HALE

TOWING VESSELS MUST MEET THE COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS OF 33 CFR PART 26 & 33 CFR 164.72. TOWING VESSELS WHICH REQUIRE A RADIOTELEPHONE IAW 33 CFR 26.03 MEET THE DEFINITION OF A COMPULSORY SHIP IAW 47 CFR 80.5 WHICH IS, "ANY SHIP WHICH IS REQUIRED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH RADIO TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT IN ORDER TO COMPLY WITH THE RADIO OR RADIO-NAVIGATION PROVISIONS OF A TREATY OR STATUTE TO WHICH THE VESSEL IS SUBJECT." 47 CFR 80.409(F) REQUIRES WEEKLY ENTRY INTO THE LOG THAT "THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF A DIGITAL SELECTIVE CALLING(DSC) EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN VERIFIED BY ACTUAL COMMUNICATION OR TEST CALL". VERIFICATION OF PROPER FUNCTIONING DSC COULD NOT BE CONDUCTED AND WAS NOT LOGGED.

ALL SEALS AND GASKETS MUST BE PROPERLY MAINTAINED TO PREVENT LEAKS OF FLAMMABLE OR COMBUSTIBLE LIQUIDS IN THE MACHINERY SPACE. PORT GENERATOR HAD EXCESSIVE OIL ACCUMULATION UNDERNEATH AND ACTIVE LEAKS WHILE OPERATING.

THE WATER LIGHT MUST BE ATTACHED BY THE LANYARD WITH A CORROSION RESISTANT CLIP TO ALLOW THE WATER LIGHT TO BE QUICKLY DISCONNECTED. CORROSION RESISTANT CLIP SPRING WAS CORRODED AND WOULD NOT ALLOW WATER LIGHT TO BE QUICKLY DISCONNECTED.

MACHINERY SYSTEMS MUST BE DESIGNED AND MAINTAINED TO PROVIDE FOR SAFE OPERATION OF THE TOWING VESSEL AND SAFETY OF PERSONS ONBOARD UNDER NORMAL AND EMERGENCY CONDITIONS. A VALVE COVER BOLT ON THE STBD MAIN DIESEL ENGINE WAS FOUND LOOSE.

EACH TOWING VESSEL EQUIPPED WITH RUDDERS MUST HAV E A MEANS TO MONITOR AND CONTROL THE POSITION OF THE RUDDERS AT EACH OPERATING STATION. VESSEL LOSS STEERING DUE TO UNKNOWN CAUSES. DETERMINE CAUSE OF FAILURE. REPAIR TO SATISFACTION OF THE TPO AND CONDUCT OPERATIONAL TEST OF STEERING.

A vessel machinery must be maintained to provide safe operation of vessel and persons under noraml and emergency conditions. While pushing ahaed one empty barge, the PRESTON N SHUFORD lost propulsion of starbard engine due to unknown causes. The vessel crew resterted engine, but could not engage. prior to operations, provide tech report of the repairs conducted and the proper operation of the Starboard engine to the satisfaction of MI/TPO.