In the next, he acknowledges the Coast Guard’s towing vessel inspection standards remain a work in progress and could stay that way for some time.
“The mission of Subchapter M has yet to be accomplished,” Allegretti said during a conference at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (MITAGS) campus near Baltimore in late September.
“There is a long road ahead of us to … bridge the gap between the regulation and the reality of our boats and our barges and our people,” he continued. “Subchapter M will only fulfill its promise when we have bridged that gap.”
Allegretti’s mixed assessment seems to ring true throughout the towing sector comprising roughly 5,800 active vessels and hundreds of companies large and small. Enforcement of the new standards remains something of an open question. Meanwhile, operators continue to report inconsistencies in how the regulations are interpreted by Coast Guard officials in different regions.
Dan Justis, who heads Subchapter M compliance for a large West Coast towing company, said two of its identical SOLAS-rated tugs in different Coast Guard port zones have different manning requirements. Justis said the matter is under appeal, but for now, the company must abide by the decision.
“We have noticed some distinct differences in manning requirements,” he said during the MITAGS conference, adding that the mixed interpretations are “kind of frustrating.”
Subchapter M took effect July 20, 2018, after more than a decade of development and review. As of that date, all towing vessels must comply with Subchapter M, even if they do not yet have a certificate of inspection (COI).
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Mariner's role still unknown as autonomous shipping gains speed
Mariners’ role still unknown as autonomous shipping gains speed
Piracy edges closer to home with wave of raids in southern Gulf
In the brief cellphone video recorded by a crewmember on the offshore supply vessel (OSV) Remas, the pirates walk back and forth on the deck of the ship, clenching their guns and using them to point as they order around the crew. Their faces are draped in clothing and bandanas.
Casualties
NTSB: Dredge hit Texas gas pipeline, causing fire that killed four
IMO emissions report raises new concerns about methane slip
A recent report from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) reveals that global shipping emissions increased nearly 10 percent from 2012 to 2018, with the industry facing a growing challenge concerning methane slip.
Bay State brothers find industry niche by making old into new
Zero non-conformities is what you want to hear when the U.S. Coast Guard inspects your tugboat. Once you’ve prepared your vessel, the inspectors come aboard to peruse your paperwork. They ask you pointed questions, to which they expect straightforward answers. Perusal completed, they then scrutinize all of the related safety systems, from bilge to antennas — even the ship’s bell.
Signals
A year into the pandemic, thousands ‘essentially indentured’ on ships
Analysis points to faulty loading, low ballast in Golden Ray rollover
While the salvage of the sunken vehicle carrier Golden Ray has been delayed for months due to COVID-19 and the hurricane season, analysis by the U.S. Coast Guard has determined a possible cause for the rollover: a combination of vehicles placed too high on the ship’s decks, and not enough ballast water gave the placement of the cargo.
Seastreak newcomer pushing through dip in demand
Two years ago, Seastreak LLC took delivery of Seastreak Commodore, a 600-passenger fast ferry, from Gulf Craft of Franklin, La. Designed by Australia-based Incat Crowther, the vessel is the largest of its kind in the United States and was built to meet the burgeoning demand for service in the New York-New Jersey market.
New year in a new world: Navigating COVID's maritime realities
In a matter of days, the decorative time balls will drop, “Auld Lang Syne” will fill the air, and ships at anchor will sound their horns as the world welcomes in the new year.
Advanced props, rudders provide new efficiencies below the waterline
It took a decade or two from the invention of the marine propeller in the 19th century for the technology to become widely accepted. Thereafter, adoption has been nearly universal, but progress toward improved efficiencies has come in fits and starts.
