BLACK DIVER III

Any vessel over 300 GRT using the navigable waters of the United States must establish and maintain evidence of financial responsibility by obtaining a certificate of financial responsibility.

For ships constructed before July 1, 2004 the Continous Synopsis Record (CSR) shall provide an on-board record of the history of the ship. SOLAS 20 XI-1/5.2.2

Medical fitness examinations of seafarers shall be conducted the current master of vessel could not provide a valid medical fitness certificate.

Non-tank vessels subject to operating upon the navigable waters of the United States must operate with an approved vessel response plan.

A ship which undergoes repairs, alterations, modifications, and outfitting related thereto shall continue to compy with at least the requirements previously applicable to the ship. The vessel was issued a conditional ILLC on 13Nov23 by Panama Shipping Registrar Inc. in accordance with Article 14 of the Convention. However noted multiple watertight integrity issues as follows: - port watertight door leading to the engine room did not close - watertight door between engine room and steering compartment wasted - forepeak hatch unable to close - forward stbd accommodation door unable to close - wasted stbd ballast vent

Launching appliances must be thoroughly examined at intervals not exceeding 5 years and, upon completion of the examination, the launching appliance must be subjected to a dynamic test of the winch brake. There is no record or a dynamic brake test being conducted since 2014 on the rescue boat davit winch brake. 46 CFR 199.190(i)(2)

The proper condition and operation of the survival craft and rescue boat launching appliances shall be demonstrated at loads ranging from light load to 10 percent overload whenever a wire fall for a launching appliance is replaced or turned end-for-end. The wire fall for the rescue boat davit was replaced in 2018 with no record of a weight test being conducted. The vessel also did not test the release gear at 1.1 times the total mass once every five years as required by 46 CFR 199.190(i)(5). 46 CFR 199.45(c)

Lifeboat and rescue boat release gear must be subjected to a thorough examination by properly trained personnel familiar with the system at each inspection for certification. No record or examination of the rescue boat davit release gear was found on board. 46 CFR 199.190(i)(4)

There shall be at least two means of escape from all general areas accessible to the passengers, if carried, or where the crew may be quartered or normally employed. At least one of the two means of escape shall be independent of watertight doors. The secondary means of escape from the engine room is a vertical hatch that exits onto the aft main deck. The scuttle was found seized and hard to open. When opened the watertight gasket was not properly seated. 46 CFR 92.10-5

General emergency alarm signal must be audible in the spaces identified in paragraph (a) of this section with all normally closed doors and accesses closed. The following general alarms were missing or inoperable: The aft deck outside of the galley; Starboard crew mess; Crew lounge area aft of pilothouse on the top deck. 46 CFR 113.25-9(b)

On vessels required by §112.05-5(a) to have a temporary emergency power source, the following emergency lighting and power loads must be arranged so that they can be energized from the temporary emergency power source: Lighting sufficient to allow passengers and crew to find their way to open decks; Lighting for survival craft launching, including muster stations. There were three engine room emergency lights with inoperable bulbs. Additionally, there was no emergency lighting at the muster station located on the top deck aft of the pilot house. 46 CFR 112.15-1

As appropriate for the intended voyage, all vessels must carry adequate and up-to-date: Charts; Sailing Directions; Coast Pilots, Light list; Notice to mariners; Tide tables; current tables, and all other nautical publications necessary. There was no up to date coast pilot, Light list, Tide tables, or charts. The last updates were from 2017 and 2018. 46 CFR 97.05-5

Each vessel must have a line-throwing appliance approved under approval series 160.040 which requires an impulse-projected rocket type line-throwing appliance to have four rocket projectiles in 46 CFR 160.040-4(a). There were five line throwing devices on board, however only three of the rocket projectiles were within their expiration date. 46 CFR 199.170(a)

