vessel must be equipped with an industrial type first aid cabinet or kit, appropriate to the size of the crew and operating conditions. Several contents in the first aid kit were expired.

Each lifebuoy on a towing vessel must be approved under approval series 160.050 or 160.150. Inspection found deteriorated retro-reflective tape on the lifebuoys.

Each towing vessel must be equipped with at least two portable, battery-powered lights. One must be located at the access to the engine room. The portable light in the E/R was not in place.

The following systems must be equipped with gauges at the machinery location: Auxiliary generator engine lubricating oil pressure. The installed gauge for the stbd gen could not give accurate readings due to the internal gauge plate spinning freely.

Paints, coatings, or other flammable or combustible products onboard a towing vessel must be stored in a designated storage room or cabinet when not in use. Inspection found gallons of flammable chemicals located in the 1st deck restroom.

Emergency lighting sources must provide for sufficient illumination under emergency conditions to facilitate egress from each space. Inspection found no e-lighting or photo luminescent tape inside berthing spaces.

Inspections and tests of lifesaving equipment must be recorded in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with any TSMS applicable to the vessel. Inspection found no record of lifesaving inspections being conducted.

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 the duties expected of them during emergencies. This includes abandoning the vessel (annually), recovering persons from the water (annually), responding to onboard fires (monthly) and flooding. Inspection found gaps in required drills not including months vessel was inoperable.

Essential systems or equipment must be regularly tested and examined. Tests and examinations must verify that the system or equipment functions as designed. If a component is found unsatisfactory, it must be repaired or replaced. Test and examination procedures must be in accordance with manufacturer's instructions. Each towing vessel must perform the applicable tests in Table 143.245(b) of this section and must be recorded. Inspection found no record of any of.

The owner or managing operator must implement procedures to identify and mitigate health and safety hazards. Through questioning and inspection the MI found the crew showers using river water. River water is pumped into the vessel's integral water tank and is used for showers by crew living onboard. Inspection found the water used to be very dirty and found floating cigarette butts and other debris in the tanks. Company must provide clean potable water to crew for sanitary and safety of health to the crew. Clean potable water must be provided to the crew prior to sleeping onboard.

Each U.S. towing vessel of 26 feet (about 8 meters) or more in length must hold a ship-radio-station license. Vessel holds 2 current/active FCC station licenses; each with a different call signs and MMSI numbers.

Each towing vessel must be fitted with a genral alarm that is capable of notifying persons in any accommodation, work space, and the engine room, and, has installed, in the engine room and any other area where background noise makes a general alarm hard to hear, a supplemental flashing red light. Alarm acctuators could not be heard in engine room and there was no flashing red light fixture. (Corrected - FFK)

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 valve must be operable from a safe place outside the space where the valve is installed. Port and starboard generator shutoff valves remote operation failed.

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 valve must be installed in the fuel piping directly outside of the fuel oil supply tank. Port and starboard main diesel engine shutoff valves located in vicinity of each engine and not directly outside fuel oil supply tank.

Paints, coatings, or other flammable or combustible products onboard a towing vessel must be stored in a designated storage room or cabinet when not in use, and, a 40-B portable fire extinguisher must be located near the flammable/combustible storage cabinet. A flammable product was stored below the pilot house (not in a proper location) and a lessor rated portable fire extinguisher was located near the proper storage cabinet. (Corrected - FFK)

Lifeline required to be secured around the body of the lifebuoy (life ring). Lifeline was secured to lifebuoy's grab line. (CORRECTED - FFK)

Prior to getting underway for the first time on a particular towing vessel, each crewmember must receive a safety orientation covering all topics listed in 46 CFR 140.410(b) and must be documented in TVR or official logbook to include: The date of the safety orientation or training; (2) A general description of the safety orientation or training topics; (3) The name(s) and signature(s) of individual(s) providing the orientation or training; and (4) The name(s) of the individual(s) receiving the safety orientation or training. Training for master and crew had not occurred.

Prior to assuming duties related to the safe operation of a towing vessel, each (non credentialed mariner) crewmember must receive training to ensure that they are familiar with: (1) Watchstanding terms and definitions; (2) Duties of a lookout; (3) Communication with other watchstanders; (4) Change of watch procedures; (5) Procedures for reporting other vessels or objects; and (6) Watchstanding safety. Training must be properly recorded in the TVR or offical logbook. Non-credentialed crewmember had not receive navigation safety training.

A vessel must be operated in such a manner as to afford protection against hazards to life, property, and the environment. Batteries used to power port & starboard generator starter motors were not stored in a box, nor were there covers over the batteries to prevent an accidental electrical short.

Means must be provided for closing, in case of fire, each doorway, ventilator, and annular space around funnels and other openings into such spaces. Vessel not fitted with means to close engine room fresh air intake and exhaust vents.

Auxiliary generators must be equipped with RPM gauges at tthe machinery location. Port and starboard generators were not fitted with RPM guages.

An exposed hazard such as gears and rotating machinery, must be protected by a cover, guard or rail. Port and starboard propulsion shafts were not properly protected.

Each exhaust pipe from an internal combustion engine which is within reach of personnel must be insulated or otherwise guarded to prevent burns. A small section (approximately 8 inches) of insulation on exhaust piping from starboard main diesel engine was missing.

No person may operate a non-oceangoing ship of 100 gross tons and above that is fitted with main or auxiliary machinery spaces in the navigable waters of the United States unless: (1) The ship has at least one pump installed to discharge oily mixtures through a fixed piping system to a reception facility; (2) The piping system required by this section has at least one outlet that is accessible from the weather deck; (3) Each outlet required by this section has a shore connection that is compatible with reception facilities in the ship's area of operation; and (4) The ship has a stop valve for each outlet required by this section. The vessel was not equipped with pump, piping, or valve for discharging oily mixtures. To be corrected by next required dry dock examination (06FEB2025 as per COI).

The operators of each vessel and facility engaged in the transfer operation shall retain a signed copy of the declaration of inspection (DOI) on board the vessel or at the facility for at least 1 month from the date of signature. DOI for fuel oil transfer conducted within the last month was not on board the vessel.

Label zones on the fire panel.

Replace cracked light cover in engine room.

Provide metal cable supports for electrical wires over egress routes.

Prove proper operation of smoke detector in pilot house crawl space.

Provide on board required amount of visual distress signals in proper stowage container.

Provide lights and whistles on 2 PFDs in Master bunk room.

Provide a light on PFD in the galley.

Provide on board a valid/ non-expired first aid kit.

Repair leak on port generator.

Prove proper operation of vital systems and required alarms on emergency power, including fire panel.

Permanently mount B-V semi-portable fire extinguisher in engine room.

Prove life line for bridge starboard life buoy meets requirements.

Prove that the grab line on the bridge starboard life buoy meets the requirements.

Install adequate protection against hot piping on starboard main engine.

Secure flammable storage locker to the vessel.

Install adequate fall overboard protection near bow on port and starboard side.

Prove operation of emergency light in 01 deck passageway.

Remove CO2 portable fire extinguisher from bow hold and replace with a Type B or mount outside space.

Install flame screens on port fuel vent.

Label general alarm bells and post warning signs in ladder well and galley.

Remove permanently installed extension cord in space under pilothouse. All electrical runs must go into junction box or other enclosure.

Replace expired items in all First Aid kits on board vessel.

Replace all gaskets on watertight doors.

Mark watertight doors and emergency escape exits as required in 46 CFR 144.160

Provide transfer procedures in accordance with 33 CFR 155.750.