Vessel Documentation News

Britain's Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) on Friday detained a ferry operated by P&O in Northern Ireland because it was not ready to sail, the agency and P&O said.The British government has already said it will take legal action over P&O Ferries' decision to fire 800 staff earlier this month with immediate effect.The ferry European Causeway, which operates between Cairnryan in Scotland and Larne in Northern Ireland, will be detained until the company resolves all the issues, a spokesperson for the MCA said, citing "crew familiarisation, vessel documentation and crew training"."Following m

The National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) made this announcement regarding changes to its operations in light of the growing COVID-19 threat:The National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) is closely monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic and, as the situation evolves, is prepared to adjust operations accordingly. During this time of heightened concern, and in response to recommendations from the CDC regarding precautionary measures to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, the NVDC will be suspending walk-in customer service until further notice.Customers are reminded that there are several options available for submitting applications and amplifying documentation; via e-mail (.pdf filing), fax, and USPS.

One year ago, we reported on vacation river cruising, presenting an industry mostly on the optimistic side of growth and expansion for 2018. This year’s review is more geographically limited – to the Mississippi River, heartland cruises centered among New Orleans, Memphis, St. Louis and St. Paul – but with links important for a lot of smaller cities in between.Big picture:This industry is strong, at least among its two major players: American Cruise Lines and the American Queen Steamboat Company. Both have extensive and varied schedules for 2019.

As of June 25, 2018, the Coast Guard has issued 22 certificates of inspection (COI) to towing vessels in both the Atlantic and Pacific areas of operation. Additional inspections are scheduled between now and July 20, 2018, when Subchapter M is fully implemented. The requirements for obtaining a certificate of inspection, as detailed in 46 CFR 136.210, begin when the owner/operator submits the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved Form CG-3752 “Application for Inspection.” New construction vessels use Form CG-3752A. Owners/operators are only required to complete OMB-approved forms and submit the information listed in the regulations.

Rear Admiral Paul Thomas develops and maintains policy, standards and program alignment for waterways management, navigation safety, boating, commercial vessels, ports and facilities, merchant mariner credentialing, vessel documentation, marine casualty investigation, inspection and port state control activities. He serves as the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy overseeing three Coast Guard directorates: Inspections and Compliance, Marine Transportation Systems, and Commercial Regulations and Standards. A specialist in Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection, he has served at the Marine Safety Center in Washington, DC and many others before that. His other tours include, among others, service as Commanding Officer of USCGC CAPE ROMAIN.

Ocean Time Marine informs it has added to its suite of safety management tools with a new vessel content management system, the Ocean Time Marine Dashboard and a suite of paperless safety document packs. These tools aim to provide simplified administration for vessel management delivering greater support and cost-savings for captains and crew on board and ashore, Ocean Time Marine said. In response to the marine industry’s need for an easier way to store and manage vessel documentation, Ocean Time Marine developed the Dashboard.

Greek authorities have seized a freighter carrying an undeclared shipment of weapons en route from Turkey to Libya, coast guard officials said on Wednesday. A coast guard patrol boat raided the vessel on Tuesday, 20 nautical miles northeast of Crete. The freighter, with a crew of seven and which had sailed from the Turkish port of Iskenderun, was escorted to Heraklion port on the island. The United Nations has imposed an embargo on weapons shipments to Libya, which is plagued by factional conflict. "The ship's crew is being questioned and the content of its containers will be checked," a coast guard official said, declining to be named. The coast guard provided no further details of what kind of arms the freighter had on board, or its ownership.

Rear Admiral Paul Thomas is the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy overseeing three Coast Guard directorates: Inspections and Compliance, Marine Transportation Systems, and Commercial Regulations and Standards. The programs include waterways management, navigation and boating safety, ports and facilities, merchant mariner credentialing, vessel documentation, marine casualty investigation, commercial vessel inspections, and port state control. A longtime specialist in Marine Safety…

Recent updates to the US Vessel General Permit (VGP) have brought new technical and reporting requirements for vessels operating in US waters, including the need for the preparation of a detailed annual report. DNV GL’s newly introduced VGP verification service helps to ensure compliance by providing a comprehensive review of both VGP procedures and documentation. The VGP verification service consists of a review of company-wide VGP procedures, if they exist, which are usually based on VGP or environmental best practice documentation.

The U.S. Coast Guard's final rule on vessel documentation renewal fees was published in the Federal Register Tuesday. The Coast Guard is amending its regulations to separately list an annual fee for renewals of endorsements upon the Certificate of Documentation. The Coast Guard is required to establish user fees for services related to the documentation of vessels. This final rule separately lists a fee of $26 to cover the current costs of the vessel documentation services provided by the Coast Guard.

Sustaining the ongoing boatbuilding boom can involve the lawful use of foreign finance streams. James Kearns takes a closer look at the practice. The citizenship requirements for vessels engaged in the U.S. coastwise trade are generally well-known. Such a vessel needs to be built in the United States; it must have a U.S. citizen crew or operator; and its ownership must meet specified U.S. citizenship requirements, depending on the form of legal entity owning the vessel (corporation, limited liability company, partnership, etc.).

