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USCG: Marine Safety Advisory 01-20 – Potential for Positive Drug Test Result from Use of Hemp-Plant Products

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Excerpt from MSA 01-20 Potential for Positive Drug Test Result from Use of Hemp-Plant Products, published 02/10/2020

This Marine Safety Advisory is to ensure that mariners, marine employers, and sponsoring organizations are aware that some products marketed as hemp or cannabidiol (CBD) may contain enough tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to cause a positive drug test. In accordance with 46 CFR 16.201(c), an individual who fails a chemical test for dangerous drugs must be removed from duties directly affecting the safe operation of the vessel, and is subject to suspension and revocation proceedings against his or her credential under 46 CFR part 5. Use of hemp or CBD products is not accepted as an affirmative defense (acceptable excuse) against a THC-positive drug test
result. For these reasons, mariners wishing to avoid a positive THC drug test result should exercise extreme caution when considering the use of any hemp or CBD product because such use could result in the loss of their merchant mariner credential and immediate removal from safety sensitive duties aboard a vessel. This warning applies to hemp and CBD products in any form, including those that are taken by mouth and those that are applied to the skin.

It remains unacceptable for any U.S Coast Guard credentialed mariner or other safety-sensitive worker working aboard a vessel that is subject to U.S Coast Guard drug testing regulations to use THC. Claimed use of hemp products or CBD products is not an acceptable defense for a THC- positive drug test result.

Click here to access the full Marine Safety Advisory 01-20.

USCG: TSAC Meeting – 03/10/2020

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SUMMARY: The Towing Safety Advisory Committee will meet via teleconference, to discuss the two current tasks of the Committee. The Committee is expected to receive the final reports from the Subcommittee on Load Line Exemption for River Barges on Lakes Erie and Ontario.

DATE: Meeting: The full Committee will meet by teleconference on Tuesday, March 10, 2020, from 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. 

ADDRESSES: To join the teleconference or to request special accommodations, contact the individual listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section no later than 1 p.m. on March 3, 2020, to obtain the needed information. The number of teleconference lines is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

INSTRUCTIONS:  You are free to submit comments at any time, including orally at the teleconference, but if you want Committee members to review your comments before the teleconference, please submit your comments no later than March 3, 2020. 

AGENDA: The agenda for the March 10, 2020, teleconference meeting is as follows:

1-Final report from the Subcommittee on “Recommendations on Load Line Exemption for River Barges on Lakes Erie and Ontario (Task 17-02)”

2-Additional tasking for the Subcommittee working on “Recommendations on the Implementation of 46 Code of Federal Regulations Subchapter M—Inspection of Towing Vessels (Task 16-01)”

3-Update on the National Towing Safety Advisory Committee and the December 4, 2020 termination date for the Towing Safety Advisory Committee.

4-Public Comment period.

A copy of all meeting documentation will be available at https://www.dco.uscg.mil/​Our-Organization/​Assistant-Commandant-for-Prevention-Policy-CG-5P/​Commercial-Regulations-standards-CG-5PS/​Office-of-Operating-and-Environmental-Standards/​vfos/​TSAC/​.

During the March 10, 2020 teleconference, a public comment period will be held from approximately 2:45 p.m. to 3 p.m. Speakers are requested to limit their comments to 3 minutes. Please note that this public comment period may start before 2:45 p.m. if all other agenda items have been covered and may end before 3 p.m. if all of those wishing to comment have done so. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Matthew D. Layman, Alternate Designated Federal Officer of the Towing Safety Advisory Committee, 2703 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE, Stop 7509, Washington, DC 20593-7509, telephone 202-372-1421, fax 202-372-8382 or Matthew.D.Layman@uscg.mil.

Click here to review the full Federal Register Notice.

TVIB Staff News

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We recently expanded our staff by adding an additional Operations Manager. We would like to welcome Clint Smith to the TVIB team. Clint will be working alongside Caleb King, focusing on the coordination of audits and surveys while working to support our TPO customers with CG-835V/Marine Casualty concerns and related TPO activities. 

Clint retired from the U.S. Coast Guard as a Lieutenant Commander in 2019. During his 20+ year Coast Guard career, he served in a wide variety of positions, including Deck Watch Officer and Coast Guard Boarding Officer, onboard several Coast Guard cutters engaged in search and rescue, law enforcement, and aids to navigation. 

He spent 14 years in the Marine Safety field as an Investigating Officer and Marine Inspector and held positions in the Gulf and Western Rivers Regions. As a Marine Safety Detachment Supervisor, he oversaw Coast Guard Marine Safety and Security Regulatory Compliance for all vessels and facilities in two states. As the Chief of Prevention, he managed both U. S. and foreign vessel inspections and regulatory compliance for 144 facilities in one of the Nation’s busiest ports. He’s conducted hundreds of safety and security inspections on U.S. and Foreign vessels, pollution investigations, marine casualty investigations, and container inspections. Clint’s most recent assignment was at Coast Guard Headquarters with the Mission Management Systems Staff, where he managed and audited the Coast Guard’s Prevention Quality Management System. Clint formed QCI Maritime Services in 2019 and performed surveying, auditing and consulting services to the towing industry. 

Clint holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Information Sciences from The University of Alabama. He is certified by Exemplar Global as an ISO-9001 Quality Management System Lead Auditor and holds certifications as both a TVIB Lead Auditor for Vessels and Management and Subchapter M Annual Surveyor.     

Clint is located in Gonzales, LA. Please be sure to welcome him when you get a chance, you will find his contact info on the website under Contact Us and Our Staff.