At least two lifebuoys, each with attached self-activating smoke signals, must be stowed where they can be quickly released from the navigating bridge and should, when released, fall directly into the water without striking any part of the vessel. The port and starboard lifebuoy containers which allow for quick release were seized and corroded at the bottom hinges and releasing pins, making them inoperable for the intended service. 46 CFR 199.70(a)(1)(v)

The hull, superstructure, structural bulkheads, decks, and deckhouses shall be constructed of steel. Temp repair was found in the steering gear aft bulkhead. 46 CFR 92.07-10(a)

The employer shall not permit employees to board or leave any vessel, except a barge or river towboat, until the following requirements have been met: Each side of the gangway shall have a railing with a minimum height of approximately 33 inches. The gang way provided for the inspection was inadequate and did not meet 29 CFR 1915.74. Provide proper gangway meeting all requirements in 29 CFR 1915. 29 CFR 1915.74

Medical Certificates issued to all other mariners will be issued for a maximum period of 5 years. The on-board oiler is missing their medical record showing they are fit for service under their current credential. Correct prior to individual preforming duties associated with their credential. 46 CFR 10.301(b)(3)

The grab line shall be 3/8 -inch diameter polyethylene, polypropylene, or other suitable buoyant type synthetic material having a minimum breaking strength of 1,350 pounds. The grab line for the port life ring located on the bridge wing is deteriorated and unserviceable. 46 CFR 199.70 46 CFR 160.050-3

Interior stairs, including stringers and threads, shall be made of steel. The bottom rung of the stairs leading to the engine room from the galley was found wasted and in need of repair. 46 CFR 92.07-10(d)(5)

Fire detection, if installed, must meet the applicable requirements of 46 CFR, part 76 of subchapter H. The single station smoke detector in the accommodation space, forward of the galley was found inoperable. 46 CFR 95.05-1

Each lifejacket must have a lifejacket light approved under approval series 161.112 securely attached to the front shoulder area of the lifejacket. One of the two lifejackets in the engine room for watchstanders werer found to be missing a required light.

Each life raft or group of life rafts must be arranged for float-free launching. The port side life raft’s hydrostatic releases were installed upside down, not allowing for automatic activation of the painter line. The crew fixed the hydrostatic release in the presence of attending marine inspector. 46 CFR 199.130(c)(7)

The material, design, construction, workmanship, and arrangement of main propulsion machinery and of each auxiliary, directly connected to the engine and supplied as such, must be at least equivalent to the standards established by the ABS Steel Vessel Rules (incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 58.03-1), except as otherwise provided by this subchapter. When main and auxiliary machinery is to be installed without classification society review, the builder shall submit in quadruplicate to the cognizant Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection, such drawings and particulars of the installation as are required by the American Bureau of Shipping Rules for Building and Classing Steel Vessels, Part 4 Vessel Systems and Machinery (2003) for similar installations on classed vessels. Vessel is required to make repairs to the fresh water piping outboard side of the stbd main engine fwd IWO the temporary patch.

Each vessel must carry not less than 12 rocket parachute flares approved under approval series 160.136; and stow the flares on or near the vessel's navigating bridge. Vessel was missing 6 rocket parachute flares and is required to have them onboard prior to departure.

There must be an individual holding an MMC or license endorsed as chief engineer or other credential authorizing service as chief engineer employed onboard a mechanically propelled inspected vessels of seagoing or Great Lakes 200 GRT and over. Vessel had a Chief Engineer only allowed to serve on Offshore Supply Vessels. Vessel needs to have a Chief Engineer onboard to serve on vessel type and service.

Each vessel must have a line-throwing appliance approved under approval series 160.040. Vessel was missing 2 bouyant projectiles to comply with approval series 160.040. Vessel needs to have all required equipment onboard prior to departure.

Each liferaft or group of liferafts must be arranged for float-free launching. The arrangement must ensure that the liferaft or liferafts, when released and inflated, are not dragged under by the sinking vessel. A hydrostatic release unit used in a float-free arrangement must be approved under approval series 160.162. Vessels liferaft hydrostatic release mechanisms were not marked with installation date. Vessel is required to mark hydrostatic release dates with proper installation date once attached to liferaft.

