Powering the Future: Final Installment in AWO's Sustainability Webinar Series - February 5

AWO's Winter Sustainability Webinar Series brings together industry experts to explore critical topics shaping the future of maritime operations. Topics covered include ESG strategies,  data-driven fuel efficiency, and battery integration, providing valuable insights for maritime professionals navigating the shift to sustainable solutions.

 

The series will have one more installment this winter. Join us on February 5 at 12:00 PM EST for The Integration of Fuel Cells and Batteries to Power the Future - Part 2. This session will delve deeper into key considerations for sizing alternative fuel cell-powered vessels, providing practical knowledge for fleet planning and optimization. Attendees will gain expert insights to help stay ahead in the evolving maritime sustainability landscape.

 

Register today through your member portal and invite your colleagues to join. For registration assistance, contact Caitlin Clark.

USCG Releases Guidance to Local Harbor Safety Committees

The USCG recently issued a new Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) to improve coordination on marine transportation system issues among local Harbor Safety Committees (HSC). NVIC 01-25 advises HSCs to review and revise their practices to improve local coordination efforts and recommends that they adopt characteristics of effective HSCs as standard business practices.

Specifically, the NVIC recommends committees adopt a charter and/or bylaws, define success and effective organizational structure and membership, and suggest adherence to specific outputs and expectations. The NVIC also includes recommendations for establishing new HSCs, a list of resources for existing committees -- including the National Harbor Safety Committee Conference (NHSCC) and HSC National Steering Team (NST) -- and clarification on limitations of the U.S. Coast Guard's

engagement with HSCs.

 

For further information, please contact Liam Morcroft.

AWO's Moveable Bridge Safety Initiative: Panel to Present in Nashville

The AWO Moveable Bridge Quality Action Team is organizing a panel for the upcoming AWO Combined Regions and Safety Meeting, which will focus on reviewing the program's initial six months and discussing key takeaways. This panel of experts will include Captain Scott Kelly (USCG), Division Chief at the USCG Office of Bridge Programs; Mr. Wynne Fuller, President of the Warrior-Tombigbee Waterway Association (WTWA); and Mr. Paul Dittman, President of the Gulf Intercoastal Canal Association (GICA). Panelists will address findings from data collection, best practices for bridge transit plans, communication strategies, remote locking systems, and standardized methods for reporting bridge delays and issues to the Coast Guard. The AWO Combined Regions and Safety Meeting will take place in Nashville from February 18-20.

 

AWO continues to gather reports of near misses and assist members with reporting through the AWO Bridge Event Reporting Form or by email to bridges@americanwaterways.com. For further inquiries, please contact Liam Morcroft.

SOCP Announces Spring Conference April 15-17

The Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) has announced its 2025 Spring Conference, scheduled for April 15-17 at Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. This year's conference will focus on "Fueling the Future: Clean Energy and Education at the Forefront," and will feature expert speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities aimed at promoting innovation and environmental stewardship in the maritime industry.

 

Key sessions include a panel on the SafeMTS Initiative and Near-Miss Safety Improvement System, a deep dive into balancing sustainability and feasibility with alternative fuels, and insights from the National Maritime Center on bridging classroom education to onboard careers. For more information or to register, please visit the SOCP website.

American Waterways HERO Award - Nominate Your Crew for Heroic Acts

Our mariners work tirelessly to keep commerce moving and protect our waterways. Despite being the safest mode of freight transport, emergencies still occur. In these critical moments, crews demonstrate outstanding commitment to safety through their first response and rescue efforts.

 

The American Waterways Honor & Excellence in Rescue Operations (HERO) Award honors

member company employees for their bravery, skill, and selflessness during emergencies on our waterways. Qualifying acts include rescuing mariners, responding to medical emergencies, recovering overboard individuals, and other heroic actions.

 

To nominate your crew's efforts, fill out this simple form. 

 

Recent Awardees and their families will be recognized at the upcoming AWO Combined Regions and Safety Meeting in Nashville from February 18-20, where we will celebrate their heroic actions in person and present awards, including a certificate for each vessel involved, a HERO Award Coin for each mariner, and a complimentary one-year marine license and liability insurance policy offered by 360 Coverage Pros & Berkley Offshore.

 

Congratulations to this month's recipients of the American Waterways HERO Award!

 

The agenda and other details for the Nashville meeting are posted on the AWO Events webpage. For more information, contact Michael Breslin.

Coast Guard Issues Critical Safety Alerts

Since January 1, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard has released several safety alerts to enhance awareness and promote best practices among vessel owners, operators, and crew members. Alerts pertaining to towing vessel operators are included below; for a comprehensive list of alerts, visit the Coast Guard Investigations & Casualty Analysis (CG-INV) website.

