Towing Vessels
New Rule Upgrade Shields Towing Vessels
The U.S. Coast Guard's final rule on "Fire Protection Measures for Towing Vessels" is posted on the Federal Register dated August 28. The ruling fine tunes the fire protection measures for towing vessels implemented by an interim rule published on October 19, 1999, which is the result of public comments received. The changes clarify the comments for fuel shut-off valves, fuel-tank vents, design of fire-detection systems for engine rooms and safety orientations. These adjustments should lower the number and severity of injuries to crews; prevent damage to vessels, structures and other property, as well as protecting the environment. While the rule comes into force on September 27, 2000, owners of towing vessels will have until October 8, 2001 to install the required equipment.
Inspection of Towing Vessels Meeting– Changed
The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Notice stating that its meeting on February 10 in New Orleans regarding inspection of U.S. towing vessels will be held in a different location in the city. All other details remain as before. 70 Fed. Reg. 5691 (HK LAW).
Proposed Ruling Calls For Fixed Fire Safety
The U.S. Coast Guard's supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) on "Fire Suppression Systems and Voyage Planning for Towing Vessels" appears in today's Federal Register. The SNPRM proposes the installation of fixed fire-extinguishing systems in the engine rooms of towing vessels, and it states that owners or operators, and masters, ensure that voyage planning is conducted before vessels towing barges commence on trips or voyages of at least 12 hours
Coast Guard's Schedule of subchapter "M" Public Meetings
The U.S. Coast Guard has announced a series of public meetings to receive comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking entitled “Inspection of Towing Vessels” that was published in the Federal Register on August 11, 2011. As stated in that document, the regulations proposed in the NPRM would establish safety regulations governing the inspection, standards, and safety management systems of towing vessels
Coast Guard Tries to Fix Towboat Licensing Rule Problems
The USCG published Interim Rules concerning new licensing regulations for Towing Vessels on November 19, 1999. These rules were generated in order to improve the safety record of the towing industry. There was great controversy over the evolution of these rules. Licensed individuals and operating companies considered these rules to be unnecessary overkill and were extremely reluctant to actively support the process. The Coast Guard aggressively pursued their objective and probably became so
Coast Guard Reopens Lower Mississippi River
The Coast Guard reopened the Mississippi River at 8:35 a.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, from mile markers 531 to 541. The Coast Guard closed the Mississippi River to all vessel traffic as the result of a towing vessel allision at approximately 5:20 a.m., this morning. The allision between the towing vessel C. B. Ford and the Old Greenville Bridge resulted in six rock barges breaking free. All barges have been recovered. The incident is under investigation
TSAC Meeting
The Towing Vessel Inspection Working Group of the Towing Safety Advisory Committee, sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, will meet in Arlington, Virginia on June 22 and 23. Topics on the agenda include proposed equipment standards and possible adoption of existing standards. 70 Fed. Reg. 34144 (HK Law)
99% of Towing Operators Are Properly Licensed
The Eighth Coast Guard District recently completed Operation Big Tow, a three-month long effort designed as a result of a collision between a cargo vessel and a loaded oil barge on the Mississippi River that spilled more than 282,000 gallons of #6 fuel oil to spill into the river. Operation Big Tow was designed to ensure vessel operators were properly licensed for their respective vessel's size, type and route.
Pacific Region Distributes Near-Miss Report Information
The USCG-AWO Pacific Region Quality Steering Committee (QSC) has distributed the first near-miss incident report of its quality action team on industry incident reporting. The AWO Pacific Region Summary of Towing Industry Incident Reports: Near-Miss and Lessons Learned Information, is based on six voluntary and anonymous towing vessel incident reports received since the Towing Vessel Incident Report program was initiated by the QSC in June 1998.
Hearing on Maritime Transportation Amendments of 2004
The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation will conduct a hearing on the Maritime Transportation Amendments of 2004 (H.R. 4251) on May 6, 2004. The bill, if enacted, would, among other things, provide for in rem liability for a vessel used in violation of the Maritime Transportation Security Act and provide for inspection of towing vessels. (HK Law).
