512 EM 385-1-1 Chapters 16-22

Sections

19-8. General Requirements.

Severe Weather and High Flow Precautions

Submit a Tow Plan to the USACE supervisor/KO or COR before towing operations outside of a port.
Conduct evaluations of weather reports and flow conditions before moving floating plant and tows to ensure safety.
Equip all personnel on exposed decks with appropriate USCG approved Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) during severe weather.

Emergency Planning

Prepare a station bill detailing each crewmember's special duties for emergencies and post it visibly on the vessel.
Provide and familiarize each crewmember with their emergency duties and signals.
Conduct mandatory emergency drills (abandon ship, fire, person overboard) at least monthly, and ensure proper operation and inspection of emergency lighting and power systems.

Equipment Requirements

Equip vessels with fenders, potable drinking water systems according to standards, and ensure proper handling and maintenance of water supply systems.
Keep emergency cutting equipment accessible on towing vessels and other floating plants, and provide signal devices for navigation compliance.
Install and maintain general alarm systems, smoke alarms, CO monitors, and ensure all emergency controls, lighting, and doors meet specified safety standards.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

19-6. How often must mandatory emergency planning drills be conducted?

Daily

Weekly

Monthly

Quarterly

You forgot to answer the question!

EM 385-1-1 Paragraph 19-8 (a.–c.).

19-8. General Requirements. (a.–c.).

a.  Severe Weather and High Flow Precautions.  (19-8.a)

(1)  Prior to conducting towing operations outside of a port, submit a Tow Plan to the USACE supervisor/KO or COR according to paragraph 19-7.d.

(2)  Before extended movement of floating plant and tows, conduct an evaluation of weather reports and flow conditions to ascertain that safe movement of the plant and tow can be accomplished.

(3)  Evaluate weather reports and conditions before performing work or task orders to ascertain that safe working conditions exist and safe refuge of personnel is assured. When working in an exposed marine location, monitor the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) marine weather broadcasts and use other commercial weather forecasting services as may be available.

(4)  All personnel on decks exposed to severe weather must wear the appropriate USCG approved PFD (that is, Types I, II, III, V) regardless of other safety devices used (see chapter 5).

(5)  A sufficient number of vessels of adequate size and horsepower, each designed, outfitted, and equipped for towing service, must be available at all times to move both self- and non-self-propelled plants against tides, current, and winds during severe weather conditions.

(6)  Do not operate floating plants in sea or weather conditions that go beyond the vessel’s design limitations.

b.  Emergency Planning.  Vessels must follow USCG-applicable regulations for drills, equipment, inspections, training, and log keeping according to 46 CFR Part
199.180 and USCG COI requirements.  (19-8.b)

(1)  Prepare a station bill, setting forth the special duties and the duty station of each crewmember for various emergencies, and post it in conspicuous locations throughout the vessel.

(2)  Provide each crewmember with a written description of their emergency duties and ensure that they are familiar with them and the vessel's emergency signals.

(3)  On all floating plants that have a regular crew or on which people are quartered, conduct the following drills at least monthly during each shift, unless the vessel is required by USCG regulations to be drilled more frequently:  abandon ship/boat drills, fire drills, and person overboard or rescue drills.

(a)  Conduct the first set of drills within 24 hours of the vessel's occupancy or commencement of work.

(b)  Where crews are quartered at night, include night drills within every four sets of drills.  Conduct the first set of night drills within the first two weeks of the vessel's occupancy.

(c)  Drills must include, where appropriate, how to handle a pump shell or pipe rupture or failure within the hull (for example, proper shutdown procedures, system containment), how to handle leaks or failures of the hull or portions of it (for example, what compartments to secure, how to handle power losses, pulling spuds to move to shallow water), and how to set up and operate portable emergency pumps.

(4)  Conduct person overboard or rescue drills at least monthly at boat yards, locks, dams, and other locations where marine rescue equipment is required.

(5)  Operate and inspect emergency lighting and power systems at least monthly to ensure proper operation.

(a)  Operate under load all internal combustion engine driven emergency generators for at least two hours each month.

(b)  Test storage batteries for emergency lighting and power systems at least once every two months.

