3-1-1. PURPOSE

This chapter contains the instructions governing the administration of vessel inspection by Coast Guard personnel. These instructions implement those provisions of Titles 33 and 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations applicable to the inspection of vessels. This information has been formulated to facilitate a uniform application of the laws, rules, and regulations to all inspected merchant vessels.

3-1-5. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF MARINE INSPECTORS

The responsibilities of a marine inspector are defined by the statutory provisions set forth in Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, as amended, which were primarily promulgated to promote safety of life at sea in vessel operation. The provisions of R. S. 4453, as amended (46 U. S. C. 435), place definite responsibility as follows: "And whenever any Coast Guard official ascertains to his satisfaction that any vessel, subject to the provisions of this title, has been or is being navigated or operated without complying with the terms of the vessel's certificate of inspection, * * * or that for any other reason ✶✶✶ cannot be operated with safety to life, the said Coast Guard official shall order the owner or master of said vessel to correct such unlawful conditions, and may require that the vessel at once cease navigating and be submitted to reinspection; ***.'' The marine inspector should keep general safety requirements foremost in mind. If hazards are noted, he shall have them corrected. Such instances should be recorded in the proper vessel files in the marine inspec

tion office when the unsafe practice may endanger the ship's crew or other personnel aboard the ship. These general safety requirements are not always defined in the laws, rules, and regulations. Hence, it is incumbent upon marine inspectors to employ sound judgment in the correction of hazards.

3-1-5A. Responsibilities of Marine Inspectors as to Hull and Lifesaving Equipment

The basic responsibility of the Coast Guard for the inspection of hulls and equipment is imposed by R. S. 4417, as amended (46 U. S. C. 391), which by reference in other statutes is also appli cable to vessels other than steam vessels. This section reads in part as follows:

"The Coast Guard shall, once in every year, at least, carefully inspect the hull of each steam vessel within their respective districts, and shall satisfy itself that every such vessel so submitted to inspection is of a structure suitable for the service in which she is to be employed, has suitable accommodations for passengers and crew, and is in a condition to warrant the belief that she may be used in navigation as a steamer, with safety to life, and that all requirements of law in regard to fires, boats, hose, life preservers, floats, anchors, cables and other things are faithfully complied with; * * *.''

3-1-5B. Responsibilities of Marine Inspectors as to Propulsion and Other Equipment

The basic responsibility of the Coast Guard for marine engineering safety is

The instructions in this section have been included to establish uniformity in the application of existing practices regarding the submission and review of plans for the construction and material alteration of inspected vessels. The provisions of section 5 of the Act of May 27, 1936 (49 Stat. 1384; 46 U. S. C. 369), set forth in specific statutory terms the procedure for approval or disapproval of plans and specifications for new passenger vessels of the United States of 100 gross tons and over propelled by machinery, and upon arrangement plans for all material alterations to existing vessels. The fol

(a) When plans are approved in the field one copy should be returned to the submitter and one copy forwarded to the Commandant (MMT), together with a copy of the approval letter.

(b) When personnel is not available the plans must be forwarded to the Commandant (MMT) for approval. However, before doing so, the officer in charge, marine inspection, should examine the plans for the absence or presence of any items he may consider warrant special attention by the Commandant (MMT).

3-1-15A(2). The plans may be submitted directly to the Commandant (MMT) in those instances requiring his approval. Whenever this is done one set of the plans will be returned directly to the sub

mitter with a copy being forwarded to the OCMI having jurisdiction over the vessel. In view of his proximity to and personal knowledge of the vessel, the OCMI should examine these plans and notify the Commandant (MMT) promptly of any items he may consider necessitate Headquarters reconsideration.

3-1-15A(3). In the case of classed vessels, upon specific request by the submitter, the American Bureau of Shipping will arrange to forward the necessary plans to the Commandant (MMT) after indicating their action thereon. In this case three copies of each plan, over and above those required by the American Bureau of Shipping, should be submitted to the American Bureau and when the plans are received by the Commandant (MMT) and approved, one set will be returned directly to the builder, owner, or designer with a copy to the OCMI having jurisdiction over the vessel to be built.

