Steamboat Inspection Service News

July 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the traveling inspection staff, originally created under the Steamboat Inspection Service. These travelers are highly experienced marine inspectors and investigators that help to measure the effectiveness of existing programs and policies. “It is only natural that the agency responsible for rescue activities should be concerned with the prevention of marine casualties,” said Vice Adm. Russell Waeshe. Waeshe’s statement to Congress in 1944 highlighted the need for a Coast Guard prevention program, which includes the missions of maritime safety, security and stewardship. However, the establishment of a unified prevention program took more than 100 years to create. In 1823, 14 percent of all steam vessels in the U.S.

1798- Hostilities began in the Quasi-War with France. The Revenue Cutters Pickering, Virginia,Scammel, South Carolina, Governor, Jay, Eagle, General Greene, and Diligence were the first to be placed under Naval orders, comprising about one-third of the U .S. Fleet. 1801- In a cost saving measure, the Treasury Department sent circulars to the various Collectors looking toward reducing the size of the cutters and their crews. 1838- Under the authority of an Act of Congress passed this date, the President divided the Atlantic coast into six, and the Great Lakes coast into two, lighthouse districts. A naval officer was detailed to each lighthouse district…

1932-The Steamboat Inspection Service and Bureau of Navigation were combined to form the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection (47 Stat. L., 415). The new agency remained under the control of the Commerce Department. 1933-The airways division, which had been conducted as a division of the Lighthouse Service, but under the administrative supervision of the Assistant Secretary for Aeronautics, Department of Commerce, was separated from the Lighthouse Service. (USLHS AR 1933, p. 97). 1939-"At the end of the year, the total number of lighthouse tenders was 65, of which 64 were in commission and ‘.1 was out of commission and advertised for sale. Of the vessels in commission, 42 were steam-propelled, 18 had diesel engines, and 4 had diesel-electric drive.

1919-First Lieutenant Elmer F. Stone, USCG, piloting the Navy's flying boat NC-4 in the first successful trans-Atlantic flight, landed in the Tagus River estuary near Lisbon, Portugal on 27 May 1919. Stone was decorated that same day by the Portuguese government with the Order of the Tower and Sword. 1936-Public Law 622 reorganized and changed the name of the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection Service to Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation (49 Stat. L., 1380). The Bureau remained under Commerce Department control. 1943- Douglas Munro's posthumous Medal of Honor was given to Douglas Munro's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Munro of South Cle Elum, Washington, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a ceremony at the White House on Thursday, May 27, 1943.

1867-  As ordered by the Treasury Department, each officer of Revenue Cutter Service, while on duty, was entitled to one Navy ration per day. 1871- Congress passed 16 Stat. 458 which addressed shortcomings in previous legislation regarding the inspection and certification of steamboats and their crews. This Act established the Steamboat Inspection Service within the Department of Treasury headed by a Supervisory Inspector General answerable to the Treasury Secretary. The Act also provided SIS inspectors with greater authority over more aspects of the maritime field. 1942- Certain duties of former Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation transferred to Coast Guard temporarily by Executive Order 9083. The transfer was made permanent on July 16, 1946. Also, the U.S.

1903- An Act of Congress (31 Stat. L., 825, 826, 827) that created the Department of Commerce and Labor provided for the transfer of the Lighthouse Service and the Steamboat Inspection Service from the Treasury Department. This allowed the Secretary of Commerce and Labor to succeed to the authority vested in the Secretary of the Treasury under the existing legislation.   (Source: Navy News Service)

1778 - John Paul Jones in Ranger receives first official salute to U.S. Stars and Strips flag by European country, at Quiberon, France.   1813 - Essex becomes first U.S. warship to round Cape Horn and enter the Pacific Ocean   1814 - USS Constitution captures British Lovely Ann and Pictou 1903- An Act of Congress (31 Stat. L., 825, 826, 827) that created the Department of Commerce and Labor provided for the transfer of the Lighthouse Service and the Steamboat Inspection Service from the Treasury Department. This allowed the Secretary of Commerce and Labor to succeed to the authority vested in the Secretary of the Treasury under the existing legislation.   1840 - Officers from USS Vincennes make first landing in Antarctica on floating ice   (Source: Navy News Service)

1852- Congress passed the Steamboat Act which established the Steamboat Inspection Service under the control of the Treasury Department (10 Stat. L., 1852). The Act provided for the appointment, by the President, with the advice and consent of the Senate, of nine supervising  inspectors. These men, experts in the construction and operation of commercial craft, were paid by the Government. They were to meet once a year for the purpose of consultation and the promulgation of regulations governing the administration of the applicable laws, assigned territory being covered by each of them. Local inspectors, acting under the supervising inspectors, were authorized to issue licenses to engineers and pilots of passenger vessels.

