TVIB News U.S. Coast Guard

USCG: Random Drug Testing Rate for Covered Crewmembers for 2020

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12/27/2019 Federal Register

The Coast Guard has set the calendar year 2020 minimum random drug testing rate at 50% of covered crewmembers. The minimum random drug testing rate is effective January 1, 2020 through December 31, 2020.

The Coast Guard continues a 50% minimum random drug testing rate for 2020 as a result of MIS data for the most recent reporting year which indicated that the positive rate continues to be greater than one percent. 46 CFR 16.230(f)(2) requires the Commandant to set the minimum random drug testing rate at 50% when the positivity rate for drug use is greater than 1 percent.

Marine employers are required by 46 CFR 16.500 to collect and maintain a record of drug testing data for each calendar year, and submit this data to the Coast Guard in a Management Information System (MIS) Report by March 15 of the following year.

Click here to review the full notice published in the Federal Register.

USCG: River Industry Day 2019 – Huntington

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12/17/19 – U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Huntington and the Huntington District Waterways Association hosted their second annual River Industry Day.  CDR Mangini, Commanding Officer of MSU Huntington and Bill Barr, President of the Huntington District Waterways Associated welcomed attendees and then jumped right in to a broad agenda that covered a year in review for the unit, Subchapter M and a COI signing to start the day.

Mr. Geoff Scibek, Chief, Inspections Division for the unit and Ms. Jill Bessetti, District 8 Towing Vessel Coordinator provided an update on the current status of towing vessel inspections and issuance of COIs. Following are some of Subchapter M metrics shared:

MSU Huntington

20182019
Towing Vessel Inspections2370
Deficiencies199214

COI Status

UnitFleet SizeTSMS COIsCG COIsTotal COIs
D83,862736187923
USCG5,7609813721,353

District 8 Sector Breakdown of TSMS Option COIs

C.C.H-GLMRMobileNOLAOHVUMR
13133443226720046

CDR Mangini signed the most recent COI for AEPs fleet and presented to Mike Weisend, Regulatory Manager for AEP.  On hand to mark the event was also Joe Lagerman and Butch Leport with AEP along with Tava Foret and Lauren Jeppson for TVIB.

USCG: Marine Safety Alert 13-19 Hazards of Retractable Pilot Houses on Towboats

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12/06/2019 the USCG issued Marine Safety Alert 13-19 “An Important Safety Consideration – Hazards of Retractable Pilot Houses on Towboats.” The USCG has issued recommendations for reducing the risk associated with the crush hazard presented by the lowering of the pilot house.

EXCERPT FROM THE MARINE SAFETY ALERT:

The Coast Guard strongly recommends that towing vessel owners and operators that utilize retractable pilothouses:

  • Ensure pilothouses are installed with mechanisms capable of returning the pilothouse to a fail-safe locked condition in case of a failure or malfunction;
  • Ensure the pilothouses are equipped to sound an audible and visual alarm during all modes of pilothouse hydraulic movement;
  • Instruct operators to confirm personnel are clear of the danger zone before moving the pilothouse;
  • Instruct all personnel to never position themselves under the retractable pilothouse, even temporarily;
  • Clearly mark and place physical barriers around the perimeter of the pilothouse danger zone and discourage unauthorized personnel movement under the pilothouse;
  • Incorporate into the Towing Safety Management System (TSMS) the company/vessel’s policy and procedures, information about the potential dangers, audible and visual alarms, and safety considerations regarding operation of the pilothouses; and,
  • Ensure new crewmembers receive proper training regarding the dangers and that all personnel receive annual refresher training.

Click here to download USCG Marine Safety Alert 13-19 An Important Safety Consideration – Hazards of Retractable Pilot Houses on Towboats