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pill risk in the waters of north- astern U.S. states, through a ooperative process known as egional risk assessment. The regional risk assessment ;eam operated under the guidance }f a steering committee chaired by members of the U.S. Coast Guard, The American Waterways Operators and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management. Committee mem- bers attended regular meetings over a seven-month period in order to consider ways of reducing the likelihood of marine accidents in the Northeastern states. The work of the committee reportedly includ- ed an in-depth review of all vessel operations throughout the region. The team's recommendations include a region-specific focus on improved vessel communications, voyage planning, barge retrieval and anchoring systems and ligh- tering protocols. The full report of the team is expected to be released shortly. According to steering committee member Capt. Eric Williams of the First Coast Guard District's Marine Safety Division, "I strongly believe we will improve the safe transportation of petroleum through our cooperative efforts to make positive changes in the oper- ations of towboats and barges in the Northeast." For more information, contact Capt. Williams at tel: (617) 223- 8439. STCW Amendments Enter Into Force As previously indicated in past MR/EN issues, on Feb. 1, the 1995 amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) for Seafarers, 1978, entered into force. According to IMO (International Maritime Organization), the amendments represent almost a complete re-writing of the Convention, which has so far been ratified by 120 countries whose combined merchant fleet totals 95 percent of the world fleet. The main aims of the revisions to the Convention are: • To transfer all detailed techni- cal requirements to an associat- ed STCW Code, Part A of which was made mandatory and also entered into force on Feb. 1; • To clarify the skills and com- March, 1997 petence required; • To require administrations to maintain direct control over and endorse the qualifications of those masters, officers and radio personnel they authorize to serve on their ships; and • To make parties to the Convention accountable to each other, through IMO, for the proper implementation of the Convention and the quality of their training and certification activities. The amendments take into account developments that have occurred in shipping since 1978, including the use of simulators for training in the use of radar and automatic radar plotting aids, which has been made mandatory. Provisions have also been intro- duced for the monitoring of these standards by a quality assurance system. The revised Convention permits f f n t 0 0 G f N f 0 R M N t Serving the industry worldwide with mines in India and the United States Corporate Offices 101 Ironwood Drive #210 Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 USA (208)666-6000 /1-888-5 GARNET / Fax (208)666-4000 PUZZLED BY ALL THE TALK ABOUT BLASTING ABBASIVES? CALL US FOR YOUR SHIPYARD NEEDS A New World Standard WESTERN GARNET ^^^ INTERNATIONAL Circle 249 on Reader Service Card Orange CHOCKING SYSTEM • maintains permanent alignment of ship engines and equipment installed above or below decks • prevents corrosion, fretting and damage from engine movement • simplifies installation of sterntube, strut, pintle and rudder bearings Approved by all major engine manufacturers, regulatory agencies and fleet vessel owners. " We consider Chockfast the greatest investment in engine security and maintenance economy ever made to our ships." E. Cherry, Tech. Director, Ropner Mgmt. Ltd. /^Philadelphia Resins P.O. Box 309, Montgomeryville, PA 18936 215/855-8450 Fax 215/855-4688 complete family of chocking, coating and repair compounds Circle 301 on Reader Service Card Harbormaster Engineers and manufacturers of efficient, reliable marine propulsion products for ships, boats and barges. (Successors to Murray & Tregurtha) Fast world-wide support! If you operate a Murray & Tregurtha or Harbormaster product anywhere in the world, we can provide spare parts and on-site field service. Call us first! Tunnel Thrusters 150 to 550 HP Outboard Propulsion Systems 50 to 350 HP Harbormaster Marine, Inc. 31777 Industrial Road Livonia, Ml 48150 USA (313) 425-1080 Fax (313) 425-1850 Circle 303 on Reader Service Card 83
