towing vessels

Three missing after towing vessels collide on Mississippi

The US Coast Guard and local agencies responded to a report of two towing vessels that collided on the Mississippi River at mile marker 123, near Luling, Louisiana, on January 26. After the collision, four crew were reported missing, but one was found.

Watchstanders at US Coast Guard Sector New Orleans received a report that the towing vessel RC Creppel and the towing vessel Cooperative Spirit had collided and that four members of the RC Creppel are missing.

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https://safety4sea.com/three-missing-after-towing-vessels-collide-on-mississippi/

NTSB releases 2018 lessons learned from marine accidents

The National Transportation Safety Board has released its Safer Seas Digest 2018: Lessons Learned from Marine Accident Investigations. The digest provides a summary of 30 marine accidents, the investigative findings of which were issued or adopted in 2018. These accidents involved contact with fixed objects, breakaways, sinkings, collisions, fires, floodings, groundings, and other vessel damage. The vessels ranged from personal crafts to oceangoing passenger ships and vehicle carriers.

The...

https://www.workboat.com/news/government/ntsb-releases-2018-lessons-learned-from-marine-accidents/

USCG approves ITOW as third party organization under Subchapter M

The US Coast Guard has approved Inland Towing Operators Working Together (ITOW) as a third-party organization (TPO) to carry out certain functions in accordance with Subchapter M, the Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise (TVNCOE) announced on 5 August.

In accordance with 46 CFR 139.110, classification societies that are recognized and/or authorized meet the requirements of a TPO.

These classification societies are approved by regulation to perform certain work as a TPO without further Coast...

https://safety4sea.com/uscg-approves-itow-as-third-party-organization-under-subchapter-m/

USCG publishes updated guidance for TSMS option vessels

USCG’s Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance published its updated ‘Towing Vessel COI Inspections under TSMS Option.’ According to the coast guard, the updates are not limited to adding annual and renewal Certificate of Inspection guidance for Towing Safety Management System (TSMS) option vessels inspected under 46 CFR Subchapter M.

Thus, officers in charge, Marine Inspections should follow this guidance when issuing a COI under 46 CFR Subchapter M for inspected towing vessels choosing the TSMS...

https://safety4sea.com/uscg-publishes-updated-guidance-for-tsms-option-vessels/

USCG updates work instruction for the inspected towing vessel program

The USCG announced that its Office of Commercial Vessel Compliance has updated the Mission Management System CV-WI-010(2), Work Instruction for OCMI guidance on special consideration for inspected towing vessels.

Specifically, the work instruction provides guidance on OCMIs, concerning the application and implementation of a determination for towing vessels inspected under 46 CFR Subchapter M. If this Work Instruction does not provide instructions or interpretations for a given provision of...

https://safety4sea.com/uscg-updates-work-instruction-for-the-inspected-towing-vessel-program/

Inexperienced pilot the cause of fatal towing vessel sinking

NTSB published its report on the capsizing and sinking of the towing vessel Natalie Jean, on March 12, 2018, on the Lower Mississippi River near New Orleans, Louisiana. Two of the three crewmembers on board the towboat died in the accident.

The incident

On March 11, the day before the accident, the owner met the pilot at the vessel, which was docked at John W Stone Oil Distribution in Gretna, Louisiana, for a brief discussion about the transit. The pilot said that the owner informed him they...

https://safety4sea.com/inexperienced-pilot-the-cause-of-fatal-towing-vessel-sinking/

USCG: Guidance on fixed fire pumps for towing vessels

The USCG Office of Design and Engineering Standards issued guidance on the use of fixed fire pumps in lieu of portable fire pumps on Subchapter C and Subchapter M towing vessels, 65 feet or less.

The guidance comes with the Policy Letter 01-19: ‘Equivalency Determination – Fire Pumps for Subchapter C and Subchapter M Towing Vessels’.

When developing the 2003 interim rule and 2004 final rule addressing fire-suppression systems and voyage planning for towing vessels, the Coast Guard assumed smaller...

https://safety4sea.com/uscg-guidance-on-fixed-fire-pumps-for-towing-vessels/

Coast Guard publishes Policy Letter on fire pumps for small towing vessels

The 55’x24’x7’6″ David J. Bangert. Gateway Dredging & Contracting photo.

The Office of Design and Engineering Standards published Policy Letter 01-19: “Equivalency Determination – Fire Pumps for Subchapter C and Subchapter M Towing Vessels” to provide guidance on the use of fixed fire pumps in lieu of portable fire pumps on vessels 65 feet or less.

When developing the 2003 interim rule and 2004 final rule that addressed fire-suppression systems and voyage planning for towing vessels, the Coast Guard assumed smaller vessels would utilize portable fire pumps, while...

https://www.workboat.com/news/government/coast-guard-publishes-policy-letter-on-fire-pumps-for-small-towing-vessels/

Remotely operated line catcher prototype to be tested

Svitzer announced that it has started sea trials of a new ‘industry-first’ remotely operated line catching technology prototype. The new mechanism is being trialled on the vessel Svitzer Trym, aiming to improve safety standards and reduce risks for crews during the process of connecting with other vessels.

The prototype line catcher is remotely operated from the wheelhouse and catches the connecting vessel’s heaving line. With a wingspan of between 6 and 7 metres when activated, the crew on the...

https://safety4sea.com/remotely-operated-line-catcher-prototype-to-be-tested/

Subcharter M towing vessels should implement health and safety plan

According to the USCG, the Towing Vessel National Centre of Expertise launched a bulletin to remind towing vessel owners and operators of a 46 CFR Subchapter M implementation milestone that is quickly approaching.

Specifically, on or before July 22 2019, owners and managing operators of Subchapter M towing vessels must implement a Health and Safety Plan (HSP) and the associated record-keeping procedures regardless of whether or not the vessel has been issued a Certificate of Inspection.

In...

https://safety4sea.com/subcharter-m-towing-vessels-should-implement-health-and-safety-plan/

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