3-1-15A(4). In order that the administration of the requirements of the Electrical Engineering Regulations, 46 CFR Parts 110 to 113, inclusive, may be uniform and in order to avoid the pitfalls of misinterpretation, it is considered advisable that certain basic plans of electrical installations, when submitted to the OCMI should be acted upon only by the Commandant (MMT). Following examination thereof, the plans with an action letter will be returned to cognizant OCMI. Therefore, when electrical plans are submitted to the OCMI, the following procedure shall be followed:

(a) All initial copies of the following plans of those listed in 46 CFR 111.05-5 (d) shall be forwarded to the Commandant (MMT) for action:

Specifications (46 CFR 111.05-5(d)(1)); General arrangements (46 CFR 111.055(d)(2));

Switchboard front, rear, end and section views (46 CFR 111.05-5(d)(3)); Switchboard wiring diagram (46 CFR 111.05-5(d)(4));

Switchboard material and nameplate list (46 CFR 111.05-5(d)(5)); Elementary wiring diagram of metering and automatic switchgear (46 CFR 111.05-5(d)(6));

Description of operation of propulsion control and bus transfer gear (46 CFR 111.05-5(d)(7)); Elementary wiring diagram of power system (46 CFR 111.05-5(d)(8)); Electric plant summary showing connected loads and calculated operating loads for various conditions of operation (46 CFR 111.05-5(d)(9)); Elementary wiring diagram of steering

gear alarm circuits and ventilation shut-down control (46 CFR 111.055(d)(11)); and

Elementary wiring diagram and isometric or deck wiring diagrams of electric watertight door system, fire screen door holding system and power-operated lifeboat winches (46

CFR 111.05-5(d)(12)).

(b) Subsequent submittal incorporating revisions of the plans listed in 3-1-15A (4)(a) may be acted upon directly by the OCMI or they may be transmitted to the Commandant (MMT) for action. When major changes or revisions are made on these plans they shall be forwarded to the Commandant (MMT) for action.

(c) Other plans listed in 46 CFR 111.055(d) not covered in 3-1-15A(4)(a) above may be acted upon directly by the OCMI, or they may be transmitted to the Commandant (MMT) for action.

3-1-15B. Vessel's Name, Number and Service on Plans and Specifications

Whenever plans of inspected vessels are submitted to the Commandant, such plans shall be identified by vessel name and official number whenever known. In the

case of new vessels, designation by shipyard work order number or hull number may be used until the vessel's name becomes known, then the vessel's name shall also be given. In the case of the conversion of an existing vessel the new name shall be given whenever known, as well as the former name or type designation. Tank vessel plans should be accompanied with information concerning the grades of liquid cargo the vessel will carry and its proposed service. Tank barges should also be designated as manned or unmanned.

3-1-15C. Sequence for the Submittal of Plans and Specifications

To permit the proper evaluation of the construction plans for a vessel it is essential that the following basic plans be forwarded for approval prior to the submittal of the other plans listed in 46 CFR 71.65-5 and 91.55-5:

3-1-15C(1). General: all vessels. The following plans and specifications shall be submitted:

Specifications (hull, machinery and
electrical).

General arrangement plans.
Midship section.

Lines.

Curves of form.

Capacity plan.

One line wiring diagram of electrical system.

3-1-15C(2). Passenger vessels. The following shall be also submitted:

Floodable length curves.

Calculations of stability in intact and final flooding conditions. Fire control plan.

3-1-20. EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON MERCHANT VESSELS

3-1-20A. Approved Equipment

Various items of lifesaving, fire-fighting and other miscellaneous equipment used

aboard inspected and uninspected vessels are required by certain navigation and vessel inspection laws and regulations to be of types which are approved by the Commandant.

3-1-20A(1). When the approval of equip ment is published in the Federal Register, a certificate of approval is also issued to the manufacturer of the equipment. This certificate of approval describes the equipment approved and is valid for a period of five years unless sooner canceled or supended by proper authority. This certificate is valid only so long as the item described therein is manufactured in conformance with the details of the approved drawings, specifications, or other data referred to in the certificate.

3-1-20A(2). A card index system has been furnished each district commander and OCMI containing the equipmentapproval records system. The cards in this cabinet represent a complete record of approved equipment, with the exception of items within the 4 classes following:

Fire-extinguishing systems.
Fire-indicating and alarm systems.
Supervised fire patrol systems.
Loudspeaker systems.

3-1-20A(2)(a). This card system is designed to provide in each office accurate and up-to-date information on approved equipment, and at the same time reduce the amount of work involved in maintaining such information. Additional cards for all approvals and terminations of approval of equipment published periodi cally in the Federal Register will be forwarded to each district commander and OCMI. On the lower flap (which is turned under when filing) of each such card, a note will show whether the card replaces a previous card or is a new one to be inserted between two existing cards, and the place of insertion will be