MEMBER ALERT Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., Manager One Battery Park Plaza 31 st Fl., New York, NY 10004 USA Tel: +1 212 847 4500 Fax: +1 212 847 4599 www.american-club.com American Club Member Alert – April 05 , 201 8 1 APRIL 05, 2018 USCG MARINE SAFETY ALERT: MAINTAINING MACHINERY SUCTION Following the loss of the SS EL FARO, and the subsequent findings from the United States Coast Guard's investigation into the disaster, it has recently issued a safety alert on the role which the main propulsion lube oil system was found to have played in regard to that casualty. The alert in question is attached hereto: United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Alert 04-18 Compliance with SOLAS and USCG Regulations for Operation of Main Propulsion and Essential Auxiliary Machinery, Lessons Learned from the S.S. EL FARO Casualty. A failure of a vessel’s lube oil system generally means a loss of propulsion for all types of engineering plants. In the case of the EL FARO, the lube oil pump’s ability to maintain suction was likely affected by the vessel’s list, motion, and the volume of oil in the sump. The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), Chapter II-1, Regulation 26.6, and 46 CFR 58.01-40 both require that propulsion machinery and all auxiliary machinery essential to the propulsion and safety of the vessel be designed to operate: A.when the vessel is upright, B.when the vessel is inclined under static conditions at any angle of list up to and including 15°, and C.when the vessel is inclined under dynamic conditions (rolling) at any angle of list up to and including 22.5° degrees and, simultaneously, at any angle of trim (pitching) up to and including 7.5° by the bow or stern. Given the criticality of propulsion and essential auxiliary machinery, particularly in heavy weather or high-traffic areas, the Coast Guard strongly recommends that: •Operators verify that their main propulsion machinery, essential auxiliary systems, and emergency generators are designed in compliance with the CFR, SOLAS and Classification Society requirements for operation in static and dynamic conditions of list and trim. MEMBER ALERT Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., Manager One Battery Park Plaza 31 st Fl., New York, NY 10004 USA Tel: +1 212 847 4500 Fax: +1 212 847 4599 www.american-club.com American Club Member Alert – April 05 , 201 8 2 • Engineering Department personnel review the design, arrangement, limiting angles of inclination, normal and limiting high/low lubricating oil sump levels, and casualty control procedures for all systems vital to the propulsion and safety of the vessel to better understand the possible ways to mitigate the effects of heavy weather on vessel operations. Members are asked to note, and follow, the foregoing, and are encouraged to share their experiences in this regard with the Managers. April 3, 2018 Safety Alert 04-18 Washington, DC Compliance with SOLAS and USCG Regulations for Operation of Main Propulsion and Essential Auxiliary Machinery Lessons Learned from the S.S. EL FARO Casualty The purpose of this Alert is to inform operators of the role that the main propulsion lube oil system was found to have played in the EL FARO casualty. This alert also recommends that operators, especially ship engineers, review the operational procedures and limitations of vital propulsion machinery, and verify compliance with SOLAS, Classification Society and regulatory standards. The Coast Guard Marine Board Report on the sinking