OCEAN STAR

Abandon ship and man overboard drills and training shall be logged or otherwise documented for review by the Coast Guard upon request. The drill entry shall include the date of the drill and general description of the drill scenario and training topics. Drills not conducted or logged in 12 months.

The owner, charterer, master or managing operator shall instruct each crew member, upon first being employed and prior to getting underway for the first time on a particular vessel and at least once every three months, as to the duties that the crew member is expected to perform in an emergency. Crew training shall be logged or otherwise documented for review by the Coast Guard upon request. The training entry shall include the date of the training and general description of the training topics. Drills not conducted or logged in 12 months.

A vessel on a limited coastwise route must carry six hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.021 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.121; and six hand orange smoke distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.037 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant. MI observed six missing day/night distress signals.

A vessel not required to have a power driven fire pump by § 181.300 must have at least three 21/2 gallon buckets, with an attached lanyard satisfactory to the cognizant OCMI, placed so as to be easily available during an emergency. The words “FIRE BUCKET” must be stenciled in a contrasting color on each bucket. MI observed no fire buckets onboard vessel.

A vessel must carry either a first-aid kit that meets the requirements in 46 CFR 199.175(b)(10), SOLAS A or a kit with equivalent contents and instructions. For equivalent kits, the contents must be stowed in a suitable, watertight container that is marked “First-Aid Kit”. A first-aid kit must be easily visible and readily available to the crew. MI observed that First Aid Kit provided was not complete.

A vessel must be provided with bilge pumps in accordance with Table 182.520(a). A second power pump is an acceptable alternative to a hand pump if it is supplied by a source of power independent of the first power bilge pump. A portable hand bilge pump must be capable of pumping water, but not necessarily simultaneously, from all watertight compartments and provided with suitable suction hose capable of reaching the bilge of each watertight compartment and discharging overboard. MI observed no hand bilge pump onboard.

As appropriate for the intended voyage, a vessel must carry adequate and up-to-date: Charts of large enough scale to make safe navigation possible; U.S. Coast Pilot or similar publication; Coast Guard Light List; and Tide tables. MI Observed no local chart, light list, or coast pilot onboard.

Individual power pumps used for separate spaces are to be controlled from a central control point and must have a light or other visual means at the control point to indicate operation. MI Observed no high-water indication light on the control panel.

Gauges to indicate engine revolutions per minute (RPM), jacket water discharge temperature, and lubricating oil pressure must be provided for all propulsion engines installed in the vessel. The gauges must be readily visible at the operating station. MI Observed a non-functioning oil pressure and water jacket temp gage on starboard engine control panel.

Each small battery installation must be located in a well-ventilated space and protected from falling objects. MI observed battery covers were not installed.

An adult life jacket must be provided for each person carried on board a vessel. Each life jacket must be marked with Type I retroreflective material approved in 46 CFR 164.018 or other standard specified by the Commandant. Each life jacket must be marked in clearly legible block capital letters with the vessel's name. MI observed 5 life jackets unserviceable, 2 without proper SOLAS reflective tape, and one without the vessel name applied as per 46 CFR 185.604. Reduce passenger count to 37 passengers.

No marine employer shall engage or employ any individual to serve as a crewmember unless the individual passes a chemical test for dangerous drugs for that employer. The owner hired new employees which are not enrolled in the company DAPI. The newly hired master was previously employed by another company and passed a chemical test within the previous six months with the previous employer but did not share the results with the new owner prior to employment. The four deckhands onboard have not completed the pre-employment drug testing prior to working in a safety sensitive position onboard. All four deckhands and the master have been working daily passenger excursion trips onboard from April 2024 to July 2024.

(a) Marine employers shall establish programs for the chemical testing for dangerous drugs on a random basis of crewmembers on inspected vessels who: (1) Occupy a position, or perform the duties and functions of a position, required by the vessel's Certificate of Inspection; (2) Perform the duties and functions of patrolmen or watchmen required by this chapter; or, (3) Are specifically assigned the duties of warning, mustering, assembling, assisting, or controlling the movement of passengers during emergencies. The employer hired five new employees to include a master and four deckhands. The marine employer is enrolled in a DAPI consortium. None of the five employees are enrolled in a random drug testing program.

The master shall conduct drills and give instructions as necessary to ensure that all crew members are familiar with their duties. There was no record of drills with the new crew members from April 2024 to July 2024. The crew members were questioned and were not familiar with their emergency duties.

It shall be the duty of the master of any vessel subject to subchapter T regulations to prepare and post emergency checkoff lists in a conspicuous place accessible to the crew and passengers. Except when in the judgment of the cognizant OCMI the operation of a vessel does not present one of the hazards listed, the emergency instruction placard should contain at least the applicable portions of the “Emergency Instructions” listed in § 185.25-5. No emergency instructions were found onboard.

All vessels shall be provided with bilge pumps in accordance with Table 182.25-10(a). The portable bilge pump found onboard is not sufficient to pump the internal spaces in the event of flooding. The hose on the pump was found fractured.

