Reporting Main Propulsion Failures

 Coast Guard (a.) reminds Masters of requirement to report loss of main propulsion, (b.) advises of “lessons learned from casualty investigations and (c.) issued an internal policy letter clarifying and updating its Marine Inspector/Port State Control Officer (MI/PSCO) Certification Policy.

 US Coast Guard Sector New Orleans issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin reminding masters of the requirement to report the loss of main propulsion and other primary control systems immediately after addressing the resultant safety concerns. In addition, a written report must be submitted within five days. (10/16/09).

 http://media.tmmarket.com/marex/media/pdf/USCG_Main_Prop_Reporting.pdf

 

NTSB – Recommendations regarding Obstructive Sleep Apnea

From Bryant’s Maritime Blog

http://www.ntsb.gov/Recs/letters/2009/M09_14_16.pdf

 M-09-14 through -16 (10/20/09)

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) sent a set of three formal safety recommendations to the US Coast Guard concerning obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The NTSB noted that the pilots involved in the 1995 grounding of a cruise ship in Alaska and the 1997 allision of a container ship with a bridge abutment in San Francisco Bay both suffered from OSA and the chronic fatigue accompanying OSA may have been a factor in both casualties. The NTSB thus recommends that the Coast Guard modify its Merchant Mariner Physical Examination Report to elicit specific information concerning OSA; implement a program to identify mariners who may be at high risk for OSA; and disseminate guidance regarding identification and treatment of OSA.

 

MERCHANT MARINER THIRD PARTY AUTHORIZATION

Dear Merchant Mariner,

Many mariners, especially those that are at sea or away from home for extended periods of time, have authorized third parties, such as a spouse or an employer, to handle the details of their credential application while they are gone. If you would like to authorize the National Maritime Center (NMC) to work directly with others, and to protect your privacy, please follow the instructions below.

 

UPDATED MERCHANT MARINER MEDICAL EVALUATION REPORT

 The Coast Guard is planning to release new versions of the Merchant Mariner Credential Medical Evaluation Report form (CG-719 K) and the Merchant Mariner Evaluation of Fitness for Entry Level Ratings form (CG-719 K/E). These new forms will be phased in over a two month period, as outlined below. The CG-719 K/E should be used only by mariners seeking an entry level credential. This form is limited to applicants for the following rating endorsements: Ordinary Seaman, Wiper, or Steward’s Department (food handler). The CG-719K should be used for all other endorsement applications.

 

Oil Spill Response Plan Standards Proposed for Non-Tank Vessels

 

Certain larger PVA vessels may be affected by a rule on vessel oil spill response plans proposed by the Coast Guard and published in the Federal Register of August 31, 2009.  Entitled “Non-Tank Vessel Response Plans and other Vessel Response Plan Requirements,” the proposal would implement a 2004 amendment to the Oil Pollution Act to require that some Non-Tank vessels obtain Coast Guard approval for and implement oil spill contingency plans. 

Most vessels operated by PVA members would not be affected, but any vessel of 400 gross tons (as measured by the standards of the international tonnage convention) would have to comply.