Maritime Reporter, June 1993

<BODY> <div> Minimum Standards Set By Ship Insurer Group New rules on minimum operat- ing standards have been set by Stan- dard Steamship Owners' Protection & Indemnity Association (Bermuda) Ltd. due to the recent dramatic in- crease in maritime accidents. The Standard Club is expecting that members have written proce- dures to follow on the expected per- formance of officers and crew and on the operation and management of each ship. The Standard Club cur- rently provides liability coverage for about 3,000 vessels. The Standard Club has compiled a list of recommended publications cov- ering international industry stan- dards that ships should make avail- able to its crew. Other standards set by the club are that each ship should have a regular maintenance sched- ule, a safety policy as well as a safety officer, and a contingency plan to cover major casualities. Presently, the club claims that approximately one-quarter of its members do not have guidelines or procedures for its crew concerning the testing of navigation equipment, staffing the engine room and bridge, and checking cargo hatches, among other important and necessary tasks. Members of the Standard Club include J. Lauritzen A/S, Blue Star Line Ltd., Carnival Cruise Lines Inc., and Canada Steamship Lines. ' club cites the poorly maintained; aging fleet crewed by unqualifiei disloyal workers as reasons for teriorating operational standari Hollywood Marine Earns ISO 9002 Certification Houston-based Hollywood IV rine, Inc. became certified to 1 ISO 9000 series of internatioi quality standards. The certificati was awarded by AB S Quality Eva ations, Inc. Hollywood Marine is one of t largest tank barge companies in t U.S. Its 600 employees operate fleet of more than 225 tank barg and 100 towboats serving the peti chemical, LPG, black oil and sh bunkering markets. ABS Quality Evaluations, Ir. and its quality mark are part of tl 130 year tradition of the worldwi< American Bureau of Shipping, or of the world's leading marine class fication societies and a longstandir proponent of quality assurance i the marine industry. Decommissioning Proposed For Great Lakes Icebreaker The Coast Guard's icebreake Mackinaw (WAGB-83), based ii Cheboygan, Mich., will be decom missioned at the end of next year' icebreaking season, pending ap proval of the Coast Guard's fisca year 1994 budget by Congress. At 290 feet, and displacing 5,34( tons, the cutter Mackinaw is th< largest Coast Guard vessel on th< Great Lakes. The decision to decommission the 50-year-old Mackinaw is based on the age of the vessel, its annual operating costs, and the need for engineering and habitability up- grades, an option which would cost approximately $15 million. The annual operating cost of the Mackinaw is approximately $5 mil- lion, including $2.2 million in salary and benefits for the 75 person crew, and about $500,000 in fuel costs. The remainder of the $5 million is required for general operating ex- penses. The Mackinaw, built in Toledo, Ohio in 1944 at a cost of $10 million, was commissioned to keep the ship- ping lanes open on the Great Lakes during the winter months. As the Coast Guard introduced five new 140-foot Bay Class cutters on the Lakes in the 1980's, it became apparent that they could accomplish the icebreaking mission nearly as well as the Mackinaw at an annual operating cost of $900,000 per ves- sel. They are able to break ice in about 95% of the situations encoun- tered by the Mackinaw, but more efficiently. Circle 186 on Reader Service Card COMSAT EARTH SIMONS OFFER YOU A WORLD OF SERVICE NO ONE ELSE CAN. 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