Tag: USCG

GL in the top performing group with a detention ratio of 0% Germanischer Lloyd says that it is once again the top performing class society in the United States Coast Guard annual port state control (PSC) report and annual class performance list for 2010.The report and list, published on 3 June, put GL in the top performing group with a detention ratio of 0%. GL says that in over 1,000 distinct vessel arrivals there was no determination of class responsibility in any USCG detention of its classed vessels.Overall arrivals were slightly down from 2008 and 2009, with 1,134 and 1,172 arrivals respectively, to 1,112 distinct vessel arrivals in 2010. GL is the only recognised organisation (RO) with more than 1,000 arrivals in each of the last three years to have no class related detentions assessed.GL states that aintaining ship safety, environmental protection and operating systems year on year is essential in a climate of increased maritime scrutiny, and greater environmental awareness. The importance of assessment services by ROs is made plain by the introduction of a ban system in the US for vessels which repeatedly violate international regulations. Three ships were banned in 2010.The report noted a decrease in the ...

Marine Safety Advisory No 66-11 The Republic of the Marshall Islands issued Marine Safety Advisory No 66-11 stating that US Coast Guard has announced that, effective 10 June 2011, it is imposing conditions of entry on vessels arriving in the United States after having called at any port in the Union of the Comoros or the Republic of Cote dIvoire, during their last five (5) port calls.Any vessel arriving in the United States that called in any of the countries listed on pages 2-3 (with exceptions noted) during its previous five (5) port calls must take actions 1 through 5 listed below:1. Implement measures per the ships security plan equivalent to Security Level 22. Ensure that each access point to the ship is guarded and that the guards have total visibility of the exterior (both landside and waterside) of the vessel. Guards may be:- provided by the ships crew, however, additional crewmembers should be placed on the ship if necessary to ensure that limits on maximum hours of work are not exceeded and/or minimum hours of rest are met, or- provided by outside security forces approved by the ships master and Company Security Officer.3. Attempt to execute a Declaration of ...

Update to the list of countries not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (Coast Guard) has issued Port Security Advisory No. 03/11, which updates the list of countries that the U.S. considers are not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures in their ports.The Coast Guard has determined that the Union of the Comoros and the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire are the most recent countries not maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures in their ports.Vessels which are arriving from ports included in the list must implement special security actions prior to arrival. Please see Section C of the Port Security Advisory - "Actions required by vessels visiting the countries affected" and Section D - "Actions required by vessels in U.S. ports" for details of actions required to be taken by vessels in the listarriving in the U.S after 10 June 2011 after visiting ports in the list including the Union of the Comoros and the Republic of Cote d'Ivoire.To view the Port Security Advisory No. 03/11 please click hereSource : USCG

The changes will come into effect immediately 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EL X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The US Coast Guard promulgated a rule making various non-substantive changes to Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Navigation and Navigable Waters. The changes come into effect immediately.This rule makes nonsubstantive changes throughout Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this rule is to make conforming amendments and technical corrections to Coast Guard navigation and navigable water regulations. This rule will have no substantive effect on the regulated public.For further information, click hereSource: USCG

Ships are recognised and rewarded for their commitment to safety and quality The Liberian Registry has been admitted to the United States Coast Guards (USCG) QUALSHIP programme for 2011/2012.The QUALSHIP (Quality Shipping for the 21st Century) programme is a quality incentive programme to which only a small percentage of foreign-flag ships calling at US ports are admitted, based on the excellence of their port state control record.It was developed to provide an incentive for well-run, quality ships and ship operators. Designated ships are recognised and rewarded by the USCG for their commitment to safety and quality.Scott Bergeron, COO of the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry (LISCR), the US-based manager of the Liberian Registry, says, This recognition of Liberias commitment to quality shipping is all the more significant because it comes at a time of major expansion for the registry. The Liberian-flag fleet has more than doubled in size since LISCR assumed management control in 2000, and now stands at 3,570 ships totalling 115 mill gt.Qualship 21 recognition provides further confirmation of Liberias pre-eminent position in terms of safety and quality-driven shipping. This is good news for the ever-increasing numbers of shipowners who operate their ships under the Liberian flag. ...

