The Inspections and Compliance Directorate issued Marine Safety Alert 05-20 to address hazardous area electrical instillation knowledge gaps observed in the maritime community.
Marine Safety Alert: Electrical Issues Spark Major Concern
Marine Safety Alert: Automatic Identification System (AIS) – Accurate Broadcasts Don’t Happen Automatically
The Inspections and Compliance Directorate issued Marine Safety Alert 04-20 to remind the maritime community that accurate AIS data entry and display is essential to safe navigation.
Have you checked your lifeboat cables? Damage can contribute to unintended hook opening
The Inspections and Compliance Directorate issued a Marine Safety Alert to bring awareness to the importance of checking for and replacing damaged control cables that operate between the release handle and hook in a lifeboat hook release system.
Marine Safety Alert: Alarming trends found on fixed gas detection systems
The Inspections and Compliance Directorate issued Marine Safety Alert 02-20 to educate the maritime community about common discrepancies associated with fixed gas detection systems on board liquefied gas carriers.
Improper bonding during gas freeing leads to dangerous results
Flammable vapors within a cargo tank are removed using mechanical air-moving equipment. As outside air is introduced into the cargo tank, the vapor/air mixture within the tank, and near the tank openings, will fall into the flammable range. During this time, if the air moving equipment used to gas free the cargo tank is not the proper type, is not properly maintained, or is not properly electrically bonded and secured to the vessel’s structure, static electricity generated by the air moving equipment can discharge as an electric arc and ignite the flammable vapor/air mixture. This post provides guidance to vessel owners/operators about the proper procedures to prevent potentially deadly explosions.
An important safety consideration – Hazards of retractable pilothouses on towboats
Retractable pilothouses offer towing vessel operators great flexibility in meeting the many operational demands of inland navigation. This post offers recommendations to ensure the safety of all crew members involved in their operation.
Recall of Marlin personal flotation devices
Labels on models of adult and child PFDs list incorrect minimum buoyant force.
Marine Safety Alert: Inspectors discover unwearable PFDs
This safety alert concerns Cal-June Jim-Buoy PFDs, Model #601 or #603. During several inspections involving different vessels, Coast Guard personnel discovered a significant number of Type I PFDs that were not wearable if needed during an emergency.
Marine Safety Alert: Prevent Passenger High-Risk Behaviors
A passenger who intentionally jumps into the water from a commercial passenger vessel or who falls from the vessel as a result of high-risk behavior may be considered to be interfering with the safe operation of a vessel as defined by 46 U.S. Code 2302. Offenders are subject to a fine up to $34,000.