From its genesis as the Revenue Marine, the Coast Guard has evolved to become the world’s premier multi-mission, maritime service, conducting operations around the globe to execute its 11 missions. “Coast Guardsmen are agile, adaptable and multi-missioned,” said Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Robert J. Papp, Jr. “Born as revenue cuttermen, lighthouse keepers, steamboat inspectors and surfmen, we have expanded to meet the maritime needs of our nation. The Coast Guard began its service to America in 1790 within the Treasury Department as the Revenue Marine, later renamed the Revenue Cutter Service.

1932-The Steamboat Inspection Service and Bureau of Navigation were combined to form the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection (47 Stat. L., 415). The new agency remained under the control of the Commerce Department. 1933-The airways division, which had been conducted as a division of the Lighthouse Service, but under the administrative supervision of the Assistant Secretary for Aeronautics, Department of Commerce, was separated from the Lighthouse Service. (USLHS AR 1933, p. 97). 1939-"At the end of the year, the total number of lighthouse tenders was 65, of which 64 were in commission and ‘.1 was out of commission and advertised for sale. Of the vessels in commission, 42 were steam-propelled, 18 had diesel engines, and 4 had diesel-electric drive.

1919-First Lieutenant Elmer F. Stone, USCG, piloting the Navy's flying boat NC-4 in the first successful trans-Atlantic flight, landed in the Tagus River estuary near Lisbon, Portugal on 27 May 1919. Stone was decorated that same day by the Portuguese government with the Order of the Tower and Sword. 1936:  Public Law 622 reorganized and changed the name of the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection Service to Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation (49 Stat. L., 1380). The Bureau remained under Commerce Department control. 1943- Douglas Munro's posthumous Medal of Honor was given to Douglas Munro's parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Munro of South Cle Elum, Washington, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in a ceremony at the White House on Thursday, May 27, 1943.

Local Coast Guard units plan on celebrating the Coast Guard's 215th year of serving the American public and protecting the nations waterways tomorrow. August 4, 1790, the Revenue Cutter Service was born when the 1st Congress approved the building of 10 cutters to enforce tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling and protect the collection of the federal revenue, all while defending the young nation. The U.S. Life Saving Service was later created in response to a series of shipping accidents along the Eastern coast. Lifesaving stations were created up and down the coast and were often times manned by local towns people who carried out the rescue of shipwreck survivors.

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley will celebrate on August 4 the service's 217th birthday as America's oldest continuous sea-going service. Since its inception in 1790, the men and women of "America's Lifesavers," the Coast Guard, have saved more than 1 million lives. In 2006 alone, the men and women of Sector Ohio Valley assisted 560 persons and over $800m in property. Moreover, that same year the Sector conducted 331 casualty investigations, 1,395 vessel inspections, 448 facility inspections, and 122 pollution responses. The Coast Guard traces its roots in Louisville back to 1852 with the assignment of the first local Supervisory Inspector of the U.S. Steamboat Inspection Service.

On June 15, 1904, fire broke out on the excursion vessel General Slocum in New York Harbor. The vessel was carrying over 1,300 passengers on an excursion from Manhattan to Long Island Sound. Approximately 1,000 people died in the disaster. Investigation revealed criminal neglect by numerous parties. The master of the vessel, managing directors of the vessel owner, and several officers of the Steamboat Inspection Service were prosecuted. Source; HK Law

Local Coast Guard units plan on celebrating the Coast Guard's 216th year of serving the American public and protecting the nations waterways tomorrow. August 4, 1790, the Revenue Cutter Service was born when the 1st Congress approved the building of 10 cutters to enforce tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling and protect the collection of the federal revenue, all while defending the young nation. The U.S. Life Saving Service was later created in response to a series of shipping accidents along the Eastern coast. Lifesaving stations were created up and down the coast and were often times manned by local towns people who carried out the rescue of shipwreck survivors.

Originally formed as the Revenue Cutter Service in 1790, the USCG, which celebrated its 209th year anniversary in August, has grown to include other federal agencies including the U.S. Life-saving Service in 1915, the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1939 and the Bureau of Navigation and Steamboat Inspection Service in 1942. As a result, the missions of the modern-day USCG include safety of life at sea, maritime law enforcement, marine environmental protection, waterways management, and national defense. Therefore, the USCG is truly a multi-missioned maritime service. Recently, the USCG was authorized a battle streamer for the Maritime Defense of the New Republic.