Vessel Safety Manual - epa.gov

1 ~<t)'1'fJJ8t .. ~ ( &"l ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ~AI( PR(f(i--:1'+ Vessel Safety Manual OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION AND RESOURCES MANAGEMENT Safety . health AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION WASHINGTON, DC APRIL 2012 FOREWORD This Manual sets forth minimum acceptable requirements for the Safety and occupational health of all individuals (crew, scientific staff and passengers) who embark on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) vessels of any size.)))

2 EPA vessels currently range in size from the Ocean Survey Vessel Bold (224 feet) and Great Lakes Research Vessel Lake Guardian (180 feet), down to 14-foot aluminum skiffs powered by small outboard engines, canoes and inflatables. Accordingly, this Manual addresses the entire spectrum of EPA Vessel sizes, powered and unpowered. EPA vessels may be operated under contract or charter, by professionally qualified EPA crew, or, in the case of small craft, by EPA scientific staff on an intermittent basis. To achieve the EPA goal of minimizing risk to anyone who embarks on an EPA Vessel , all concerned shall read and understand the requirements of this Manual . EPA vessels are public vessels of the United States. It is EPA s intent to maintain compliance with those existing standards and codes of marine Safety (which appear in Title 46 of the Code of Federal Regulations) deemed necessary to achieve the EPA risk management objective.

3 To that end, this Manual sets forth the minimum requirements that must be met to attain EPA s marine health and Safety objectives. All aspects of good marine practice cannot be set forth in statutes, regulations or standards. Accordingly, the absence of a written requirement for a specific issue should not be interpreted as meaning that the issue has a lower importance or priority. Vessel captains/masters and operators of small craft should emphasize to all personnel that health and Safety are considered to be paramount at all times onboard EPA vessels. EPA Class C vessels contractor crews are subject to the Safety of Life at Sea International Safety Management Code. This Manual provides the top-tier policy for implementing this code requirement. In addition to Safety requirements, this Manual also includes general security requirements for all EPA vessels.

4 The EPA's Safety , health and Environmental Management Division welcomes any suggestions for improving this Manual . Please contact us at to provide your feedback. Revision dated April 2012 i TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. 1-1 Scope and Policy .. 1-1 Background and Authority .. 1-1 Program 1-1 EPA Auditing and Self-Assessment 1-2 Environmental Management System (EMS) and Stewardship .. 1-2 Principles of a Safety and health Management System (SHMS) .. 1-3 Changes .. 1-3 2. PROGRAM 2-1 Goals and Objectives .. 2-1 Roles and 2-1 3. CLASSES OF EPA VESSELS .. 3-1 Background .. 3-1 Vessel 3-1 Vessel 3-5 4.

5 LAWS AND 4-1 Involved Organizations .. 4-1 5. MANNING .. 5-1 Background .. 5-1 Licensed Personnel .. 5-1 Makeup of Crew .. 5-1 Scientific Personnel Limitations All EPA Class 5-2 Captain/Master of the 5-3 Chief 5-3 Vessel Organization Class C 5-3 6. GENERAL MARINE ENGINEERING AND ONBOARD Safety REQUIREMENTS .. 6-1 Background .. 6-1 Standards .. 6-1 Marine Engineering 6-2 Exhaust Uptake and Vent Control .. 6-2 Electrical Engineering Details .. 6-3 Structural Standards and 6-3 Stability .. 6-4 Ground Tackle .. 6-5 Inspection .. 6-5 Oxygen and Acetylene Cylinders .. 6-5 Scientific 6-7 Watertight 6-8 Revision dated April 2012 ii Onboard Safety 6-10 7.

6 FIRE 7-1 Applicability .. 7-1 7-1 Firefighting Responsibilities .. 7-1 Fire Control Plans .. 7-7 Quality 7-7 General Fire Prevention Training .. 7-10 Marking of Fire Protection Equipment .. 7-11 Control of Ignition Sources and Combustible 7-12 Life Safety Considerations .. 7-17 Structural Fire Protection .. 7-18 Fire-Extinguishing 7-19 Precautions for Flooded Space Fire Suppression 7-22 Fire Detection and Alarm Systems .. 7-23 8. MEDICAL AND FIRST 8-1 8-1 Specific Requirements .. 8-1 9. LIFESAVING AND Safety , COMMUNICATIONS AND POLLUTION CONTROL 9-1 Life Saving and Safety Equipment .. 9-1 Communications Equipment .. 9-14 Pollution Control 9-19 10. Vessel OPERATIONS, RECORDS, REPORTS, AND EMERGENCY 10-1 Introduction .. 10-1 Station Bills.