Subchapter M Looms Operators and Suppliers Respond
Amelia Island, Florida: At the second annual Workboat Exchange, held in April at the Ritz Carlton Hotel on beautiful Amelia Island, Florida, about 160 marine buyers and sellers alike got a full taste of the best food, weather and accommodations that the Sunshine state has to offer
By the Numbers: Subchapter M Statistics
The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004 (Aug. 9, 2004), established new authorities for towing vessels. Out of that came a proposed regulatory scheme requiring towing vessels to become inspected vessels and obtain a Certificate of Inspection (COI)
ARTCO Turns to Class NK's SMSLLC for TSMS Help
SMSLLC to help leading tug and barge operator to prepare for new Towing Safety Management Regulation. Safety Management Systems LLC announced on April 18, 2013 that it has won a contract from American River Transportation Company (ARTCO) to assist the company to establish a Towing Safety
USCG Accepting Applications for TSAC Vacancies
The United States Coast Guard is requesting applications from qualified candidates seeking consideration for appointment as public members to the Towing Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC). TSAC advises the Coast Guard on matters relating to shallow-draft inland and coastal waterway navigation and
AWO, TVIB Reach Agreement on Training and Certification of Responsible Carrier Program Auditors
The American Waterways Operators, the national trade association representing the tugboat, towboat and barge industry, has entered into an agreement with the Towing Vessel Inspection Bureau under which the TVIB will take over the responsibility for training and certifying AWO Responsible Carrier
Bouchard Opts for Articulated Tug Barge
ST Engineering’s U.S. shipyard, VT Halter Marine, Inc. (VT Halter Marine) announced that Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. (Bouchard) has exercised its option for an additional Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) unit that was announced on February 15, 2013
Coast Guard Responds to Sunken Towing Vessel in Mississippi River
The Coast Guard is supervising the salvage and pollution response operations of a sunken towing vessel in the Mississippi River at Mile Marker 161.5 near New Orleans, Thursday, March 7. Coast Guard Sector New Orleans watchstanders received a report around 2 a.m
Offshore UK: Government Brokers Use of BP Emergency Vessel
The agreement between the government and BP allows HM Coasguard to call on a BP-chartered vessel in the event of a pollution incident. An operational and commercial model has been brokered with the oil industry allowing HM Coastguard to call on a BP-chartered vessel, the Grampian Frontier
Robert Allan Designed Tugboat Delivered to Colombia
New AVT 3000 Class Voith Schneider tugboat for Carbonnes del Cerrejón completes delivery voyage from Turkey to Colombia. The new tugboat, Media Luna, sailed into Puerto de Bolivar, Colombia to be welcomed by other Cerrejón towing vessels providing fire monitor displays
Kulluk Due 'Piggy-back' Ride to Asian Shipyard
Owners Shell confirm that 'Kulluk' safe to tow from Kiluda Bay to Dutch Harbor & await arrival of heavy-lift semi submersible vessel for the 'dry tow'. The Unified Command has been stood down. “Agency representatives will return to their normal roles and responsibilities," said Capt
Bulk Transport Leadership: Merritt Lane
Drought and ensuing low river levels continue to affect the inland industry. Low water between St. Louis and Cairo, Illinois has threatened traffic on the Mississippi River since December. For months, dredging operations have slowed vessels at points along the river's course
Bouchard Orders Articulated Tug Barge from VT Halter
VT Halter Marine, Inc., Pascagoula, Miss., announced a new contract to build an Articulated Tug Barge (ATB) unit with an option unit for Bouchard Transportation Co., Inc. (Bouchard). The barge will measure 625 x 91 x47 ft., has a 250,000-barrel capacity
Mississippi River Reopens to Towboat Traffic
The Coast Guard has reopened the Mississippi River for both-way traffic following the oil spill near Vicksburg. The Captain of the Port has reduced the safety zone to one mile centered on either side of the two barges with no passing or overtaking within the zone.
Coast Guard Response to Vicksburg Spill Continues
The unified command continues to respond to a crude oil spill in the lower Mississippi River near mile marker 436 in Vicksburg, Miss., Thursday. At 10:05 a.m. response crews removed fuel from the damaged barge MOC-12 after reconfiguring oil-pump equipment
Lower Mississippi Closure Due to Oil Spill
US Coast Guard's unified command is dealing with a crude oil spill from a damaged barge in Vicksburg, Miss. The barge had earlier been damaged through contact with a bridge support while in tow, and the Mississippi River remains closed to all traffic for a 16-mile distance between mile