Before the vessel leaves port and at all times during the voyage, each lifesaving appliance must be in working order and ready for immediate use. All required inspections and test as per regulatory requirements must be kept up and recorded. Vessels lifesaving systems and equipment was found unsatisfactory and lacked proper maintenance. Vessel is required to record and inspect all equipment and show proof of proper maintenance.

Efficient guard rails or bulwarks must be fitted on all exposed parts of the freeboard and superstructure decks as follows: The height of the bulwarks or guard rails must be at least 391/2 inches from the deck, provided that where this height would interfere with the normal operation of the vessel, a lesser height may be approved if the Commandant and the assigning authority are satisfied that adequate protection is provided. Vessel had chains on embarkation area which did not meet the load line criteria. Vessel is to have rail courses that meet load line requirements. The lower rail must be 9 inches from deck and the upper two courses must be 15 inches apart to a minimum of 39 total inches.

Vessels shall be provided with an efficient means of communication between the wheelhouse and the engine room. Vessel’s sound powered telephone was not proven effective over the machinery space noise.

All pressure vessels other than unfired steam boilers shall be protected by pressure-relieving devices that will prevent the pressure from rising more than 10 percent above the maximum allowable working pressure. Upon inspections MI discovered two pressure vessels for dive equipment in the vessel’s sewage room with the relief valve set at %25 which is well above the 10 percent limit required.

Each life preserver and each exposure suit carried on a vessel engaged in ocean, coastwise, or Great Lakes service, must have a personal flotation device light that is approved under subpart 161.012 of this chapter. Vessel had several life jackets with missing or expired lights. 46 CFR 94.42-1

Lighting for passageways, stairways, and escape trunks in passenger quarters, crew quarters, public spaces, machinery spaces and work spaces, adequate to permit passengers and crew readily to find their way to open decks and to lifeboat embarkation and assembly points with all watertight doors and fire screen doors closed. Upon inspection of emergency lighting after going “dark ship” MI identified several emergency lights not operable throughout the machinery space as well as in the Portable Accommodation Modules on board.

Each non-pressure-containing steering-gear component and each rudder stock must be of sound and reliable construction. During inspection of the aft steering gear compartment it was discovered that both packing glands around the rudder stock were not adequate allowing water to pass through at an excessive rate.

The material, design, construction, workmanship, and arrangement of main propulsion machinery and of each auxiliary, directly connected to the engine and supplied as such, must be at least equivalent to the standards established by the ABS Steel Vessel Rules (incorporated by reference, see 46 CFR 58.03-1), except as otherwise provided by this subchapter.

A means to extinguish a fire in the STBD PVHO is missing, The fire blanket in the PORT PVHO is unserviceable.

The STBD life raft hydrostatic release attachment to the main deck was found severely corroded. 46CFR 94.10

The rescue boat radar reflector, bow light, battery, and search light were inoperative.

The impulse projected line throwing device approved under 160.040 was missing the two required buoyant rockets and auxiliary line. 46CFR 94.45-15

Both PVHO's are missing the required pressure gage to be located within the chamber.

Vessel is missing automation test proocedures. Must submit to MSC and complete DVTP

All water tight door indicators need to be repaired or adjusted and proper operation demonstrated.

Relief valves in sewage space has 250 psi releif valves installed on pressure vessels with a MAWP of 200 psi. Remove and replave with proper relief valves.

Sound powered phones in both PVHO's did not work. Repair and demonstrate operation.

Vessel must conduct annual inspection in accordance with 46CFR91.27-01(a) prior to operations.

Liferaft servicing not completed on starboard life rafts

starboard main engine clutch pressure switch not operating in accordance with automation

emergancy light located in accomadations was not properly working