A history of deficiencies has led US officials to kick out a US-flag vessel

[Jeffrox]

D_Gar APR06 050..jpgThis garbage scow should have never even been US flagged. One of the Singapore Pilots told us that he was on the crew that took delivery from the Chinese sipyard that built her and that it was so f'd-up then that it wasn't even permitted in port by the Singapore Port Authority. Definately LOTS of DNV and USCG folks looking the other way and asleep at the wheel on this one! They finally get it right but it took too long.... Jeffrox

A history of deficiencies has led US officials to kick out a US-flag vessel.

Surveyors from class society Det Norske Veritas (DNV) are handing over a US-flag vessel to US Coast Guard (USCG) officials after the USCG told the owner it will be taking back all statutory inspections.

The 369-teu, 5,000-dwt Baffin Strait (built 1997) is the first ship ever to be kicked out of the USCG's alternate compliance programme (ACP), which authorises classification societies to perform statutory surveys and issue certificates - only to owners who qualify.

But John Hannon, programme manager for domestic-vessel inspections at the USCG, expresses confidence in the ACP in general. "We are constantly evaluating the programme and assessing its effectiveness," he said.

Hannon tells TradeWinds no ship or owner was ever ejected before under a USCG "involuntary disenrollment."

"We exercised our option under that policy," he said, explaining that the USCG Singapore office had reported a history of deficiencies on the Baffin Strait and recommended the move. "We didn't see a pattern of improvement over time," he added.

The Baffin Strait , owned by Connecticut-based TransAtlantic Lines LLC (TAL) and managed by Louisiana-based non-union company Vessel Management Services, formerly operated under a US military contract on a shuttle resupply service between Singapore and the US island stronghold of Diego Garcia.

Now it is at Wilmington, North Carolina, where USCG ships are attending as DNV surveyors complete a "handover survey" before a trip to the shipyard.
"Our officers are still working with DNV to work with the owners to redress the deficiencies," said Hannon.

Uncorrected firefighting and lifesaving deficiencies on the Baffin Strait motivated the USCG move. At the same time, TradeWinds understands that DNV is concerned about non-statutory issues - including structural changes made in a shipyard stay and never reported to class.

Meanwhile, USCG officials are understood to be inspecting another ship belonging to TAL, one that is ABS-classed, the 130-teu, 2,000-dwt feeder containership Geysir (built 1980). However, TradeWinds understands from sources close to the survey that there is no indication the Geysir risks being kicked out. Hannon confirms that he has received no such report on the ship.

The owner of only one previous ship, the 30,200-dwt bulker Tina Litrico (built 1973 and still in service), was put on notice a couple of years back that it would be kicked out but the owner voluntarily withdrew it, Hannon says.

At the same time as DNV officials are embarrassed, some high-ranking USCG officials are rumoured to see the event as confirming their view that the USCG gives up too much oversight to civilian class societies.

Hannon says he is unaware of any such dissent and does not share that position.

As the top flag-state inspector of US-flag vessels he says he still has confidence in the programme and the four class societies that administer statutory inspections on its behalf - the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), which has the lion's share of some 350 vessels and helped to devise the programme, DNV with just seven, Lloyd's Register and Germanischer Lloyd.

"We have not changed our oversight programme as a result of this vessel," he told TradeWinds, adding that the USCG is equally happy with all four. "Some who don't do as many ships as ABS are not as familiar with the procedures," he qualified.

Blaine Collins of DNV and Stewart Wade of ABS both tell TradeWinds they have a good working relationship with the USCG and underscore that their societies co-operate closely with it, reporting any uncooperative owners in the programme.

Hannon points out that his office has direct access to confidential class databases and uses them for regular targeting.

[10talents]

All I can say is "It's about time" and they should look at all their vessels.

[seadawg]

All I can say is "It's about time" and they should look at all their vessels.

if this is the same group that operates the container tow from JAX to GITMO with the 4 man crew then it is overdue..the USCG might want to consider taking a "microscopic" look at that bunch!!

[Jeffrox]

if this is the same group that operates the container tow from JAX to GITMO with the 4 man crew then it is overdue..the USCG might want to consider taking a "microscopic" look at that bunch!!

