U.S. Coast Guard List: Top 10 Small Passenger Vessel Deficiencies

by | Thursday, October 16, 2014 | 0 comment(s)

The U.S. Coast Guard conducted an analysis of all the deficiencies that were recorded by Coast Guard Marine Inspectors of Small Passenger Vessels, with the goal of identifying the ten most common deficiencies that they could then share with small passenger vessel owners. Owners, being aware of these deficiencies, should correct any problems prior to their next Coast Guard examination. The deficiencies, as well as potential correction methods, follow.

1. Dead End Wires

All wires or cables must be in use by a piece of equipment or system onboard the vessel. If a system or piece of equipment is removed but not replaced, the cable/wire that serviced that item must be properly removed from the power source.

2. Deteriorated Hull Material

Regular inspections of a vessel’s hull (internally and externally) are essential to that vessel’s safety. Wood vessels can easily have wasted wood planking and deteriorating fasteners, and aluminum and steel-hulled ships can get cracked welds following allisions. In addition, steel can easily rust, particularly where plating is uncoated. Fiberglass-hulled vessels are often subject to hull deterioration from blisters, delamination, or cracks in the gel coat. Vessel owners and operators must make every reasonable effort to regularly examine all hull components and fittings.

3. Inoperable Bilge High Level Alarm

Certificated small passenger vessels of 26 feet or more must have audible and visual bilge high level alarms for unmanned spaces that could flood. Wooden vessels must also provide bilge level alarms in any watertight compartment except small buoyancy chambers. Tests on the alarms and visual indicators should be conducted routinely.

4. Portable Hand Bilge Pump Inoperable or Missing

Specific small passenger vessels may have portable hand bilge pumps as secondary or emergency pumps. However, many examinations found that vessel owners failed to maintain a portable pump onboard – or, in even more cases – a portable pump was present but inoperable or not usable in all spaces. Regulations require that the portable hand bilge pump is able to pump water from ALL watertight compartments, meaning that the suction hose must be long enough to access the deepest part of the vessel. These pumps must be tested routinely.

5. FCC Station License Missing

Marine EPIRBs, radios, and AIS equipment required on small passenger vessels must comply with FCC requirements. Many certificated small passenger vessels are given deficiencies for not having an FCC Station License for a marine radio.

6. Running Lights Inoperable

All vessels must have operable navigational lights in compliance with the International and Inland Navigation Rules. Many vessels under examination are found to have inoperable mast, stern, and sidelights, and in some cases, the installation of the lights conflicts with the International and Inland Navigation Rules. Additionally, vessels over 65 feet long must have navigation lights compliant with UL 1104 standards.

7. Light Guards Missing

Any light fixture subject to damage must include a guard, or be made of high-strength material. Lights in accommodation spaces are usually exempt from this rule because they are not subject to damage.

8. Expired First Aid Kit Medication

All certificated small passenger vessels must have an approved first aid kit. The most common deficiency with first aid kits is expired medications.Expired medications must be replaced immediately.

9. Navigational Charts Outdated or Missing

All certificated small passenger vessels are required to carry navigational charts that cover the area in which they are operating. The charts must be kept current. Many times, vessels that received deficiencies for missing or outdated charts, were also missing other required nautical publications (i.e., U.S. Coast Pilot, Tide Tables, Coast Guard Light List, Current Tables, etc.).

10. Expired EPIRB Hydrostatic Release

Certificated small passenger vessels that operate on the high seas or three miles past the coastline of the Great Lakes must hold a FCC Type Accepted Category 1, 406MHz Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB).The EPIRB must be installed in a float free system. Many vessels under examination had failed to replace the hydrostatic release before it expired. The EPIRBs should be inspected monthly to ensure that they work, and hydrostatic release units should be replaced before expiration to make sure that they will successfully release the EPIRB if the vessel sinks.

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