USCG Sector San Francisco Inspections Department ENS Keith Heine Marine Inspector

USCG Sector San Francisco USCG Sector San Francisco Inspections DepartmentInspections Department

ENS Keith HeineENS Keith HeineMarine InspectorMarine Inspector

What is the Ferry Vessel Audit program?What is the Ferry Vessel Audit program?

Has it changed lately?Has it changed lately?

How do I conduct an audit?How do I conduct an audit?

How do I participate in the program?How do I participate in the program?

What Will I Cover?

Program has been in existence since 2001 here Program has been in existence since 2001 here in San Francisco.in San Francisco.

A force multiplier by putting more USCG eyes A force multiplier by putting more USCG eyes and ears on the water.and ears on the water.

Keeps operators honest.Keeps operators honest.

Has been supervised by the Has been supervised by the Inspections BranchInspections Branch since 2005.since 2005.

What is the Ferry Vessel Audit Program?

Actions taken by auditors when Actions taken by auditors when problems are found must be reported problems are found must be reported to Domestic Inspections.to Domestic Inspections.

Interaction between auditor & vessel Interaction between auditor & vessel crew has changed.crew has changed.

New “840 form” concept.New “840 form” concept.

How has the Program Changed

New Administrative Process (1 of 2):New Administrative Process (1 of 2):

Call Sector San Francisco Command Center and let them Call Sector San Francisco Command Center and let them know you are starting an audit.know you are starting an audit.

Follow instructions and checklist on 840 form.Follow instructions and checklist on 840 form.

Make comments in the notes section on the form.Make comments in the notes section on the form.

Regulation citations are provided for informational use Regulation citations are provided for informational use only.only.

How Do I Conduct An Audit?


New Administrative Process (2 of 2):New Administrative Process (2 of 2): Call Sector Command Center when you are finished Call Sector Command Center when you are finished

auditing.auditing.

For For immediate immediate problems, call Sector Command Center at problems, call Sector Command Center at (415) 399-3547 and also for(415) 399-3547 and also for any any immediateimmediate safety concerns. safety concerns.

Submit your completed audit book to Domestic Submit your completed audit book to Domestic Inspections, ENS Keith Heine.Inspections, ENS Keith Heine.

Feedback will be provided by Domestic Inspectors.Feedback will be provided by Domestic Inspectors.

Observe operations:Observe operations:

Security screening.Security screening.

Sound signals.Sound signals.

Safe embarkation of passengers.Safe embarkation of passengers.

Attention to duty by crew.Attention to duty by crew.

Internal communications on vessel.Internal communications on vessel.


Observe vessel condition:Observe vessel condition:

Lifesaving equipment.Lifesaving equipment.

Structural integrity.Structural integrity.

Fire protection.Fire protection.

Proper documentation posted for passengers.Proper documentation posted for passengers. Pollution preventionPollution prevention..


Complete the Complete the information on the information on the name of the vessel name of the vessel and what date and and what date and time you did the time you did the audit.audit.

How Do I Use The New Form?

Ordinarily, your audit will Ordinarily, your audit will just be a random visit. just be a random visit. From time to time, the From time to time, the Sector may request Sector may request auditors target specific auditors target specific vessels. The ‘other’ block vessels. The ‘other’ block is reserved for special is reserved for special circumstances and should circumstances and should be described.be described.


Auditors are required to pay Auditors are required to pay for each transit unless the for each transit unless the company insists on covering company insists on covering the costs. The USCG will the costs. The USCG will NOT reimburse auditors for NOT reimburse auditors for anything paid out of pocket anything paid out of pocket in the pursuit of the in the pursuit of the program.program.


You MUST list the names of all You MUST list the names of all auditors on assignment; audits auditors on assignment; audits are not anonymous. Include are not anonymous. Include contact numbers so the contact numbers so the Inspectors can call you for Inspectors can call you for details when questions arise details when questions arise about a report you have about a report you have submitted.submitted.

““Remember, you are our eyes Remember, you are our eyes and ears so we need to know and ears so we need to know who you are.” ~who you are.” ~


This portion of the form This portion of the form is for Sector use only. is for Sector use only. We’ll keep track of We’ll keep track of what we did and give what we did and give feedback to Abigail feedback to Abigail Wagg.Wagg.


This page provides This page provides important information. important information. The red arrows let us The red arrows let us know the tone of the know the tone of the audit. The green arrows audit. The green arrows tell us what info about the tell us what info about the vessel was available to vessel was available to the auditor. Please the auditor. Please remember to put remember to put comments in the notes comments in the notes section.section.


