(HOUSTON) — The first towing vessel owners to receive U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) certificates of inspection (COIs) demonstrating Subchapter M compliance, on all three U.S. coasts and in the USCG District 8, are all ABS clients.
Marine Towing of Tampa’s M/V Endeavour received the first COI on the Gulf Coast, followed by Vane Line Bunkering’s vessel M/V Brandywine on the East Coast and Tidewater Barge Lines’ M/V Crown Point on the West Coast. The first vessel to receive a COI in District 8, the USCG’s largest district spanning 26 states, was M/V Sacred Heart, owned and operated by Marquette Transportation Co. LLC.
ABS has partnered with each of these owner/operators to provide oversight of their compliance programs. ABS acts as the third-party organization (TPO) for each of these towing vessel companies, conducting vessel surveys and audits to maintain statutory compliance.
“The ABS surveyor was knowledgeable and willing to take the time to understand our SMS processes and procedures," said Tessa Seitzinger, director of compliance, Marquette Transportation. "The final ABS report and SMC certificate provided to the Sacred Heart was timely and contained all the correct information needed for the Coast Guard to issue their COI.”
As a USCG recognized organization (RO) and an approved TPO, ABS provides fully integrated solutions to help owners and operators achieve and maintain Subchapter M compliance. The unique compliance needs of any organization are identified and managed through a combination of services including towing safety management system (TSMS) review and approval on behalf of the USCG, ABS class in conjunction with the International Safety Management Code (ISM), and ABS Nautical Systems Workboat fleet management software.
ABS can administer audits for the Responsible Carrier Program (RCP), a USCG-approved TSMS option on behalf of American Waterways Operators (AWO).
For more information, visit www.eagle.org/SubchapterM.
