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TVIB Staff News

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We recently expanded our staff by adding an additional Operations Manager. We would like to welcome Clint Smith to the TVIB team. Clint will be working alongside Caleb King, focusing on the coordination of audits and surveys while working to support our TPO customers with CG-835V/Marine Casualty concerns and related TPO activities. 

Clint retired from the U.S. Coast Guard as a Lieutenant Commander in 2019. During his 20+ year Coast Guard career, he served in a wide variety of positions, including Deck Watch Officer and Coast Guard Boarding Officer, onboard several Coast Guard cutters engaged in search and rescue, law enforcement, and aids to navigation. 

He spent 14 years in the Marine Safety field as an Investigating Officer and Marine Inspector and held positions in the Gulf and Western Rivers Regions. As a Marine Safety Detachment Supervisor, he oversaw Coast Guard Marine Safety and Security Regulatory Compliance for all vessels and facilities in two states. As the Chief of Prevention, he managed both U. S. and foreign vessel inspections and regulatory compliance for 144 facilities in one of the Nation’s busiest ports. He’s conducted hundreds of safety and security inspections on U.S. and Foreign vessels, pollution investigations, marine casualty investigations, and container inspections. Clint’s most recent assignment was at Coast Guard Headquarters with the Mission Management Systems Staff, where he managed and audited the Coast Guard’s Prevention Quality Management System. Clint formed QCI Maritime Services in 2019 and performed surveying, auditing and consulting services to the towing industry. 

Clint holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Information Sciences from The University of Alabama. He is certified by Exemplar Global as an ISO-9001 Quality Management System Lead Auditor and holds certifications as both a TVIB Lead Auditor for Vessels and Management and Subchapter M Annual Surveyor.     

Clint is located in Gonzales, LA. Please be sure to welcome him when you get a chance, you will find his contact info on the website under Contact Us and Our Staff.

USCG: CVC-WI-013(4) Towing Vessel COI Inspections Under TSMS Option

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On 12/31/2019, we communicated with you the successful result of our appeal that resulted in the allowance of 90-days before and 90-days after the COI issue date for annual surveys performed under a company’s internal survey program. The USCG first communicated this revised interpretation in the TPO Guidebook (CVC-Policy Letter 17-04 change 2 on 12/31/2019).

Today the USCG issued change 4 to CVC-WI-013 Towing Vessel COI Inspections Under TSMS Option (dated 12/31/2019) that further confirms this position as a work instruction for use by USCG Marine Inspectors. You can find this revision on page two, item D 1 a. i. We have not completed an exhaustive review of the document yet to determine if there are additional changes but we’re proud to have been the leader on this issue with the USCG which resulted in a positive outcome for all companies that have elected to use an internal survey program under the TSMS option.

Click here to download CVC-WI-013(4) Towing Vessel COI Inspections Under TSMS Option

USCG: Guidance on Overspeed Protection and Testing of Electronically-Controlled Engines

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On 12/30/2019 the USCG issued a work instruction outlining enforcement guidance related to the verification and testing of overspeed protection by the USCG.

Excerpt from CVC-WI-011(1)

D.Enforcement Guidance.

a.Coast Guard Marine Inspectors should continue to verify mechanical engine overspeed deviceoperation as specified per reference (d) Section B, Chapter 1.

b.Verification of the electronic overspeed protection device should be conducted not less thanonce every five years. This test should be conducted in accordance with the manufacturer’stest procedures. Completion of verification shall be recorded in the MISLE narrative.

Click here to download CVC WI-011(1) Guidance on Overspeed Protection and Testing of Electronically-Controlled Engines