TME MERCURY

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. Vessel's charts were found out of date and lacking scale appropriate for the vessel's area of operation. Provide updated and adequate paper charts for vessel's area of operation to the satisfaction of the Coast Guard.

Machinery and equipment installed on each vessel must be suitable for the vessel and its operation and for the purpose intended. All machinery and equipment must be installed and maintained in such a manner as to afford adequate protection from causing fire, explosion, machinery failure, and personal injury. MIs witnessed blower ducting in the vessel's aft fuel storage unsecured and improperly installed. Vessel shall enact permanent repairs of the blower ducting to the satisfaction of the Coast Guard.

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. Vessel's first aid kit was found to be expired. Provide in-kind replacement of the required first aid kit to the satisfaction of the Coast Guard.

Each vessel that operates on the high seas, or that operates beyond three miles from the coastline of the Great Lakes, must have on board a FCC Type Accepted Category 1, 406 MHz EPIRB, installed to automatically float free and activate. Vessel was found to have incorrect hydrostatic release unit installed with their EPIRB, rendering potential attempted release ineffective. Replace hydrostatic release unit with one designed for installation with EPIRB to the satisfaction of the Coast Guard.

Each vessel that operates on the high seas, or that operates beyond three miles from the coastline of the Great Lakes, must have on board a FCC Type Accepted Category 1, 406 MHz EPIRB, installed to automatically float free and activate. MIs discovered the EPIRB hydrostatic release unit to be expired and therefore no longer a float free installation. Replace the expired Hydrostatic release with a new unit.

Each ring life buoy on a vessel must: (1) Be approved in accordance with § 160.050. MIs discovered the life ring buoy with missing grab line, deterioration of the lettering and reflective tape, and attached to vessel railing using a bowline knot. Ensure grab line, reflective tape and vessel lettering is replaced to original condition. Ensure ring life buoy is not permanently attached to vessel.

Each item of lifesaving equipment carried on board a vessel but not required under this part, must be approved by the Commandant. MIs discovered 03 life jackets with inoperable lights. Ensure lights are in working condition.

A vessel on an oceans, coastwise, limited coastwise, or Great Lakes route must carry six hand red flare distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.021 and six hand orange smoke distress signals approved in accordance with § 160.037. MIs discovered 04 hand flares and 03 hand smoke signals. Ensure there are six hand red flares and six hand orange smoke distress signals on board the vessel.

A power-driven vessel underway shall exhibit: (i) A masthead light forward. Masthead light found inoperable. Repair light.

The items contained in the first-aid kit shall be as listed in Table 160.041-4(b). Items found expired. Replace items found expired.

A visual indicator must be provided at the operating station to indicate when any automatic bilge pump is operating. Automatic bilge pump indicators not functioning at operating station. Repair indicators.

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. Operating station on exterior of wheelhouse found with RPM gauge not functioning. Repair gauge.

Engine exhaust cooling system built in accordance with the requirements of ABYC P-1 will be considered as meeting the requirements of this section. Approved SAE J2006 wet exhaust hose found wasted and leaking. Replace hose.

Flexible nonmetallic materials (hose) may be used in vital and non-vital systems where permitted by paragraph (e) of this section. Where flexible nonmetallic hose is permitted for use in piping systems by this section, it must meet SAE J-1942. Generator raw water cooling hose found to be not of an approved type. Replace hose with approved SAE J-1942 type.

[withheld — contains personal information; the deficiency system, dates, and resolution status are shown above]

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.Master unable to provide evidence of random chemical testing. Provide evidence of program enrollment and/or testing.

efore getting underway on a voyage or as soon as practicable thereafter, the master of a vessel shall ensure that suitable public announcements are made informing all passengers of the following: (1) The location of emergency exits, survival craft embarkation areas, and ring life buoys; (2) The stowage location(s) of life jackets; (3) Either: (i) The proper method of donning and adjusting life jackets of the type(s) carried on the vessel including a demonstration of the proper donning of a lifejacket, or (ii) That passengers may contact a crew member for a demonstration as appropriate, prior to beginning an oceans or coastwise voyage; (4) The location of the instruction placards for life jackets and other lifesaving devices; (5) That all passengers will be required to don life jackets when possible hazardous conditions exist, as directed by the master; and (6) If the vessel is operating with reduced manning or equipment requirements in § 176.114 of this chapter. No passenger safety orientation provided. Create and announce safety orientation requirements for all passengers.

Electrical equipment on a vessel must be installed and maintained to: minimize accidental personnel contact with energized parts. MI observed a protective shield missing over the electric bus bar between the battery charger and the batteries in the generator space. Must install an adequate protective shield.

Rails shall consist of evenly spaced courses and the spacing between courses shall not be greater than twelve inches. Only one course of chains was installed around aft deck. Install additional course(s) to meet 12" maximum spacing. Cited: 46 CFR 177.35-1 (b)

Vessel operated solely within 20 nautical miles of land must be equipped with a VHF-DSC radiotelephone installation meeting the requirements of 47 CFR 80.1101 (c)(2). Vessels VHF radio did not display GPS information. Prove proper interfacing between GPS and VHF for Digital Selective Calling (DSC) services.

FCC bridge to bridge and station license expired.

submersible electric bilge pump (4) missing positive shutoff valve required to be installed at the hull penetration, currently a check vlave is installed.

[withheld — contains personal information; the deficiency system, dates, and resolution status are shown above]

Expired hydrostatic release to EPIRB. Provide up date hydrostatic release prior to sailing beyond three miles.

In vessels stern box, several areas of Exfoliation Corrosion was found IWO WTB working aft on the bottom plating. Hull plating sustained corrosion attacks found parallel to the surface creating the aluminum to delaminate. Wastage exceeds wastage allowance and possible structural failure if corrosion continues. Submit repair proposal and replace effected hull plate. 46CFR 177.300

Verify that the Diesel Generator fuel supply and return lines meet SAE J-1942. 46 cfr 182.455

Fuel service line connections do not meet 46CFR182.720

Repair/replace emergency fuel shutoff for both gasoline tanks supplying twin outboards. Make reachrod stuffing box watertight. 46 CFR 182.455

Vsl outboard engines were submerged due to grounding during Hurricane Ike. Repair/replace engines.

Repair broken window on port side cabin window.

Lifebuoy did not have a corrosion resistant clip install between lifebouy and floating light.

Forepeak bilge alarm inoperable

Vessel did not have required charts or pubs onboard.

Longitudinal beam IWO transom was not welded to transom and was filled with silicon caulk leaving a breach in the transom when silicon deteriorated.

Port outboard motor seized up/locked

REPAIR & PROVE PROPER OPERATION OF OUTBOARD ENGINES.

PROVIDE 12 APPROVED TYPE I LIFE PRESERVERS AS REQUIRED BY 46 CFR 180.25 PRIOR TO OPERATION OF VESSEL.

PROVIDE ONBOARD VESSEL A SMALL BOAT SIMPLIFIED STABILTY LETTER.