Are all the lighting Are all the lighting systems working? Do you systems working? Do you see any loose wires? Any see any loose wires? Any lights burned out? Are any lights burned out? Are any parts of the vessel too parts of the vessel too dark to safely see in? If dark to safely see in? If you find problems, record you find problems, record it in your notes.it in your notes.


Take a quick look at the Take a quick look at the survival craft. Do not survival craft. Do not handle this equipment. handle this equipment. You should be able to tell if You should be able to tell if it looks damaged, has an it looks damaged, has an annual service sticker (only annual service sticker (only if inflatable) and it should if inflatable) and it should be stowed to float free or be stowed to float free or have a hydrostatic release. have a hydrostatic release. Don’t worry if you aren’t Don’t worry if you aren’t familiar with this familiar with this equipment.equipment.


These are common sense These are common sense housekeeping items. Is housekeeping items. Is the vessel clean and well the vessel clean and well kept? Did you have a kept? Did you have a seat? Any boxes or cargo seat? Any boxes or cargo stored in the passenger stored in the passenger areas? Anything that areas? Anything that doesn’t seem right should doesn’t seem right should be documented in your be documented in your notes. Generally these are notes. Generally these are not immediate safety not immediate safety threats.threats.


Take a quick look at Take a quick look at lifejacket storage. Is it lifejacket storage. Is it marked so that you know marked so that you know where it is easily? Are where it is easily? Are they secured with security they secured with security tags? Don’t handle the tags? Don’t handle the lifesaving gear and don’t lifesaving gear and don’t remove security tags. remove security tags. Make notes if things don’t Make notes if things don’t look right.look right.


Security Tags

Are the ring buoys in good Are the ring buoys in good condition? Did you see condition? Did you see any? Were they ready for any? Were they ready for use or tied to the vessel? use or tied to the vessel? Please don’t handle these, Please don’t handle these, particularly bridge wing particularly bridge wing smoke buoys if fitted smoke buoys if fitted onboard.onboard.


Regulations on anchors and Regulations on anchors and mooring lines are pretty mooring lines are pretty sketchy, so just look to see sketchy, so just look to see if what they have appears to if what they have appears to be in good condition. When be in good condition. When they tied up at the dock, did they tied up at the dock, did they appear to have enough they appear to have enough lines to hold the vessel? Let lines to hold the vessel? Let us know if there is major us know if there is major damage to this gear.damage to this gear.


Check any firefighting Check any firefighting equipment that is visible to equipment that is visible to you. Don’t worry about you. Don’t worry about compartments with security compartments with security ties. Just note if you see any ties. Just note if you see any extinguishers or hoses that extinguishers or hoses that are in ill repair or are not are in ill repair or are not ready for immediate use.ready for immediate use.


Vessels underway are Vessels underway are required to give certain required to give certain sound signals. If you sound signals. If you noticed these or noticed noticed these or noticed that they were not given, that they were not given, please note that in your please note that in your comments. If you are not comments. If you are not familiar with the required familiar with the required whistle signals, don’t whistle signals, don’t worry about this block.worry about this block.


All passenger vessels are All passenger vessels are required to make a safety required to make a safety announcement prior to announcement prior to getting underway. It is getting underway. It is important that you let us important that you let us know if this wasn’t done, know if this wasn’t done, was inadequate, or was inadequate, or difficult to hear.difficult to hear.


We don’t intend to make We don’t intend to make you vessel structural you vessel structural experts. This whole experts. This whole category basically wants category basically wants you to use common you to use common sense and report sense and report anything that looks like anything that looks like damage. Was there a damage. Was there a section that looked section that looked newer than the rest? newer than the rest? Any work being done?Any work being done?


Make sure you don’t see Make sure you don’t see any problems with any problems with watertight integrity. Did watertight integrity. Did watertight doors close? watertight doors close? Did they have jury-rigged Did they have jury-rigged door hold-backs? Were door hold-backs? Were any emergency exits any emergency exits blocked or broken? blocked or broken? Again, check for obvious Again, check for obvious damage or repair work.damage or repair work.


The requirements for deck The requirements for deck railing is rather specific. railing is rather specific. Don’t worry too much about Don’t worry too much about the specific size or spacing. the specific size or spacing. Let us know if recent repairs Let us know if recent repairs were done or if the rail looks were done or if the rail looks like it has lost structural like it has lost structural integrity (either due to integrity (either due to corrosion or damage). Does corrosion or damage). Does the rail start to pull out of the the rail start to pull out of the deck if you shake it?deck if you shake it?


