Coast Guard imposes intervention on two bulk carriers on Columbia River

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 02/23/2017 09:28 PM EST

united states coast guard 

News Release  

Feb. 23, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 13th District Pacific Northwest
Contact: 13th District Public Affairs
Office: (206) 220-7176
After Hours: (206) 251-3237

Coast Guard initiates detentions for two vessels on the Columbia River

 

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Coast Guard set in motion a detention of the Panama-flagged bulk carriers Atlantic Ruby and Amber L, Feb. 23, 2017, after discovering substandard safety issues while conducting routine Port State Control exams onboard the vessels along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers.

The Atlantic Ruby, a 590-foot bulk carrier was boarded in Portland on Feb. 23, after Port State Control Officers detected the SOLAS deficiencies. Coast Guard inspectors found the fixed fire extinguishing system was improperly serviced, with the time delays left disconnected. The time delay ensures personnel inside a room are able to escape before the fixed fire extinguishing agent is released.

A separate Port State Control exam conducted in Kalama onboard the Amber L, a 609-foot bulk carrier, identified several safety discrepancies. Inspectors found cooling water leaking from the main engine and multiple issues with the vessel's steering system.

Through the Port State Control program, the Coast Guard verifies that foreign flagged vessels operating in U.S. waters comply with applicable international conventions, U.S. laws, and U.S. regulations.

In an effort to reduce deaths and injuries; loss of or damage to property or the marine environment; and disruptions to maritime commerce, PSC exams focus on those vessels most likely to be substandard, based on identified risk factors. When vessels are identified as not being in substantial compliance with applicable laws or regulations, the Coast Guard imposes controls until the conditions have been rectified and the vessels are brought into compliance.

The Atlantic Ruby and the Amber L will remain in the Columbia River Captain of the Port zone until the discrepancies are corrected.

 

 

-USCG-