POTOMAC

Each towing vessel must be maintained and operated so as to minimize fire hazards and to ensure the following. All bilges and void spaces are kept free from accumulation of combustible and flammable materials and liquids insofar as practicable. Clean bilges to be free of oil and debris. 46 CFR 142.220 (a)

All seals and gaskets must be properly maintained to prevent leaks of flammable or combustible liquid, as those terms are defined in 46 CFR subpart 30.10, into the machinery space. Repair all oil/fuel leaks from port and stbd engine along with associated piping/equipment. 46 CFR 143.220 (a)

Piping and machinery components that exceed 428 deg, including fitting, flanges, valves, manifolds and turbochargers, must be insulated. Exhaust lagging on Port and stbd engine missing lagging around the final flange going into the muffler and sections deteriorated and open exposing hot surface underneath. Insulate this surface. 46 CFR 143.220

Each remote fuel valve must be operable from a safe space outside the space where the valves located.The STBD and Port remote fuel valve was binding up restricting its movement. Modify the connection to prevent binding when the valve is being closed. 46 CFR 143.260

An exposed hazard such as rotating machinery must be protected by a cover or guard. The generator belt guard was not installed on the running engine. 46 CFR 144.820

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. Repair exhaust leaks on exhaust piping. 46 CFR 143.205 (a)

Electrical connections must be suitably installed to prevent them from coming loose through vibration or accidental contact and Electrical components that pose an electrical hazard must be in an enclosure. Electrical junction box under deck plate needs cover and wire nuts replaced with proper electrical connections. The terminal boards on port, starboard and fwd bulkhead need enclosure. 46 CFR 143.400

Machinery systems must be designed and maintained to provide for safe operation of the towing vessel. The #2 hydraulic steering pump was inoperable. Make repairs and prover operation to the satisfaction of the MI. 46 CFR 143.205

Electrical systems must be designed and maintained to provide for the safe operations of the vessel and safety of the persons onboard. Electrical extension cord was found routed in the engine room. These cannot be used for permanent use and must be removed. 46 CFR 143.205

Survival craft must be stowed in accordance with 199.130 of this chapter. Inflatable survival craft must have launching and inflating instructions posted in conspicuous places near the raft. The inflatable bag raft must be properly positioned and rigged to the vessel and launching instructions must be posted. 46 CFR 141.310

Pressure vessels must be externally examined annually. Air compressor onboard found heavily deteriorated and needs replaced. 46 CFR 143.300 (b)

Machinery systems must be designed and maintained to provide for safe operation of the towing vessel. Steering mechanism on the aft deck, loose tie rod connections, elongated connection points, worn bushings and pins, rudder bearing has excessive play. Make repairs to the steering system to the satisfaction of the attending MI. 46 CFR 143.205

The owner, managing operator, or master must ensure the strength of each component used for securing the towing vessel to the tow and for making up the tow adequate for its intended service. Both winches used to secure the tow are in poor condition and inoperable. Refurbish/repair both winches and prove operation to the attending MI. 46 CFR 140.801

Each towing vessel must be equipped with navigation lights, shapes, and sound signals in accordance with the International Regulations for Prevention of Collisions at Sea (COLREGS). Fix inoperable navigation lights on mast. 46 CFR 140.720

Life jackets must be marked in block capitol letters with the name of the vessel and have an approved light and whistle attached to the front shoulder area of the jacket. The life jackets do not have a light or whistle attached. 46 CFR 141.340

Each towing vessel must be fitted with an industrial type first aid kit appropriate to the size of the crew. Medications were found expired as of 2024. Restock first aid kits with valid medications. 46 CFR 140.435

Towing vessels must meet the communications requirements of 33 CFR part 26. The FCC radio authorization certificate is expired. Contact FCC representative to renew the certificate. 46 CFR 140.715 & 47 CFR 80.403

Each remote fuel valve must be operable from a safe space outside the space where the valves located. The STBD remote fuel valve was binding up restricting its movement. Modify the connection to prevent binding when the valve is being closed. 46 CFR 143.260

A navigation assessment for the intended route and operations must be completed prior to getting underway. The vessel did not have navigation assessments on board for use by the master. 46 CFR 140.635

Piping and machinery components that exceed 428 deg, including fitting, flanges, valves, manifolds and turbochargers, must be insulated. Exhaust lagging on port and stbd engines are missing lagging around the final flange going into the muffler. Insulate this surface. 46 CFR 143.220