(6)  Record all drills and emergency system checks, including any deficiencies noted in equipment and corrective action taken, in the station bill.

(7)  Assign at least one person to be on watch on all floating plants where personnel are quartered to guards against fire and provide watch person service.  In lieu of a watch person, an automatic fire detection and fire and emergency warning
system(s) can be used.  (See para 19-8.c)

c.  Equipment Requirements.  (19-8.c)

(1)  Provide fenders to prevent damage and sparking and to provide safe areas for workers exposed to pinching situations caused by floating equipment.

(2)  Provide potable drinking water on all floating vessels according to 40 CFR 141 and NAVMED P-5010-6 from a potable water source which meets the federal and state requirements or, if generated on the vessel, the water is tested to ensure compliance with federal and state drinking water requirements (see para 35-8.b).

(a)  Dedicate all hoses, pumps, and valves to be used potable drinking water only. Rinse before each use.

(b)  Before connecting at shore side, flush the supply water for at least
        30 seconds.

(c)  After transfer is complete, first remove the vessel hose, then remove the shore side hose, then again flush the water supply source, and finally cap the source.

(d)  Drain all hoses, pumps, and valves after each use.

(e)  Chemically or mechanically disinfect the storage tanks on vessels when the water fails to meet two consecutive drinking water tests.

(3)  Keep axes or other emergency cutting equipment on towing vessels and other floating plants (for example, work barges, floating cranes) sharp and locate them in accessible positions for immediate use (for example, freeing lines).

(4)  Provide signal devices on all vessels to give signals required by the navigation rules applicable to the waters on which the vessel is operated.

(5)  Locate all controls requiring operation in cases of emergency (for example, boiler stops, safety valves, power switches, fuel valves, alarms, fire extinguishing systems) so that they are protected against accidental operation but are readily accessible in an emergency.

(6)  Electric lights used on or around gasoline and oil barges or other marine locations where a fire or explosion hazard exists must be explosion-proof or approved as intrinsically safe.

(7)  Install and maintain general alarm systems on all floating plants where it is possible for either a passenger or crewmember to be out of sight or hearing from any other person.

(a)  Where general alarm systems are used, operate them from the primary electrical system with standby batteries on trickle charge that will automatically furnish the required energy during an electrical-system failure.

(b)  Place a sufficient number of signaling devices on each deck so that they can be distinctly heard above the normal background noise and seen at any point on the deck.

(8)  Smoke alarms are required in all living quarters on floating plants.  If wired, the smoke alarms should use the same electrical system as that of the electrical alarms.

(9)  For floating plants with internal combustion engines, install and maintain marine quality listed CO monitors in all enclosed occupied spaces (for example, crew quarters, pilot houses).

(10) All doors must be capable of being opened from either side and provided with positive means to secure them in both the open and closed position.

(11) Mark all escape hatches and emergency exits on both sides with letters at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) high stating "EMERGENCY EXIT - KEEP CLEAR”.

(12) Each prime mover (for example, engine, turbine, motor) driving a dredge pump must be capable of being stopped by controls remote from the prime mover locations.

(13) Shore powered receptacles must have a grounding conductor to prevent potential difference between the shore and the vessel.

(14)  Provide all electrical circuits in toilet or shower spaces, galley, machinery spaces, weather deck, exterior, or within 3 feet (0.9 m) of any sink and fit them with GFCI protection (see chapter 11).

(a)  Connect all cord connected equipment used in any of these areas to an outlet with GFCI protection.

(b)  Conspicuously mark ground-fault protected receptacles as “GFCI PROTECTED.”

(15) Where appropriate, vessels should have watertight compartments readily identified and properly maintained in a watertight condition (that is, sealable doors in place, fully functional). Maintain penetrations in a watertight condition.

(16) Properly guard all reciprocating, rotating, and moving parts of winch gears and other equipment.

(17)  Outfit and operate all self-propelled vessels conducting independent hydrographic survey work in or near a commercial channel or shipping fairway and in a manner likely to restrict or affect navigation of other vessels, with an Automatic Identification System (AIS).

Note. Small vessels supporting active dredging operations that are not normally dedicated to survey work but performing temporary hydrographic survey work, are not required to carry AIS.

512 EM385-1-1 Chapters 16-22