Look for general “No Look for general “No pollution” signs or pollution” signs or placards. Some placards. Some specific oil pollution specific oil pollution placards may be in the placards may be in the engine room where you engine room where you won’t see them. Just won’t see them. Just check to see if the check to see if the vessel has put up signs vessel has put up signs reminding people not to reminding people not to pollute.pollute.


Please let us know Please let us know immediately if you immediately if you actively actively witnesswitness water pollution or a water pollution or a spill. If you smell anything spill. If you smell anything that seems like excessive that seems like excessive oil or sewage, put that in oil or sewage, put that in your notes. This may help your notes. This may help us get a better idea of the us get a better idea of the vessel’s maintenance vessel’s maintenance program.program.


You should be informed You should be informed via a sign what level of via a sign what level of security is in effect and security is in effect and that you may be subject that you may be subject to a search or screening. to a search or screening. Did you see a sign Did you see a sign anywhere on the vessel anywhere on the vessel or at the pier about this? or at the pier about this? There is no standard There is no standard format, so you may have format, so you may have to look around.to look around.


Some areas are designated Some areas are designated as crew only or restricted. as crew only or restricted. These should be plainly These should be plainly marked. marked. In general if a space is off In general if a space is off limits, it should be marked as limits, it should be marked as restricted. The wheelhouse restricted. The wheelhouse should be restricted, as well should be restricted, as well as the engine room. Did you as the engine room. Did you see these signs? Please see these signs? Please note, you cannot ask the note, you cannot ask the vessel for the lists of their vessel for the lists of their restricted areas.restricted areas.


Restricted Spaces

Restricted Areas

Restricted Spaces

Restricted Access

Restricted Areas

These rules are complex These rules are complex and subject to many policy and subject to many policy decisions. Check to see if decisions. Check to see if spaces are secured with a spaces are secured with a device that will easily show device that will easily show if they’ve been accessed or if they’ve been accessed or if they are swept by the if they are swept by the crew. Don’t tell the crew to crew. Don’t tell the crew to remove security devices. If remove security devices. If you think a security you think a security measure is unsafe, please measure is unsafe, please note that on the report.note that on the report.


Locks

Locks

You may not see this because most sweeps will be done without passengers onboard. If you do see a security sweep, please let us know so we can track that they’re being done. Describe what was done during the sweep in your notes.


Please let us know what Please let us know what sort of security screening sort of security screening you saw done. Was it you saw done. Was it handled professionally? handled professionally? Did the person doing it Did the person doing it seem to be well trained? seem to be well trained? Did any passengers react Did any passengers react negatively to the negatively to the screening? How was that screening? How was that handled by the crew? Do handled by the crew? Do not inquire about the not inquire about the vessel’s security plan.vessel’s security plan.


Attend this formal training.Attend this formal training.

Sign up with Abigail Wagg & get a copy of the report form Sign up with Abigail Wagg & get a copy of the report form (paper & electronic versions available).(paper & electronic versions available).

Auditors exceeding their authority or failing to check in with Auditors exceeding their authority or failing to check in with the the Sector Command CenterSector Command Center will be removed from the will be removed from the program.program.

Follow all the rules of the program.Follow all the rules of the program.

Send in your reports and forms.Send in your reports and forms.

How Do I Participate In The Program?

Telephone & discuss with inspector: Telephone & discuss with inspector: (510) 437-3141(510) 437-3141

Fax your report:Fax your report:510-437-3114510-437-3114

E-Mail your report:E-Mail your report:[email protected]@[email protected]@COMCAST.NET

In Person:In Person:Schedule an appointment Schedule an appointment

with an with an inspector inspector

How Do I Follow Up An Audit?

Mail your report to:Mail your report to:

Domestic Vessel Inspection Branch Domestic Vessel Inspection Branch Sector San Francisco Sector San Francisco Coast Guard Island, Bldg. 14 Coast Guard Island, Bldg. 14 Alameda, CA 94501 Alameda, CA 94501 Attn. ENS Keith Heine Attn. ENS Keith Heine

Sector Command Center Sector Command Center #: #: (415) 399-3547(415) 399-3547

Essential Contact Info

Any Questions?Any Questions?

Documents

USCG Sector San Francisco Inspections Department ENS Keith Heine Marine Inspector