Tag: USCG

USCG severe weather procedures for Aleutian Islands area The US Coast Guard issued 2010-2011 Operating Procedures for Severe Weather in the Aleutian Islands and Pribilof Islands. These procedures automatically go into effect whenever severe weather occurs or is forecast to occur within 48 hours. Severe weather is defined as: (1) sustained winds that exceed 45 knots; (2) wind gusts that exceed 60 knots; (3) a "winter storm warning" issued by the National Weather Service; or (4) any combination of the above for any part of the Aleutian or Pribilof Islands.Source: US Coast Guard

USCG lifesaving & firefighting equipment on UTVs The US Coast Guard issued a policy letter providing temporary exemptions from various regulatory requirements pertaining to uninspected towing vessels (UTVs) and providing guidance with regard to carriage of "excess" lifesaving and firefighting equipment on UTVs.This policy is temporary in nature and may be superseded for inspected towing vessels when pending regulations for the inspection of towing vessels become effective.You may view the policy letter by clicking here.Source: US Coast Guard

Recent inspections of PFD revealed a hazard that may prevent donning in case of emergency The US Coast Guard issued a safety alert stating that recent inspections of Type I Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs), in both adult and child size, revealed a potential hazard that could prevent proper donning in the event of an emergency. The chest strap on certain PFDs was threaded through the fixed "D" ring that the strap was intended to clip to when worn. Instead of the strap falling away, allowing the wearer to wrap it around himself or herself, the clip end of the strap could snag in the "D" ring. The PFDs known to be affected are: Kent Adult Model 8830 (USCG Approval Number 160.055/184/0) in Lot 53W manufactured in October 2006 and Kent Child Model 8820 (USCG Approval Number 160.055/150/0) in Lot 012T manufactured in March 2008. Vessel owners and operators should examine their PFDs to determine whether any of them present this hazard. If so, the manufacturer should be contacted.Please refer to the full text of the Safety Alert.Source: US Coast Guard