Same folks with the GTMO run on the Tug Spence...their vessel MV Geysir did do a Norfolk-Iceland run. Some guys I sailed with on Baffin Strait had sailed on Geysir and the GTMO Tug Spence and had some sad facts to share about both those vessels.

[seadawg]

Same folks with the GTMO run on the Tug Spence...their vessel MV Geysir did do a Norfolk-Iceland run. Some guys I sailed with on Baffin Strait had sailed on Geysir and the GTMO Tug Spence and had some sad facts to share about both those vessels.

aahh hhaa!!that "connects the dots"..seem to recall hearing "sea stories" about the Norfolk>Iceland run w/ the Geysir..believe the owners were referred to as being "well connected" and very adept at procurring government contracts??

[Jon]

aahh hhaa!!that "connects the dots"..seem to recall hearing "sea stories" about the Norfolk>Iceland run w/ the Geysir..believe the owners were referred to as being "politically connected"??

Politically connected like from Crawford or from Kenya? :-D You gots to specify.

[c.captain]

I was once offered the master's position on the GEYSIR but when I got to Norfolk I was so appalled with the condition of the vessel that I simply refused to take her into a North Atlantic winter. She was manifestly unseaworthy and if I assumed command to the ship, I assumed legal responsibilty for anything that were to happen. If there was a seriour marine casualty, I would likely lose my ability to continue to work as sea and possibly even face criminal charges. No man should be forced to accept such a bargin with the devil regardless of how hungry for work he is. Sadly, many will and thus ships like her continue to sail. The end of the story was that the master who was to get off after four voyages had to make another. I say he should have taken the opportunity to walk as well.

I can only hope that the GEYSIR also gets the boot from the flag. She and ships like her are an embarassment to the USA!

[roversea]

I sailed on the Geysir for a couple trips, 2nd Mate and Chief Mate on the run to Iceland...the vessel was not designed to take on the waters of the North Atlantic. The vessel left Iceland very light and low on fuel, just a scary combination.

[10talents]

I know an AB who sailed recently on the Baffin. Said he felt like he cheated death several times.

[chris_rodriguez]

hmm.. this is very comforting, I actually leave to cadet ship with the MV Geysir Monday.

[seadawg]

hmm.. this is very comforting, I actually leave to cadet ship with the MV Geysir Monday.

as always my favorite quote..CAVEAT EMPTOR!!

[exsubguy]

I'm not surprised, i worked on their tanker. Good guys to work with though.

[seadog6608]

As a veteran of both the Buffoon Strait and the Geysir, I am not surprised at all. BS was a poor design from the getgo. Geysir is like an old hag that's been rode hard and put away wet. It was embarasing the way the foreigners snickered at the American ship. They both look more like they should be flagged Haitian.

[tyson]

D_Gar APR06 050..jpgThis garbage scow should have never even been US flagged. One of the Singapore Pilots told us that he was on the crew that took delivery from the Chinese sipyard that built her and that it was so f'd-up then that it wasn't even permitted in port by the Singapore Port Authority. Definately LOTS of DNV and USCG folks looking the other way and asleep at the wheel on this one! They finally get it right but it took too long.... Jeffrox

A history of deficiencies has led US officials to kick out a US-flag vessel.

Surveyors from class society Det Norske Veritas (DNV) are handing over a US-flag vessel to US Coast Guard (USCG) officials after the USCG told the owner it will be taking back all statutory inspections.

The 369-teu, 5,000-dwt Baffin Strait (built 1997) is the first ship ever to be kicked out of the USCG's alternate compliance programme (ACP), which authorises classification societies to perform statutory surveys and issue certificates - only to owners who qualify.

But John Hannon, programme manager for domestic-vessel inspections at the USCG, expresses confidence in the ACP in general. "We are constantly evaluating the programme and assessing its effectiveness," he said.

Hannon tells TradeWinds no ship or owner was ever ejected before under a USCG "involuntary disenrollment."

"We exercised our option under that policy," he said, explaining that the USCG Singapore office had reported a history of deficiencies on the Baffin Strait and recommended the move. "We didn't see a pattern of improvement over time," he added.

The Baffin Strait , owned by Connecticut-based TransAtlantic Lines LLC (TAL) and managed by Louisiana-based non-union company Vessel Management Services, formerly operated under a US military contract on a shuttle resupply service between Singapore and the US island stronghold of Diego Garcia.