A submersible electric bilge pump may be used as a power bilge pump required by Table 182.520(a) only on a vessel of not more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length carrying not more than 49 passengers, provided that: A positive shutoff valve is installed at the hull penetration. The portable electric bilge pump shut off valve in the port and starboard aft compartments was not operational when tested at the shell plate penetration.

An adult life jacket must be provided for each person carried on board a vessel. (b) In addition, a number of child size life jackets equal to at least 10% of the number of persons permitted on board must be provided, or such greater number as necessary to provide a life jacket for each person being carried that is smaller than the lower size limit of the adult life jackets provided to meet this section. Seven adult life jackets and one child life jacket failed inspection. Passenger count reducted to 33 adult and 4 child. Multiple trips were logged in the vessel log book which stated that more than 5 children were onboard and the crew admitted to never adding additional child life jackets when operating on these voyages.

A vessel must comply with the applicable requirements for any radio and Electronic Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB) installations, including the requirements for a station license and installation certificates to be issued by the Federal Communications Commission, as set forth in 47 CFR part 80. The VHF radio is missing the antenna and the LCD screen is not legible so the operator cannot identify which channel the radio is tuned to.

Gauges to indicate engine revolutions per minute (RPM), jacket water discharge temperature, and lubricating oil pressure must be provided for all propulsion engines installed in the vessel. The gauges must be readily visible at the operating station. New outboards were installed after 1996. New subchapter T regulations are applicable. The YAMAHA LCD engine gauge screens are blacked out and are not legible. No gauges can be seen by the operator.

A vessel must carry either a first-aid kit that meets the requirements in 46 CFR 199.175(b)(10) or a kit with equivalent contents and instructions. For equivalent kits, the contents must be stowed in a suitable, watertight container that is marked “First-Aid Kit”. A first-aid kit must be easily visible and readily available to the crew. The first aid kit onboard does not comply with ISO 18813:2006(e).

A vessel of not more than 19.8 meters (65 feet) in length is not required to carry a rescue boat unless: (1) The vessel carries passengers on an open or partially enclosed deck; and (2) The cognizant OCMI determines that the vessel is designed, arranged, or involved in operations so that the vessel itself cannot serve as an adequate rescue craft. This vessel can be used to serve as an adequate rescue craft if a rescue ladder is used. The rescue ladder does not have a sufficient platform for the crew member to stabilized themselves when rescueing a person. Provide a platform at the bottom of the ladder so that crew can use this in a rescue.

A vessel must have one or more ring life buoys as follows: A vessel of more than 7.9 meters (26 feet) in length, but not more than 19.8 meters (65 feet), must carry a minimum of one life buoy of not less than 610 millimeters (24 inches) in diameter. At least one ring life buoy must be fitted with a lifeline. If more than one ring life buoy is carried, at least one must not have a lifeline attached. Each lifeline on a ring life buoy must: (1) Be buoyant; (2) Be of at least 18.3 meters (60 feet) in length; (3) Be non-kinking; (4) Have a diameter of at least 7.9 millimeters ( 5/16 inch); (5) Have a breaking strength of at least 5 kilonewtons (1,124 pounds); and (6) Be of a dark color if synthetic, or of a type certified to be resistant to deterioration from ultraviolet light. A vessel must carry one floating waterlight, unless it is limited to daytime operation, in which case no floating waterlight is required. (1) Each floating waterlight must be approved in accordance with § 161.010 in subchapter Q of this chapter, or other standard specified by the Commandant, including, but not limited to, approval series 160.110. (2) Each ring life buoy with a floating waterlight must have a lanyard of at least 910 millimeters (3 feet) in length, but not more than 1,830 millimeters (6 feet), securing the waterlight around the body of the ring life buoy. (3) Each floating waterlight installed after March 11, 1997, on a vessel carrying only one ring buoy, must be attached to the lanyard with a corrosion-resistant clip. The clip must have a strength of at least 22.7 kilograms (50 pounds), and allow the waterlight to be quickly disconnected from the ring life buoy. The ring life buoy onboard was found unservicable due to the damaged grab line and missing retro. The ring buoy did not have 60' of lifeline attached and the line onboard was found in a deteriorated condition. The ring life buoy did not have a floating water light and no approved water light was found onboard.

Remote fuel shutoff stations must be marked in clearly legible letters at least 25 millimeters (1 inch) high indicating purpose of the valve and direction of operation. The fuel shutoff valve markings were not legible at the location of the valves.

Each collision bulkhead required by § 179.210, must be constructed in accordance with § 179.320, except that a collision bulkhead: Must not be fitted with any type of penetration or opening except penetrations may be made if they are located as high and as far inboard as practicable and they have a means to make them watertight. The starboard side collision bulkhead was found holed at the top. The hole is approx 3" in diameter.

Batteries shall be secured against shifting in all directions as per 46 CFR 183.05-20(b). The batteries were not found secured for movement.

Repair inoperable stern light.

Mark vessel name on life buoy.