 

Recent Safety Alerts:

Maritime stakeholders are urged to review these alerts in detail to enhance safety measures and

prevent incidents. Please contact Michael Breslin for more information.

Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Safety Alert

Since January 1, 2025, the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has released several safety alerts addressing significant hazards in offshore operations. Alerts with value for towing vessel operators are included below; for a comprehensive list of alerts, visit the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Safety Alerts website.

835 Overturned on Appeal - No Valve Needed on Closed Loop Hull Penetrating Keel Cooler Piping

The U.S. Coast Guard granted an 835 Appeal following a deficiency related to keel cooler piping issued during a towing vessel's annual inspection. The appeal centered on a misapplication of 46 CFR 143.250(d), which is intended to prevent water ingress caused by pipe fractures or failures. The decision recognizes that closed loop piping style seawater cooler systems do not require isolation valves near their hull penetrations, as a failure of this design would not result in hull flooding. The Coast Guard agreed to coordinate with the issuing unit and rescind the deficiency.

 

AWO thanks Buffalo Marine for sharing its experience for the benefit of all members. Questions related to 835 decisions may be directed to Liam Morcroft.

MARAD Publishes Winter Safety Corner

The Winter 2024 issue of the Maritime Administration's Safety Corner highlights key safety concerns, including best practices for handling lithium-ion batteries to prevent fire hazards and equipment failures; updates on the Every Mariner Builds A Respectful Culture (EMBARC) program, which now includes 22 vessel operators and new resources for preventing sexual assault and harassment at sea; and a safety alert about NOAA's discontinuation of paper charts, which urges mariners to transition to digital navigation resources. Additionally, the issue highlights upcoming industry events, including AWO's Combined Regions and Safety Meeting in Nashville from February 18-20 and the April 29-30 National Safety Council Waterborne Transport Group in Houston, TX.

USCG Interactive LNM Website Goes Live

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a press release about its newly modernized Local Notice to

Mariners (LNM) and Light Lists platforms to replace static, paper-based updates with real-time, interactive digital tools. Mariners can now access customized, up-to-the-minute safety information, with LNMs updating every 15 minutes and Light Lists every 24 hours. This transition, coinciding with NOAA's discontinuation of paper charts in January 2025, enhances navigation efficiency and ensures mariners have the most accurate data available.

 

Links:

Please direct questions to Liam Morcroft.

TVIB Releases Fuel Shutoff Valve FAQ

The Towing Vessel Inspection Bureau published new FAQ on its website to clarify how fuel shutoff valves should be tested. This resource covers testing expectations, frequency options, and Towing Safety Management System requirements. To view the FAQ, visit the TVIB FAQ website and either use the search function with the term "fuel shutoff" or navigate to 46 CFR Part 143 for relevant details.

NTSB Report Finds Chafing Fuel Heating Canister Led to 2023 Fire on Spirit of Boston

A recently published National Transportation Safety Board report determined that an improperly extinguished chafing fuel canister caused the March 2023 fire aboard the passenger vessel Spirit of Boston, resulting in $3.1 million in damages. The investigation found that the absence of a trained marine crew member delayed the emergency response, prompting a safety recommendation that City Cruises US keep at least one marine crew member aboard until all non-crew personnel depart. Additionally, the NTSB urged City Cruises US to establish documented procedures for handling

open-flame devices and implement a safety management system, and reiterated its call for the U.S. Coast Guard to require such systems for all U.S.-flag passenger vessels.

SSRP Program Updates - 4th Quarter Data Due January 31

AWO recently improved a valuable resource for our members by upgrading the AWO Safety Statistics Reporting Program (SSRP). The upgrade significantly enhanced many aspects of the SSRP, including, but not limited to:

All AWO members have access to the SSRP program as a benefit of membership and carrier members are strongly encouraged to enter data on a quarterly basis, as the value of the program is directly tied to the rate of participation. More participation means better representation of the true incident statistics of our member companies.

 

Fourth quarter SSRP data is due January 31, 2025. If you have 2024 or older data that has not been entered, please add it prior to January 31 as well. Members who contributed data in 2024 will be listed as "current contributing members" on the report produced in Q1 2025.

 

If you have questions or suggestions for program improvement, please email safety@americanwaterways.com.

AWO Safety and Regional Meeting Season is HERE!

Throughout February and March, AWO will hold meetings across the country to discuss advocacy, safety, and sustainability issues -- coming to a city near you! Join us for the Atlantic Region Annual Meeting on February 12 in Baltimore; the Combined Annual Meeting of the Midwest, Ohio Valley and Southern Regions and the Winter Safety Meeting February 19-20 in Nashville; and the Pacific Region Annual Meeting March 5-6 in Seattle. The agenda for the Safety meeting is below. Register on your member dashboard today to secure your spot at these can't-miss events!