The Merchant Marine Express

I can sleep better knowing our ship was just blessed by the United States Coast Guard as its (SS PETERSBURG) yearly inspection went well and we passed!
A Certificate Of Inspection (C.O.I) is a five year requirement issued by the United State Coast Guard,but on this type of vessel inspections are conducted yearly to test all the engine related equipment, along with deck and safety equipment as well as lifesaving and firefighting gear. My list of items that I had on my work list for the past two weeks amounted to dozens of checks that I made sure were correct or in working order, in preparation for the two days of Inspections.
I was out on deck, replacing reflective tape, stenciling freshly painted black lettering on life rings, replacing beacon style lights, and even learned how to re-wire a navigation light on one of the lifeboats. You can’t be too sure what you’ll find defective or in need of replacement.

On the day of the COI, all the Deck Officers were wearing their “Khakis” and I pulled my one and only shirt out from the dresser, with a few more wrinkles than I would admit to. The entourage of six members of the Coast Guard arrived just before breakfast time and they quickly consumed the hearty meal before giving their Agenda for what is to be expected during the day. The Steward department would make sure they were fed and full after each meal- which was sort of the plan..
Along with the other Third Mate, Bill, we each escorted one of the inspectors around and made certain their questions were answered and demonstrations of equipment were performed..all in the company of the Chief Mate, of course.
In a way, I was impressed that someone was reviewing my work, but on the other hand..I was feeling anxious that something might be found in less-than-par specifications.
For just a few things, I was scrambling to get paperwork to match what replacement dates I had on file, or racing to replace a battery that turned out to be defective. In the end, all of the deficiencies were addressed and items re-inspected and deemed ’satisfactory’. This time period actually went better than anticipated. After being awake for the eight hours during the inspection along with my own eight hours of Watch..by the end of the day, I was a nervous wreck…yet relieved that the first day went as well as it did.
On the second day, we were to demonstrate the crew’s ability to respond to a fire in the form of a Fire Drill. At around ten-twenty in the morning the Fire Alarm Sounded.
As a Team Leader of one of the two teams, I was responsible in mustering my group of fifteen crew members at Damage Control Locker #1, and getting them suited up into their Firefighting jackets and trousers- the ones you see professional firefighters at firehouses dress up in and leading them to the scene of the fire. And as this dressing-out period was timed by a stopwatch closely scrutinized by one of the Coast Guard inspectors…all four of the crew that needed to be in the “turn-out suit” as firefighters call it, had to dress in less than four minutes from the time the loud, red, general alarm bell sounded throughout the ship.
Once that was accomplished, we made a quick rush aft from our Damage Control Locker to the Laundry where their was a ’simulated fire’ ablaze. A choreographed event involving thirty-eight officer and crew and by our coordinated efforts and assigned duties we would eventually control and finally extinguish the fire. This is what the Coast Guard likes to see happen.
Continuing with the Drill and leading into an abandoned ship drill, the general alarm bell was sounded with the distinctive ring of ” six-short rings of the general alarm followed by a prolonged ten-second ring”. This is the pattern of ringing that every merchant marine is instinctively knowledgeable of identifying what sort of emergency the ship is currently facing. The Fire Alarm is a continuous sounding of the general alarm bell.
Once mustered by one of the two fully enclosed lifeboats, each member of the crew had their duties memorized and efforts to remove pins holding cables, in place, and levers to pull in order for the boats to be readied to lower, were quickly made available. I made sure each member on my lifeboat successfully completed their task, and conveyed to the Chief Mate who coincidentally was also a member of the same lifeboat that I was assigned, “..all was ready to be lowered, Mate”.
Each of the lifeboats are cradled into their respective davits, and mechanically spring out and led over the railing after someone releases a brake and eases the wires that guide the large, bright orange boats at a controlled rate down towards the water. All went according to plan.
In the end, the drills were completed, and the crew was debriefed as the Coast Guard Inspectors spoke on what they observed and what could be improved, if any. But would you believe, the Coast Guard was highly impressed by our quick response and skills as well as the level of communication, delegation and execution of the drill that they gave us one of the best appraisals not many ships receive.
The series of events could have not gone any better, and by day’s end, the ship would be continuing to rest along the dock with its crew and equipment ready for any task, at hand.
Have a great day!
-Nadir

Tags: S.S Petersburg, Voyages