The Coast Guard issued marine safety alert 15-14 to remind shoreside and vessel personnel of the importance of 1) designing and maintaining emergency systems to be logical and easly operated in high stress situations, 2) maintaining a high level of crew familiarity with emergency systems, and 3) exercising safeguards during testing to mitigate the risk of human error or system malfunction. During a recent uninspected towing vessel exam, a vessel crewmember intending to test the fuel-oil shut-off cables instead pulled the CO2 system release cables.

The Coast Guard recommends conducting a comprehensive pre-test meeting and simulated step-by-step “walk-through” between involved parties prior to actual testing of complex or potentially confusing systems. Operational controls should be implemented to maximize safety and reduce risk. Furthermore, the Coast Guard strongly reminds all maritime operators of the importance in performing regular vessel specific emergency drills and to ensure that all crewmembers have the proper knowledge, skills and abilities to respond to any potential emergency.

View the full marine safety alert for full details.

This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official source documents, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These documents remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.