7 10-1 Log Books .. 10-1 Cruise and Float 10-1 Reporting All EPA Class Vessels .. 10-2 Weather Reports .. 10-3 Emergency Crisis and Accident Reporting 10-3 11. SOLAS INTERNATIONAL Safety MANAGEMENT (ISM) 11-1 Background .. 11-1 Applicability .. 11-1 Safety Management System .. 11-1 ISM Safety Management Systems Certification and Enforcement .. 11-2 12. HEAVY 12-1 12-1 EPA Class A Vessel Weather Restriction .. 12-1 Safety Precautions During Heavy Weather 12-1 Revision dated April 2012 iii 13. Vessel 13-1 Introduction .. 13-1 Background .. 13-1 Security Requirements for EPA 13-1 14. CHARTERING NON-EPA-OWNED 14-1 Background .. 14-1 Pre-Charter Evaluation.

8 14-1 Recommended Inspection Checklist for Chartering Non-EPA-Owned 14-2 APPENDIX A Vessel Safety A-1 APPENDIX B SEAMANSHIP/DECK AND SCIENCE APPENDIX C APPENDIX D EXAMPLE FLOAT PLANS .. D-1 APPENDIX E INJURY AND ILLNESS APPENDIX F EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION CHECKLIST .. F-1 Revision dated April 2012 iv LIST OF TABLES Table 3-1. Examples of EPA Vessel Classifications .. 3-2 Table 5-1. EPA Class C Vessel Crews Minimum Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) Endorsement and Manning .. 5-4 Table 5-2. EPA Class C Vessel Crew Minimum STCW for Seafarers Endorsements Required for Service Near Coastal and Ocean, in Addition to the MMC Endorsements in Table 5-1 Service in Great Lakes or inland waters is exempt, per 46 CFR 202(5).

9 5-6 Table 6-1. USCG-Approved Color Legend for Piping Systems .. 6-2 Table 7-1. Fire Protection Equipment Guidance .. 7-9 Table 7-2. Minimum Fire Separations .. 7-19 Table 7-3. Typical Fire 7-21 Table 7-4. Typical Fire Extinguisher Space 7-21 Table 7-5. Minimum Fire Extinguishers for Class A 7-22 Table 8-1. First Aid Kit Contents .. 8-3 Table 8-2. Nonprescription Medication Inventory .. 8-4 Table 8-3. Prescription Medication 8-6 Table 9-1. Fire Extinguishers for Class A Vessels .. 9-13 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 7-1. Fire Procedure Template .. 7-6 Figure 7-2. Welding Permit Template .. 7-15 Figure 7-3. Hot Work Permit Checklist .. 7-16 Figure 8-1. Environmental Protection Agency Survey Personnel Data Sheet .. 8-8 Revision dated April 2012 v LIST OF ACRONYMS AA Assistant Administrator AB able seaman ABS American Bureau of Shipping ABYC American Boat and Yacht Council AED automated external defibrillator AIHA American Industrial Hygiene Association AIS Automatic Identification System ANSI American National Standards Institute ARPA Automatic Radar Plotting Aid ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigerating.

10 And Air-Conditioning Engineers bhp brake horsepower CFR Code of Federal Regulations CHM Chemical Hygiene Manager CHP Chemical Hygiene Plan CO2 carbon dioxide COLREG International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation DOT Department of Transportation DPA Designated Person Ashore DSC Digital Selective Calling EEBA emergency escape breathing apparatus EMS Environmental Management System EO executive order EPA Environmental Protection Agency EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon GM metacentric height GMDSS Global Marine Distress Safety System GPS Global Positioning System GT gross tonnage Revision dated April 2012 vi H2S hydrogen sulfide HAZMAT hazardous materials HF high frequency HP horsepower IAPP International Air Pollution Prevention IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers IMO International Maritime Organization INMARSAT International Maritime Satellite System ISM International Safety Management JHA job hazard analysis LOTO lockout/tagout MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships MARSEC Maritime Security MED-EVAC medical evacuation MF medium frequency MMC Merchant Mariner Credential MMSI Maritime Mobile Service Identity MOB man overboard MSD Marine Sanitation Devices MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet NAVTEX Navigation Telex NEC National Electrical Code NFPA National Fire Protection Association NIOSH National Institute for occupational Safety and health NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NOx nitrogen oxide