Provide (04) additional red flares to meet the requirement for limited coastwise route.

Mark fire buckets and install missing line.

Provide proof of drug and alcohol program: random testing and pre-employment testing program.

Ring Life Buoy must carry floating water light. Install missing battery and demonstrate proper light operation.

VSL must have FCC Station License and Safety Certificate. Update expired FCC Station License and Safety Certificate.

Emergency drill must be conducted quarterly. Show proof of conducted fire and man-overboard drills.

VSL is required to have compass. Replace damaged compass.

VSL must have adequate and up-to-date charts and pubs. Provide proof of Local notice to mariners, light list, coastal pilot and tide table.

All life preserver shall be marked with VSL's name. Re-stencil fade VSL's name on identified life jackets.

Each life preserver must have at least 200 sq. inch of retro-reflective material. Replace faded retro-reflective material on identified life jackets.

Potable fire extinguisher must have suitable mounting bracket. Install missing CO2 mounting bracket.

VSL must have portable hand bilge pump with suitable hoses for pumping bilges. Provide portable hand bilge pump.

Remote fuel shutoff valve shall be marked at least 1 inch letter with direction of valve operation. Mark fuel shutoff valves.

Grind all identified damaged FRP to solid FRP and rebuild as original.

Remove all identified through-hull valves and fittings for exam.

Vessel inspected under subcahpter T may not operate without having on board a valid USCG COI. Vessel COI Renewal is overdue.

Found 3 red & 3 orange flares on board. VSL requires to have 6 red & 6 orange for LCW route. Restrict VSL route to Lakes ,Bays & Sounds until additional flares are provided.

Found port aft deck light filled with water / inoperable. repair deck light & show proper operations.

Renew expired FCC Station license.

Remove charcoal grill from the vessel. VSL changed engines from diesel engines to gasoline outboard engines. Cooking grill is not allowed on board vessel.

Crew reported that the port engine outdrive seized and fell off from mounting collar on transom.

Vessel must have current FCC station license as required by 47CFR80. Onboard FCC station license expired on 29APR2018. Provide proof of current station license.

Master must have current medical certificate as required by 46CFR185.402. Provide proof of current medical certificate.

EPIRB must have current NOAA registration as required by 46CFR185.25-20 (Old T). Provide proof of current NOAA registration.

Pre-engineered FGGE must be serviced annually as required by 46CFR176.810. Provide proof of service conducted on FGFE.

Bilge must be freed of hazardous situation as required by 46CFR.25-50 (Old T). Found STBD diesel tank leaking from the base of discharge line. Repair damaged fuel line from fuel tank as original.

Vessel must have cages for engine cooling eater discharge temperature and L/O pressure gages as required by 46CFR182.20-5 (Old T). Show proper gage operation for port & STBD engine temperature gages and oil pressure gages.

Bilge must be freed of hazardous situation as required by 46CFR.25-50 (Old T). Found #4 fuel injector on STBD diesel leaking from high pressure line. Repair damaged fuel line from fuel tank as original. Approve plan for permanent repairs next schedule DDX.

Toilet space must be in serviceable and sanitary condition as required by 46CFR176.25-45 (Old T). Remove all stored materials not part of toilet function.

Vessel must have (01) portable hand pump as required by 46 CFR 182.520. Found hand pump with discharge hose unable to reach outboard side of the vessel. Provide discharge hose that's able to reach water side.

Vessel must have (01) fixed power pump as required by 46 CFR 182.520. Replace inoperable port bilge pump.

Master must have valid medical certificate as required by STCW A-VI/1. Show proof of valid medical certificate.

Ring life buoy must be in serviceable condition as required by 46 CFR 180.70. Replace deteriorated ring life buoy.

Life jacket donning placard must be post conspicuously on board as required by 46 CFR 185.516. Post the donning placard.

Vessel must have navigation that are in compliance with Nav Rule as required by 46 CFR 183.420. Found VSL stern light with damaged lower housing and lens coated with dark soot. Replace stern light.

VSL with pre-engineered FGFE must have audible & visual alarm as required by 46 CFR 181.420. Found STBD FGFE alarms inoperable. Show proper operation of FGFE.

VSL must have visual and audible bilge level alarm as required by 46 CFR 182.530. VSL port & STBD bilge level alarm is inoperable. Repair and show prove of operations.

VSL must have fixed power bilge pumps in port and STDB hulls as required by 46 CFR 182.520. Found bilge pump inoperable. Repair and show proper operation of the bilge pumps.

VSL toilet and wash space must be in serviceable and sanitary conditions as required by 46 CFR 176.818. Found toilet space used as storage. Clear and clean toilet space.

VSL must upgrade VHF to VFH-DSC as required by 47 CFR 80.905 9a)(1). Upgarde vsl VHF and show proper operation.

Port outdrive sustained a crack on transom assembly which house the Gimbal Ring. Repair cracked transom assembly install and conduct operational test to the satisfaction of the attending CG Marine Inspector prior to carry passengers.