The Towing Vessel Regulation Logbook is an 8.5 x 11 in. logbook for use by towing vessels not on an international voyage. It contains an optional “Vessel Information Page” as well as background on Towing Vessel Inspection and the important 2010 legislative change.
We also provide an excerpt that discusses the purpose of the logbook and further information on navigation safety equipment regulations. The logbook has 120 sheets.
MET. 2010 132p. On August 2, 1996 a new rule went into effect that requires towing vessel operators to complete a "check list" as part of the performance of their duties. New regulations at 33 CFR 164.70 through 164.82 requires that towing vessels carry certain new "navigational safety equipment."In addition, the towing vessel operator must perform certain "checks" on this and other equipment on tugs and towboats.
Up to this point, towing vessel operators operating in domestic service were allowed to keep logbooks in any form they desired—and to some extent, this is still true. However, many operators use a simple diary with only the day and date printed at the top of the page. This may no longer be sufficient unless you write every newly-required check list item you perform in long hand!
The Towing Vessel Regulation Logbook is our attempt to prepare a single logbook for towing vessel Masters and Operators that will fulfill not only the requirements of this new rulemaking but also record other important data that Coast Guard Boarding Officers are certain to ask about. This logbook will prompt a towing vessel operator to comply with other regulatory requirements that may not require an entry for each day or on every voyage. We want to emphasize that this new rulemaking does establish specific requirements for Masters and Operators of Uninspected Towing Vessels to perform checks and make entries in their logbook or other record.
This new regulation and its preamble do not clearly state how often this checklist should be repeated. Some companies require the checks once each watch—up to four checks per day. On the other hand, the Coast Guard, in the regulation's preamble, appears to consider that once every one to two weeks is a sufficient interval in which to perform the checks. One Coast Guard District, however, calls for a check every time the vessel sails on a voyage. Other interpretations call for checks to be performed only if a voyage extends over 24 hours. In light of the uncertainty of a poorly-written regulation, we asked the Coast Guard for clarification and await their reply. The reply will probably come long after some towing vessels are boarded and some Captains frantically call their office for guidance.
Subject to your company's interpretation, we have prepared the log pages in our logbook on the basis of completing one required check list every 24 hours OR one per voyage (i.e., your choice).
The logbook also contains:
A Vessel Information form to guide you in recording the type of information that Coast Guard Boarding Officers will ask for when they board your vessel. This information is based on forms developed independently by the Fifth Coast Guard District and the Director of Western Rivers Operations in the Eighth District. We believe it will be helpful (and speed up the boarding party's departure) if you have this needed information at your fingertips.
A Vessel Equipment Maintenance Data page to list when service work was performed on major items of towing vessel equipment.
Two Towing Hawser Information pages.
A Summary of the "New" Regulations effective August 2, 1996.
Instructions on "How to Use This Logbook."
The Check List of Required Items.
A list of Other Logbook Entries used to comply with federal regulations or good practices within the towing industry.
Towing vessels on an International Voyage. Towing vessels engaged on an international voyage must obtain and use an "Official Logbook*" instead of this logbook. [*Order MET Stock# BK-484.]