RON HULL

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 the funnels and other openings into such spaces. While conducting the COI Inspection, Marine Inspectors asked the vessel's crew to operate the fire dampers installed on the ventilation ducts on the aft of each stack leading to the machinery space. Neither damper was able to close due to interference with ladder rungs installed over the closures. The ladder rungs were intended to be easily removable by hand, but the vessel's crew were unable to remove the ladder rungs without the use of tools. The ladder rungs were removed using an electric drill to rectify the deficiency.

At least two lifebuoys on a towing vessel greater than 26 feet must be fitted with a floating electric water light approved under approval series 161.010 or 161.110. The Marine Inspectors noted that the batteries in the floating electric water lights were not of the approved type. The lights must be maintained in accordance with their type approval, and the installation of the incorrect batteries invalidates the type approval for the lights. The correct batteries were acquired and installed in the floating lights to rectify the deficiency.