Now it is at Wilmington, North Carolina, where USCG ships are attending as DNV surveyors complete a "handover survey" before a trip to the shipyard.
"Our officers are still working with DNV to work with the owners to redress the deficiencies," said Hannon.

Uncorrected firefighting and lifesaving deficiencies on the Baffin Strait motivated the USCG move. At the same time, TradeWinds understands that DNV is concerned about non-statutory issues - including structural changes made in a shipyard stay and never reported to class.

Meanwhile, USCG officials are understood to be inspecting another ship belonging to TAL, one that is ABS-classed, the 130-teu, 2,000-dwt feeder containership Geysir (built 1980). However, TradeWinds understands from sources close to the survey that there is no indication the Geysir risks being kicked out. Hannon confirms that he has received no such report on the ship.

The owner of only one previous ship, the 30,200-dwt bulker Tina Litrico (built 1973 and still in service), was put on notice a couple of years back that it would be kicked out but the owner voluntarily withdrew it, Hannon says.

At the same time as DNV officials are embarrassed, some high-ranking USCG officials are rumoured to see the event as confirming their view that the USCG gives up too much oversight to civilian class societies.

Hannon says he is unaware of any such dissent and does not share that position.

As the top flag-state inspector of US-flag vessels he says he still has confidence in the programme and the four class societies that administer statutory inspections on its behalf - the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), which has the lion's share of some 350 vessels and helped to devise the programme, DNV with just seven, Lloyd's Register and Germanischer Lloyd.

"We have not changed our oversight programme as a result of this vessel," he told TradeWinds, adding that the USCG is equally happy with all four. "Some who don't do as many ships as ABS are not as familiar with the procedures," he qualified.

Blaine Collins of DNV and Stewart Wade of ABS both tell TradeWinds they have a good working relationship with the USCG and underscore that their societies co-operate closely with it, reporting any uncooperative owners in the programme.

Hannon points out that his office has direct access to confidential class databases and uses them for regular targeting.

I rode this ship from israel to the US this winter...Was the most horrible ship I ever rode; in isreal there was a rainstorm and the deck by the house was flooded. When I pulled the scupper I got chewed out because the water drains directly into the engine control room; the pipe was rusted through. Needless to say it is just all downhill from there. When we got to the US the ship was arrested by the coast guard because it failed it's inspection so miserable. They never saw any ship in that condition, american or foriegn. Pure dangerous piece of garbage. Astounding. That was the worst.

[chris_rodriguez]

just got done with 70 days on the Geysir... it was a very interesting cadet shipping experience.

[Jeffrox]

just got done with 70 days on the Geysir... it was a very interesting cadet shipping experience.

Glad you lived to tell about it! Would you care to do another 70 days in the winter?

[chris_rodriguez]

hah... well well I don't know about that

[sea gypsy]

I got my check. I settled out of court with these creminals for retalitorial and wrongful discharge. I reccomend to anyone, who has ever been fired by this company to contact the law firm of Conrad&Scherer in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. They are very familiar with all the deficiencies and law suites filed against TAL and it's vessels.

[c.captain]

I got my check. I settled out of court with these creminals for retalitorial and wrongful discharge. I reccomend to anyone, who has ever been fired by this company to contact the law firm of Conrad&Scherer in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. They are very familiar with all the deficiencies and law suites filed against TAL and it's vessels.

My hearty congratulations to you sea gypsy but I know your victory was not one easily attained and had to have come at a high cost.

Someday when someone dies on a Transaltanic Lines ship I pray that Gudmundor (or whatever the name of that little punk is?) will lose his runny brown stain company with vessels a sewer rat wouldn't sail on and then go to be some fat black guy's wife in the big house to pay for his crimes against maritime humanity. Can you just imagine that p.o.s. GEYSIR coming back from Iceland in the middle of winter, bucking wind, weather, current, ice and not having adequate stability because there wasn't any fuel aboard? His ships are such deathtraps it is staggering to me that at least one hasn't gone down with all hands!


ISM sure has made ships so much safer to sail...NOT!

[tengineer]

Here's the question.
How does this dangerous ship maintain a US flag?
Who inspected it or who got paid off?