Abuse of Mariners Under the Two-Watch System Report #R-370, Revision 4 Asserting our right “…to petition the Government for redress of grievances.” Amendment 1, U.S. Constitution, Dec. 15, 1791 TABLE OF CONTENTS NMA Report #R-370, Rev. 4. Report to Congress: Abuse of Mariners Under the Two-Watch System . Acronyms & Editorial Notes ....................................................................................................................................i Chapter 1 – The 12-Hour Rule in Law and Regulation ................................................................................... 1-1 Chapter 2 – The 12-Hour Rule and Coast Guard Policy ................................................................................. 2-1 Document: USCG Policy Letter #G-MOC-04-00, Revision 1....................................................................... 2-2 Chapter 3– Fatigue and Sleep Issues ................................................................................................................ 3-1 Chapter 4 – NTSB Recommendations on Fatigue and Hours of Service Regulations .................................... 4-1 Document #1: NTSB Safety Recommendation I-99-1 .................................................................................. 4-4 Document #2: USCG Reply to NTSB.........................................................................................................4-17 Chapter 5 – Reporting Hours-of-Service and Safety Violations ...................................................................... 5-1 Case #1 – Feemster vs BJ-Titan................................................................................................................... 5-4 Case #2 – Garrie vs James L. Gray, Inc........................................................................................................ 5-4 Case #3 – Meaige vs Hartley Marine Corp. and Midland Enterprises ........................................................... 5-4 Case #4 – Winkler vs Coastal Towing, LLC ................................................................................................ 5-9 Chapter 6 – Congressional Intent for Towing Vessel Inspection ..................................................................... 6-1 Document: The Oberstar Letter.................................................................................................................... 6-1 Chapter 7 – Focus on Hours-of-Service Statutes and Regulations That Need Attention ................................ 7-1 Problem #1: Discrimination Against Towing Vessel Officers on Long Voyages........................................... 7-2 Problem #2: Provide Adequate Manning for the “Two-Watch” System’s 84-Hour Workweek ..................... 7-2 Problem #3: Taking Charge of a Watch Following Crew Change................................................................. 7-3 Problem#4: Needed – Hours-of-Service Limits for Unlicensed Mariners...................................................... 7-4 Problem #5: Outdated Coast Guard Manning Regulations............................................................................ 7-4 Problem #6: Deceptive Tonnage Parameters for 100-ton Towing Vessels ................................................... .7-4 Problem#7: Obtaining a Sea Service Letter.................................................................................................. 7-5 Problem #8: The Marine Safety Directorate Ignores Limited-Tonnage Mariners .......................................... 7-5 Chapter 8 – The “Two-Watch” System Prevails in Industry’s Offshore Oil and Towing Sectors ................. 8-1 Issue #1: Existing Manning Regulations Need Clarification........................................................................ 8-1 Issue #2: Existing Manning Regulations for Towing Vessels Must be Updated............................................ 8-2 Issue #3: Entry-Level Mariners Need Training............................................................................................. 8-2 Issue #4: The Coast Guard Ignored Adequate Engineer Training................................................................. 8-2 Issue #5: Shortcomings of On-the-Job Training to Serve as Engineer........................................................... 8-3 Issue #6: Engineering Statute Ignored.......................................................................................................... 8-3 Issue #7: Intelligent Handling of Pollutants.................................................................................................. 8-4 Issue #8: Substandard Manning Levels for Engineers on OSVs.................................................................... 8-4 Issue #9: Who Determines a Vessel’s Crew Size?........................................................................................ 8-7 Issue #10: Undermanning vs Industry’s “Availability of Close Support” Argument ..................................... 8-8 Example #1: Undermanning on Two Vessels in Collision Leaves Three Fatalities ....................................... 8-9 Example #2: Tonnage Manipulation Leaves Four Men to Operate a 184-foot OSV...................................... 8-9 Example #3: FJA Should be Required Reading for the Marine Safety Directorate!......................................8-10 Example #4: Undermanning and Tonnage Manipulation on Super Crewboats.............................................8-10 Example #5: Undermanning Mini-Supply Boats .........................................................................................8-12 Example #6: Untrained “Deckineers” Are Dangerous?................................................................................8-13 Chapter 9 – Harbor Tugs and the “One-Watch” System . ............................................................................... 9-1 Example 1 – The Onset of Fatigue and its Consequences ............................................................................. 9-1 Chapter 10 – Safe Management of Crew Travel Time ................................................................................... 10-1 Document #1 – Captain John Sutton’s Letter ..............................................................................................10-1 Chapter 11 – The “Call Watch” is a Major Safety Issue for Unlicensed Crewmembers ............................... 11-1 Chapter 12 – Crew Endurance Management Systems ................................................................................... 12-1 Document #1: ACBL Mandatory CEMS Program ......................................................................................12-8 CEMS Connects Food Service and Crew Endurance.................................................................................12-11 Our Mariners View Food Service Issues ...................................................................................................12-13 Chapter 13 – Mismanagement of the Marine Casualty Investigations Program ........................................... 13-1 Example #1 – The Cosco Busan Congressional Hearing .............................................................................13-1 Example #2 – The Webbers Falls Interstate 40 Bridge Allision...................................................................13-3 Example #3 – The Seabulk Georgia Accident .............................................................................................13-9 Example #4 – Tug Chinook’s Tow Damages Lake Washington High-Rise Bridge ....................................13-20 Example #5 – Collision Between a Tug and an OSV.................................................................................13-27 Example #6 – The Miss Amanda Incident.................................................................................................13-28 Chapter 14 – Undermanned Engine Rooms on Inspected, Limited Tonnage Vessels ................................... 14-1 Example #1 – The OSV Cheramie Bo Truc 26 Sinks With 2 Fatalities........................................................14-2 Example #2 – Death of River Towboat Chief Engineer Gary Duncan..........................................................14-2 Example #3 – In Search of Justice for Disabled OSV Chief Engineer Leon Manderson...............................14-4 Chapter 15 – Mariners Tell Our Association of Their Concerns ................................................................... 15-1 Chapter 16 – Direct Request for Congressional Action .................................................................................. 16-1 APPENDIX – Index R (List of all NMA Reports including those cited herein) ..............................................A-1 ACRONYMS & EDITORIAL NOTES Acronyms ACBL = American Commercial Barge Lines (now American Commercial Lines, an inland towing company) ALJ = Administrative Law Judge. ATA = American Trucking Association. AWO = American Waterways Operators. (The tug and barge industry’s trade association.) BAC = Blood-Alcohol Concentration. CFR = Code of Federal Regulation COI = Certificate of Inspection DHS OIG = Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Inspector General DOL = (U.S.) Department of Labor. DOT = (U.S.) Department of Transportation. FAA = Federal Aviation Administration. FJA = Functional Job Analysis. (A 1982 Coast Guard Report on OSVs.) FMCSA = Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. FR = Federal Register GRT = Gross Register Tons GCMA = Gulf Coast Mariners Association. (Since Jan. 1,