CHENA

The cognizant OCMI may require additional examinations of the vessel whenever he or she discovers or suspects damage or deterioration to hull plating or structural members that may affect the seaworthiness or fitness for the route or service of a vessel. The following seaworthiness and fitness deficiencies were noted during a cursory out of the water exam required by COTP order #004-24: Epoxy repair to the hull plating below the waterline just forward of shaft alley, unauthorized inadequate clad weld repairs to hull plating just forward of engine room, hole below the waterline in severely wasted plate near the bow adjacent to centerline, new doubler plates near bow (center & port side), internal structural members throughout vessel are crushed,tripped,wasted & distorted, and some decks have completely wasted away and have been covered by plywood with diamond plating lying on top. The vessel's hull plating appeared visually thin and was randomly gauged with UT by the Port Engineer, the results were at best 40% wastage and in some locations the hull plating showed greater than 50% wastage. Overall the vessel is not fit for service. Make the remaining fuel tanks/voids available for inspection along with a certified gauging company to finish the assessment of the hull and structures. Upon completion provide a repair proposal to Sector Western Alaska & U.S. Arctic for approval. *Vessel is hereby detained until all required repairs have been completed.

No repairs affecting the safety of the vessel with regard to the hull, machinery, or equipment, shall be made without the knowledge of the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection. Vessel drydocked and conducted repairs with no notification to CG. Provide repair proposal for CG review and approval. Repairs are to be completed and approved by attending Marine Inspector.

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.A 40-B portable fire extinguisher must be located near the storage room or cabinet. Paint locker had no 40-B fire extinguisher located near it. Install a 40-B fire extinguisher near the paint locker.

The following systems must be equipped with gauges at the machinery location: Main engine lubricating oil pressure and main engine RPM; Main engine cooling water temperature; Auxiliary generator engine lubricating oil pressure and auxiliary generator engine RPM; Auxiliary generator engine cooling water temperature. All four main engines have no RPM gauges. Generator has no RPM, oil pressure, and cooling water temperature gauges. Install all required gauges.

Vessel's LOMAVIK, CHENA and RIVERWAYS 14 were beset in ice while conducting cargo operations IVO of Nunapitchuk, AK in the Johnson River. Due to the potential for structural damage from the ice, vessels are required to conduct Internal Structural Exam prior to operating with Cargo. 46CFR31.10-21 46CFR137.325

Each towing vessel must be equipped with a means to detect smoke in the berthing spaces and lounges that alerts individuals in those spaces. This may be accomplished by an installed detection system, or by using individual battery-operated detectors meeting UL 217 (incorporated by reference, see § 136.112 of this subchapter). Detection systems or individual detectors must be kept operational at all times when the crew is onboard the towing vessel. Berthing space had no smoke detection installed. Install smoke detection in berthing spaces.

Propulsion machinery, including main engines, reduction gears, shafting, bearings, and electrical equipment and systems, must be maintained to ensure proper operation. Two of the four shaft seals are actively leaking. Repair or replace shaft seals.

Means must be provided for stopping each fan in a ventilation system serving machinery spaces and for closing, in case of fire, each doorway, ventilator, and annular space around funnels and other openings into such spaces. No ventilation cutoff installed.

Each towing vessel must be maintained and operated so as to minimize fire hazards and to ensure all bilges and void spaces are kept free from accumulation of combustible and flammable materials and liquids insofar as practicable. Excessive oil and water found in bilges. Remove oil and water.

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. No designate storage room or cabinet for paints, coatings, and oil found in machinery space and under deck. Designate and area or install cabinet to store these products.

Piping and machinery components that exceed 220 °C (428 °F), including fittings, flanges, valves, exhaust manifolds, and turbochargers, must be insulated. Measures must be in place to prevent flammable or combustible liquid piping leaks from coming into contact with these components. Exhaust piping had lagging laying on pipes but where not secured. Install secure lagging onto all exhaust piping.

Electrical systems and equipment must function properly and minimize system failures and fire and shock hazards. Electrical outlets in machinery space are missing their covers and visible oil and soot buildup can be seen internally. Repair or replace outlets with installed covers.

