Tag: USCG

On June 23 - July 4, the US Coast Guard, in collaboration with US Border Patrol and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, conducted a joint operation to help synchronize a joint response to threats, while maintaining and increasing the security of borders between the two countries.

The US Coast Guard informed that the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee, held in June, approved the Guidelines for the Selection of Life Safety Performance Criteria, for use in Alternative Design and Arrangements for Fire Safety. Correspondingly, the USCG Marine Safety Center will now refer to these life safety criteria, when assessing vessels.

NTSB issued an investigation report, regarding a collision between the US Coast Guard cutter Thetis and the dump scow barge 123,being pushed by Matachin, in Panama Canal, on 2 June 2016. Although Matachin and its tow were not damaged, the Thetis sustained an estimated $1.2 million in damage to the hull and deck plate aft, as well as to various systems in the steering gear room.

The US Coast Guard informed that, in cooperation with Washington Department of Ecology, oversaw an oil spill response operation, with a removal of an estimated 150 gallons of diesel from the commercial fishing vessel Donna, after it sank in the Hoquiam River near Hoquiam,Washington, on July 4th.

USCG issued a Safety Information Bulletin as a reminder to operators that ships discharging ballast water into the waters of the US must comply with the country's requirements.

The US Coast Guard kicked off Arctic Shield 2017 operations throughout Arctic waters, on July 1st, with the opening of a forward operating location in Kotzebue. As part of operation Arctic Shield 2017, the USCG will deploy cutters, aircraft and personnel to engage in operations encompassing a variety of missions.

On the occasion of the intentional attack which affected port facilities, the US Coast Guard stresses that the outcomes are a reminder of the importance of cyber risk management in the Marine Transportation System globally. USCG is monitoring the consequences of recent ransom attacks that have impacted cargo movement through several US ports.

In calendar year 2016, the USCG reported to the IMO 103 vessel detentions of all vessel types and conducted 294 cruise ship examinations out of which 1.0% received a detention. The top five deficiency areas identified on cruise ships are: Fire screen doors not operating properly; Impeding means of escape; Low location lighting; Fire suppression systems and; Piping insulation.

Two shipping companies based in Egypt and Singapore pleaded guilty in federal court in Beaumont, Texas, to violating the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships and obstruction of justice for covering up the illegal dumping of oil-contaminated bilge water and garbage from one of their ships into the sea, according to the US Department of Justice.

The US Coast Guard announced that, along with local agencies, responded to an oil discharge at mile marker 57, on the Lower Mississippi River near Belle Chasse, Louisiana, on June 19th. USCG received a report of a discharge of approximately 20 gallons of oil, when the tug boat HALEY BROOKE began taking on water.