The report shows improvement 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EL X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The US Coast Guard released its 2010 Annual Port State Control Report.The report shows continuous improvement in Flag Administration, recognized organization, and vessel performance during the year, as demonstrated by reductions in the number of safety-related detentions, the annual and average detention ratios, the number of security-related operational controls, and the annual and rolling control action ratios.To view the Annual Port State Control Report 2010, click here.Source: USCG

They cut off fuel supply to an engine in times of emergency UK P&I Club issued Bulletin 765-05/11 for fuel oil quick closing valves as follows:Quick closing valves are an essential safety component in a vessels power plant. They cut off fuel supply to an engine in times of emergency. These valves ensure that an engine room fire remains small and controllable and have saved many vessels in the past. It is then regrettable that due to poor maintenance or wilful neglect that these valves are being used incorrectly. InspectionAfter recognising an increase in the number of deficiencies on inspected vessels the United States Coast Guard (USCG) has increased its vigilance in its inspection regime in this area. The USCG had found numerous cases where Quick Closing Valves (QCV) were poorly maintained, modified in some way or intentionally blocked. The USCG is tasking a dim view in these circumstances and Members should expect their vessels to be rebuked either through the nomination of deficiencies or through fines. Also this may induce the USCG to closer scrutiny of the vessel.DeficienciesIntentionally blocked valves shows a wilful disregard to safety and is counter to any safety culture a company is trying to build.Modified ...

The Coast Guard report blamed the Marshall Islands The ITF has welcomed the recent report of the US Coast Guard into the tragedy at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico last year, when 11 oil rig workers died in an explosion which led to the largest-ever accidental offshore oil spillage, polluting a wide area of the Gulf and the Mississippi coast of the USA. Transocean, the company operating the oil rig, had registered Deepwater Horizon in the flag of convenience (FOC) Marshall Islands.The Coast Guard report blamed the Marshall Islands for not surveying the rig and abdicating its responsibilities by delegating inspections to other organisations.David Heindel, chair of the ITF seafarers section, said that the Coast Guards report: Reinforces the ITF's long-held position that so-called flag of convenience or runaway-flag vessels often facilitate and even encourage unsafe business practices. many FOC operators have no regard for the mariners, their competency and other victims who suffer as a result of the runaway-flag system. Putting swift profits ahead of safety, runaway-flag entities also risk catastrophic environmental damage, like that which occurred last year when the rig exploded.Applauding the Coast Guard's focus on the flag states failure to ensure ...

The cause of death was drowning After the Coast Guard suspended search efforts on Friday for crew members following the sinking of fishing vessel the Sandy Point in the Gulf of Mexico, independent salvage divers have recovered the bodies of the 2 remaining crew members off the Mississippi coast.The 163-foot Sandy Point collided last Wednesday with a 600-foot container vessel, the Eurus London, as it was bound for Texas approximately 8 miles offshore Gulfport. The Sandy Point could not withstand the collision, sinking with a total of 16 crew members aboard.A pilot boat had recovered 11 of those crew members from the water transferring them to a safe vessel. Two more crew from Sandy Point made it aboard the Eurus London on their own from the water.Omega Protein Inc., the parent company to the Sandy Point, released a statement explaining that the 2 reclaimed bodies from the salvage team were turned into the Harrison County Coroners office to conduct autopsies for the total of 3 fishermen who died in result of the collision.Harrison country Coroner, Gary Hargrove, has reported that the cause of death for all 3 fishermen was drowning. The men have been identified as 65-year-old Thomas L. Moore, ...

Recommends good maintenance and routinely checked as procedures require The US Coast Guard issued a safety alert regarding high velocity vent valves, vacuum valves, and P/V valves.To view the Safety Alert please click hereSource: USCG