Now that Subchapter M — the U.S. regime for the inspection of towing vessels — is law, the next step will be for companies to begin the compliance process.
The Coast Guard has begun meeting with industry members to talk about how the Subchapter M process will evolve over the coming year. And the approval process for companies that will work with operators to help them comply with Subchapter M has also begun.
Owners and operators have six years from last July to meet the requirements of Subchapter M, but their vessels will have to come into compliance within two years. During that time, companies will have to choose one of two options: a traditional Coast Guard routine inspection every year, or a towing safety management system (TSMS) approved and verified by a third-party organization (TPO).
The Coast Guard has just started approving third-party organizations. As of late December, the service had received less than 10 applications, according to Cmdr. Jackie Twomey of the Coast Guard’s Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise (TVNCOE). As of mid-January, four entities had received TPO approval: Marine Compliance LLC, WaveCrest Offshore Solutions Inc., Sabine Surveyors Ltd. and the Towing Vessel Inspection Bureau. Twomey expected more approvals by the end of January.
“The process will become shorter,” she said. “With it being a new process, the first ones are taking us some time.”
The TVNCOE had a meeting to discuss safety management systems and the requirements for becoming a TPO with prospective companies on Dec. 14. The next day, there was a meeting with classification societies.
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Mariner's role still unknown as autonomous shipping gains speed
Mariners’ role still unknown as autonomous shipping gains speed
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