The
U.S. Coast Guard conducted an analysis of all the deficiencies that were
recorded by Coast Guard Marine Inspectors of Small Passenger Vessels, with the
goal of identifying the ten most common deficiencies that they could then share
with small passenger vessel owners. Owners,
being aware of these deficiencies, should correct any problems prior to their
next Coast Guard examination. The
deficiencies, as well as potential correction methods, follow.
1. Dead End Wires
All wires or
cables must be in use by a piece of equipment or system onboard the
vessel. If a system or piece of
equipment is removed but not replaced, the cable/wire that serviced that item
must be properly removed from the power source.
2. Deteriorated Hull Material
Regular
inspections of a vessel’s hull (internally and externally) are essential to
that vessel’s safety. Wood vessels can
easily have wasted wood planking and deteriorating fasteners, and aluminum and
steel-hulled ships can get cracked welds following allisions. In addition, steel can easily rust,
particularly where plating is uncoated. Fiberglass-hulled vessels are often subject to hull deterioration from
blisters, delamination, or cracks in the gel coat. Vessel owners and operators must make every
reasonable effort to regularly examine all hull components and fittings.
3. Inoperable Bilge High Level Alarm
Certificated
small passenger vessels of 26 feet or more must have audible and visual bilge
high level alarms for unmanned spaces that could flood. Wooden vessels must also provide bilge level
alarms in any watertight compartment except small buoyancy chambers. Tests on the alarms and visual indicators
should be conducted routinely.
4. Portable Hand Bilge Pump Inoperable
or Missing
Specific small
passenger vessels may have portable hand bilge pumps as secondary or emergency
pumps. However, many examinations found
that vessel owners failed to maintain a portable pump onboard – or, in even
more cases – a portable pump was present but inoperable or not usable in all
spaces. Regulations require that the
portable hand bilge pump is able to pump water from ALL watertight compartments,
meaning that the suction hose must be long enough to access the deepest part of
the vessel. These pumps must be tested routinely.
5. FCC Station License Missing
Marine EPIRBs,
radios, and AIS equipment required on small passenger vessels must comply with FCC
requirements. Many certificated small
passenger vessels are given deficiencies for not having an FCC Station License
for a marine radio.
6. Running Lights Inoperable
All vessels must
have operable navigational lights in compliance with the International and
Inland Navigation Rules. Many vessels
under examination are found to have inoperable mast, stern, and sidelights, and
in some cases, the installation of the lights conflicts with the International
and Inland Navigation Rules. Additionally, vessels over 65 feet long must have navigation lights
compliant with UL 1104 standards.
7. Light Guards Missing
Any light
fixture subject to damage must include a guard, or be made of high-strength
material. Lights in accommodation spaces
are usually exempt from this rule because they are not subject to damage.
8. Expired First Aid Kit Medication
All certificated
small passenger vessels must have an approved first aid kit. The most common deficiency with first aid
kits is expired medications.Expired
medications must be replaced immediately.
9. Navigational Charts Outdated or
Missing
All certificated
small passenger vessels are required to carry navigational charts that cover
the area in which they are operating. The charts must be kept current. Many
times, vessels that received deficiencies for missing or outdated charts, were
also missing other required nautical publications (i.e., U.S. Coast Pilot, Tide
Tables, Coast Guard Light List, Current Tables, etc.).
10. Expired EPIRB Hydrostatic Release
Certificated
small passenger vessels that operate on the high seas or three miles past the
coastline of the Great Lakes must hold a FCC Type Accepted Category 1, 406MHz
Emergency Position Indicating Radiobeacon (EPIRB).The EPIRB must be installed in a float free
system. Many vessels under examination
had failed to replace the hydrostatic release before it expired. The EPIRBs should be inspected monthly to
ensure that they work, and hydrostatic release units should be replaced before
expiration to make sure that they will successfully release the EPIRB if the
vessel sinks.