Verification of compliance with the machinery and electrical design standards in this subpart is obtained by following the provisions in §§ 144.135 through 144.145 of this subchapter. An additional generator, which supplies power to the main switch board, was discovered to have been permanently installed on the aft deck since the vessel received it’s COI. There was no verification of installation or approved plans for the new installation by an approved individual or entity. Provide plans and get approval from a registered professional engineer, authorized classification society or Coast Guard.

The second source of supply required by § 143.555(a)(3) must automatically start to help restore or maintain power to propulsion, steering, and related controls when the main power source fails. There is no automatic start for second generator. Install automatic start.

There must be an installed or portable bilge pump for emergency dewatering. Any portable pump must have sufficient hose length and pumping capability. All installed bilge piping must have a check/foot valve in each bilge suction that prevents unintended backflooding through bilge piping. Bilge system had no check valves and float switches in machinery space were well above bilge and located on deck plating.

Piping for flammable or combustible liquid, seawater cooling, or firefighting systems must be fitted with isolation valves that are clearly marked by labeling or color coding that enables the crew to identify its function. Labels or color coding not present or unidentifiable. Bilge system and manifold not labeled or color coded.

Each towing vessel must be capable of preventing all oil spills from reaching the water during transfers by pre-closing the scuppers/freeing ports. Scupper plug was not present at the fuel fill fixed containment. Replace or procure scupper plug and have readily available.

Each integral fuel tank must have a vent that connects to the highest point of the tank, discharges on a weather deck through a bend of 180 degrees, and is fitted with a 30-by-30-mesh corrosion-resistant flame screen. Vents from two or more fuel tanks may combine in a system that discharges on a weather deck. No 30 by 30 mesh flame screen installed on vent. Install flame screen.

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. Life raft cradle is not secured to the vessel. Remove or replace life raft cradle.

The frame or support of any semi-portable fire extinguisher fitted with wheels must be welded or otherwise permanently attached to a steel bulkhead or deck to prevent it from rolling under heavy sea conditions. Semi portable fire extinguisher was not attached to prevent rolling. Install support to prevent rolling.

Pressure vessels over 5 cubic feet in volume and over 15 pounds per square inch maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) must be equipped with an indicating pressure gauge (in a readily visible location) and with one or more spring-loaded relief valves. The total relieving capacity of such relief valves must prevent pressure from exceeding the MAWP, as established by the manufacturer, by more than 10 percent. Setting of PRV not designated or legible. Replace PRV.

Electrical cables must be suitably protected from wet and corrosive environments. Cable penetrations to the exterior of the house were not suitable protected from environmental conditions and exposed wood structure to water damage and rot.

No later than July 22, 2019, the owner or managing operator must implement a health and safety plan. The health and safety plan must document compliance with this part and include recordkeeping procedure. At the time of inspection, no health and safety manual was onboard vessel. Once manual arrived on vessel there was no evidence of a lock out tag out procedure. Ensure vessel has permanent copy on board vessel and a lock out procedure.

Towing vessels must be equipped with the following equipment, as applicable to the area of operation: Illuminated magnetic compass or an illuminated swing-meter (Western Rivers vessels only). The compass or swing-meter must be readable from each operating station. Magnetic compass is not illuminated. Replace with illuminated magnetic compass.

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) or 33 CFR part 84 as appropriate to its area of operation. No day shapes were present on vessel. Install required day shapes on vessel.

Towing vessels must be equipped with the following equipment, as applicable to the area of operation: Search light, controllable from the vessel's operating station and capable of illuminating objects at a distance of at least two times the length of the tow. Search light control was inoperable. Repair or replace search light.

At least one lifebuoy must have a lifeline, secured around the body of the lifebuoy. If more than one lifebuoy is carried, at least one must not have a lifeline attached. Both lifebouys have life line attached to body. Remove one life line from lifebuoy body.

Each lifejacket must be marked In block capital letters with the name of the vessel. Life jackets were not marked, mark life jackets with vessels name.

Portable watertight containers for pyrotechnic distress signals must be clearly marked in legible contrasting letters at least 12.7 millimeters (0.5 inches) high with “DISTRESS SIGNALS”

All owners and operators of an existing towing vessel must have a valid COI prior to the specified phase-in period. This vessel is one of the associated fleet that has not obtained a valid COI. The vessel shall be made available for a Coast Guard COI inspection within 90 days. If an inspection is not completed prior to this date, the action for this deficiency shall be changed to a 60 (Rectify deficiencies prior to movement) and the vessel may no long be permitted to operate.