HELEN H

Marine employer must have sufficient number of alcohol testing devices readily available on board; all alcohol testing strips were expired. 46 CFR 4.06-15(a)(1)

Items listed in 46 CFR 140.915 must be recorded in Towing Vessel Record, official logbook or in accordance with the TSMS applicable to the vessel; official logbook did not include all items required to be listed. To be cleared at next topside inspection. 46 CFR 140.915(a)

Each towing vessel must be fitted with a general alarm that has installed, in the engine room and any other area where background noise makes a general alarm hard to hear, a supplemental flashing red light; GA light was not flashing in the E/R. 46 CFR 143.235(b)(3)

Each towing vessel must have a fire-detection system installed to detect engine room fires, ensuring that the design of the system and its installation on the towing vessel is certified and inspected by a registered professional engineer with experience in fire-detection system design, NICET level IV tech, or authorized class society; required certification was not available. 46 CFR 142.330(a)(7)

Each EAP education program must include display of informational material; a community service hot-line telephone number for crewmember assistance; and the employer's policy regarding drug and alcohol use in the workplace; EAP information was not on display. 46 CFR 16.401(a)

Means must be provided to ensure that windows immediately forward of the operating station in the pilothouse allow for adequate visibility to ensure safe navigation regardless of weather conditions; windshield wiper intended for this purpose was not properly installed. 46 CFR 144.905(b)

The master must ensure that all hatches, doors, and other openings designed to be watertight or weather-tight function properly; gasket on stbd main deck watertight door had gaps and was worn in multiple places, preventing appropriate function as designed. 46 CFR 140.610(b)

Each towing vessel must test alarm set points twice every 5 years, with no more than 3 years elapsing since last test; high jacket water temp had not been tested and could not be tested at the time of inspection. 46 CFR 143.245(b)

The fire main must have a sufficient number of fire hydrants with attached hose; hoses were not all attached. 46 CFR 142.325(c)

Each towing vessel must be equipped with navigation lights, shapes, and sound signals in accordance with COLREGS; vessel did not have sufficient dayshapes, missing one ball that would be required in the instance of a grounding. 46 CFR 140.720

Each towing vessel must be equipped with navigation lights, shapes, and sound signals in accordance with COLREGS; nav panel on bridge had burnt out bulbs, not functioning properly and compromising safe navigation. 46 CFR 140.720

A towing vessel subject to this subchapter and choosing the Coast Guard inspection option, or required to have the Coast Guard inspection option, must undergo an annual inspection within 3 months before or after the COI anniversary date. Vessel did not schedule annual inspection and verbally admitted to operating past 3 month anniversary date. AIS data validated this factual evidence. COI was deactivated.

Each towing vessel operating north of lat. 32° N. must carry at least one appropriate-size immersion suit, approved under approval series 160.171, for each person onboard. Vessels COI allows it to operate with 6 persons onboard. Vessel only had 1 immersion suit. Vessel is restricted to operating only inside Duluth harbor until corrected. 46CFR141.350(a)

Each towing vessel must carry at least one appropriately-sized lifejacket, approved under approval series 160.002, 160.005, 160.055, 160.155, or 160.176, for each person on board. Vessels COI allows it to operate with 6 persons onboard. Vessel only had 4 Lifejacks. Vessel is restricted to maximum of 4 persons until corrected. 46CFR141.340

A towing vessel must carry a combination of day and night visual distress signals indicated in Table 141.370. Vessel must carry a total of 12 flares, 6 day and 6 night. Vessel only had 10 flares onboard. Vessel is restricted to 3 nautical miles from shore until corrected. 46CFR141.375(a)

Each towing vessel operating beyond 3 nautical miles from shore upon the Great Lakes must carry a Category 1, 406 MHz satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) that meets the requirements of 47 CFR part 80. When conducting the self test, EPIRB failed to acquire satellite connection. Vessel is limited to 3 nautical miles from shore until they can prove proper operation of the EPIRB. 46CFR141.380(a)

Each immersion suit or anti-exposure suit must have a lifejacket light approved under approval series 161.112 securely attached to the front shoulder area of the immersion suit or anti-exposure suit. The Immersion suit did not have a light attached. 46CFR141.450(b) 46CFR199.70(c)(4)

The following list of items must be recorded in the TVR (logbook) (1) Personnel records, in accordance with § 140.400; (2) Safety orientation, in accordance with § 140.410; (3) Record of drills and instruction, in accordance with § 140.420; (4) Examinations and tests, in accordance with § 140.615; (5) Operative navigational safety equipment, in accordance with § 140.620; (6) Navigation assessment, in accordance with § 140.635; (7) Navigation safety training, in accordance with § 140.645; (8) Oil residue discharges and disposals, in accordance with § 140.655; (9) Record of inspection of towing gear, in accordance with § 140.820; and (10) Fire-detection and fixed fire-extinguishing, in accordance with § 142.240. Vessel was not recording all items properly in the TVR. Conducted some training with the vessel operator to start properly recording the items needed. 46CFR140.915(a)

Vessel must complete initial COI exam prior to operating.

CROP AND RENEW FOUR CRACKED GUNWALE GUSSETS FORWARD OF THE STARBOARD FORWARD BITTS.

ATTACH A USCG APPROVED LIGHT AND WHISTLE TO EACH IMMERSION SUIT.

REPAIR CRACKS AND GASKET LEAKS IN THE PROPULSION ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

PROVIDE EPIRB FOR VESSEL.

vessel had no employee assistance information on board.