Due to the Federal Government’s lapse in appropriations for Fiscal Year 2014, the Coast Guard is unable to process commercial vessel Certificates of Documentation (COD) to ensure that all commercial vessels receive their renewed CODs before their current documentation expires. The vessels most likely impacted by this situation are those commercial vessels with CODs which expire between October 1, 2013 and November 30, 2013. For commercial vessels engaged in domestic voyages between ports in the United States or its possessions…

Due to the lapse in government funding, the U.S. Coast Guard announced Tuesday that it will allow commercial vessels engaged in domestic voyages between ports in the United States or its possessions to operate with an expired certificate of documentation as long as they are in compliance with all other requirements for operation. Vessel owners should submit their renewal application to the National Vessel Documentation Center as appropriate using normal submittal procedures. These applications will be processed as soon as the lapse in appropriations ends.

Due to the government shutdown, the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC) will be operating under restricted conditions. All commercial vessel related business will be suspended until the government resumes operations. Recreational fee funding has not been affected; therefore, the limited number of onsite staff will be focused on processing recreational vessel applications. The NVDC recognizes the impact this government shutdown may have on our maritime industry and customers - particularly the commercial portion of the industry.

Horizon Lines plans to convert the power plants on two of its steam turbine cargo vessels to modern diesel engines capable of burning conventional liquid fuels or liquefied natural gas (LNG). "We are viewing this as the first step in a repowering initiative for Horizon Lines vessels serving in the Hawaii and Puerto Rico trade lanes," said Sam Woodward, President and Chief Executive Officer. "The two initial steam vessels targeted for the planned repowering are structurally viable for the conversion from steam-powered to dual diesel/LNG engines.

Rear Admiral Joseph A. Servidio is Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy overseeing Inspections and Compliance, Marine Transportation Systems, and Commercial Regulations and Standards. Theses directorates include waterways management, navigation and boating safety, commercial vessels, ports and facilities, merchant mariner credentialing, vessel documentation, marine casualty investigation, inspections, and port state control. His previous assignments include numerous postings in marine inspection, marine safety and investigation billets. Servidio is a graduate of the U.

The decision to repower a vessel is a multi-faceted one, and it can be safely assumed that no two decisions in this arena are exactly the same. Whether it's a crewboat that needs new power units to accommodate a new scope of operation; extending the life of an old, but otherwise stable boat; a rip and refit to replace under performing engines; or as a simple factor in the overall vessel conversion equation - the decision to install new engines on a vessel entails a significant financial investment for the owner. This year has seen a number of significant and unique marine repowerings. The vessels covered in this report are unique in that they range from a 149-passenger tour boat to an 846-ft. long military freighter powered by gas turbine engines.

The decision to repower a vessel is a multi-faceted one, and it can be safely assumed that no two decisions in this arena are exactly the same. Whether it's a crewboat that needs new power units to accommodate a new scope of operation; extending the life of an old, but otherwise stable boat; a rip and refit to replace under performing engines; or as a simple factor in the overall vessel conversion equation - the decision to install new engines on a vessel entails a significant financial investment for the owner. This year has seen a number of significant and unique marine repowerings. The vessels covered in this report are unique in that they range from a 149-passenger tour boat to an 846-ft. long military freighter powered by gas turbine engines.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Notice advising owners of vessels destroyed or severely damaged in the recent spate of hurricanes how to obtain information regarding their vessels from the National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC). (HK Law)

The U.S. Coast Guard vessel documentation program is in transition from the old Marine Safety Information System (MSIS) to the new Vessel Documentation System (VDS). Until VDS is fully deployed at or about January 1, 2002, the Coast Guard will only be issuing Certificates of Documentation to U.S. commercial vessels engaged in the foreign trade. Other commercial vessels will be issued letters showing their name, official number, and the trade in which they are engaged. Regular Certificates of Documentation will be issued to these latter vessels after VDS becomes fully operational. Source: HK Law

while transiting Tillamook Bar near Garibaldi, Oregon. there were 11 fatalities. is ongoing. completed and a detailed analysis of the events is underway. collected over 200 documents. U.S. documentation. were taken during the on-scene investigation. in the future.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Notice stating that it has developed an Application for Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR) for U.S vessels. The application must be completed and submitted to the CSR Desk at the USCG National Vessel Documentation Center (NVDC). This submittal should be done promptly because, under both the SOLAS Convention and USCG maritime security regulations, affected vessels must have a CSR on board by July 1, 2004. Affected vessels are cargo vessels of 500 gross tons and over and passenger vessels that carry more than 12 passengers when either type vessel is engaged on an international voyage. The Coast Guard has also developed a form for Amendments to the CSR. 69 Fed. Reg. 9206 (February 27, 2004).

Larry Rigdon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rigdon Marine, announced the appointment of Jim Whitley as Director of Technical Services. Mr. Whitely will be responsible for vessel engineering, new construction, maintenance and repair, vessel documentation, and regulatory compliance. “With over twenty five years of offshore marine experience, Jim possesses a vast knowledge of shipyard management, engineering, and new construction,” Rigdon said. Whitley earned his Bachelor of Science in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering from Webb Institute of Naval Architecture. He previously worked for Rigdon Marine as an independent contractor…