An exposed hazard such as rotating machinery must be protected by a cover or guard. The generator belt guard was not installed on the running engine. 46 CFR 144.820

The remote fuel shutoff must be operable from a safe place outside the space where the valve is installed. Marine inspector observed the stbd side fuel shutoff was not capable of closing from remote access point. 46 CFR 143.260 (d)

(b) Day and night visual distress signals. Hand-held red flare distress signals, approved under approval series 160.021 or 160.121, and hand-held rocket-propelled parachute red flares, approved under approval series 160.036 or 160.136, are acceptable as both day and night signals. Distress signals onboard did not have a CG approval. 46 CFR 141.375

The design of the system and its installation on the towing vessel is certified and inspected by a registered professional engineer with experience in fire-detection system design, by a technician with qualifications as a National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies (NICET) level IV fire alarm engineering technician, or by an authorized classification society with equivalent experience, to comply with paragraphs (a)(1) through (6) of this section. Vessel could not provide evidence of P.E. approval. 46 CFR 142.330

The portable fire pump must be self-priming and power-driven, with: (1) A minimum capacity of at least 300 LPM (80 gpm) at a discharge gauge pressure of not less than 414 kPa (60 psi), measured at the pump discharge. Portable pump's pressure gauge was not working. 46 CFR 142.325

Each lifebuoy on a towing vessel must: (1) Be approved under approval series 160.050 or 160.150. Approval series requires reflective tape. Reflective tape on forward house life buoy is worn and/or missing. 46 CFR 141.360

Towing vessel's survival craft must meet the functional requirements of paragraphs (b)(1) through (5) of this section. Functional requirements describe the objectives of the regulation. Survival craft must: (1) Be readily accessible; (2) Have an aggregate capacity sufficient to accommodate the total number of individuals onboard, as specified in paragraph (c) of this section; (3) Provide a means for sheltering its complement appropriate to the route; (4) Provide minimum equipment for survival if recovery time is expected to be greater than 24 hours; (c) Each life float and rigid buoyant apparatus must be fitted with a lifeline, pendants, a painter, and floating electric water light approved under approval series 161.010. Survival craft and stowage locations must be marked in accordance with the requirements of §§ 199.176 and 199.178 of this chapter. Survival craft was not stowed correctly, missing all its equipment, and not properly marked. 46 CFR 141.325

The master must ensure that all hatches, doors, and other openings designed to be watertight or weather-tight function properly. Weather tight door on main deck's gasket completely wasted as well as steel combing. 46 CFR 144.320

(a) The results of the inspections required by 33 CFR 164.76 must be documented in the TVR, official logbook, or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel. (b) A record of the type, size, and service of each towline, face wire, and spring line, used to make the towing vessel fast to her tow, must be available to the Coast Guard or third-party auditor for review. The following minimum information is required in the record: The dates when examinations were performed, the identification of each item of towing gear examined, and the names of the persons performing the inspection. Vessel missing TVR. 46 CFR 140.820

Station documents must be readily available to the licensed operator(s) on duty during the hours of service of the station and to authorized Commission employees upon request. Vessel could not produce Radio Safety installation document. 47 CFR 80.403

A COI may be suspended and withdrawn or revoked by the cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection at any time for noncompliance with the requirements of this subchapter. Upon administrative review, the vessel is not permitted to operate outside of Routes and Conditions dictated in COI unless a new COI is issued for a Lakes, Bays, and Sounds route which is the designated route the vessel intends to operate on in Tampa Bay, FL. 46 CFR 136.215(c)

A towing vessel subject to this subchapter and choosing the Coast Guard inspection option, or required to have the Coast Guard inspection option, must undergo an annual inspection within 3 months before or after the COI anniversary date. Upon administrative review, MI found vessel to be past due date for annual inspection. Vessel was required to complete an annual inspection by 18FEB21 and 18FEB2022. COI is no longer valid. 46 CFR 137.200

Vsl is not broadcasting dimension information (AIS Antenna Position ABCD values equals 0) and Vsl is not broadcasting static draft information

PROVIDE CURRENT CHART ONBOARD FOR AREA TRANSITING._x001C_ _x001C_ _x001C_ _x001C_

PROVIDE AN 8" BELL ONBOARD._x001C_ _x001C_ _x001C_ _x001C_

PROVIDE VALID FCC RADIO LICENSE ONBOARD._x001C_ _x001C_ _x001C_ _x001C_