Coast Guard Provides Clarification on Requirements for Reporting Marine Casualties
In accordance with 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 4.05-1, immediately after addressing safety concerns, the owner, agent, master, operator, or person in charge, shall notify the nearest Coast Guard sector office or marine safety detachment whenever a vessel is involved in a marine casualty consisting of:
An unintended grounding, or an unintended strike of (collision with) a bridge;
An intended grounding, or an intended strike of a bridge, that creates a hazard to navigation, the environment, or the safety of a vessel;
A loss of main propulsion, primary steering, or any associated component or control system that reduces the maneuverability of the vessel;
An occurrence materially and adversely affecting the vessel's seaworthiness or fitness for service or route, including but not limited to fire, flooding, or failure of or damage to fixed fire-extinguishing systems, lifesaving equipment, auxiliary power-generating equipment, or bilge-pumping systems;
A loss of life;
An injury that requires professional medical treatment (treatment beyond first aid) and, if the person is engaged or employed on board a vessel in commercial service, that renders the individual unfit to perform his or her routine duties; or
An occurrence causing property damage in excess of $25,000, this damage including the cost of labor and material to restore the property to its condition before the occurrence, but not including the cost of salvage, cleaning, gas-freeing, dry docking, or demurrage;
An occurrence involving significant harm to the environment as defined in 4.03-65.
Along with the immediate notification, a written report must be submitted to the appropriate Captain of the Port within five days of the marine casualty. The written report must be provided on Form CG-2692 (Report of Marine Accident, Injury or Death), supplemented as necessary by appended Forms CG-2692A (Barge Addendum) and CG-2692B (Report of Required Chemical Drug and Alcohol Testing Following a Serious Marine Incident). The five day requirement does not mean five days after the vessel has returned to port. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in a maximum penalty of $27,000 or personnel action against merchant mariner credential.
Online Coast Guard notification forms may be found at: http://www.uscg.mil/forms/cg.asp
Direct links to the .pdf version of the forms are below:
Form CG-2692 (Report of Marine Accident, Injury or Death) http://www.uscg.mil/forms/cg/CG_2692.pdf
Form CG-2692A (Barge Addendum) http://www.uscg.mil/forms/cg/CG_2692A.pdf
Form CG-2692B (Report of Required Chemical Drug and Alcohol Testing Following a Serious Marine Incident) http://www.uscg.mil/forms/cg/CG_2692B.pdf
Once again, as owner, agent, master, operator or person in charge of the vessel, it is your responsibility to notify the nearest Coast Guard sector office or marine safety detachment whenever your vessel is involved in a marine casualty consisting of any of the above circumstances.
I hope this information has been helpful. Hopefully, you will never have to complete any of these reports.
Stay Safe and follow the Rules of the Road
Charles Morris - President, American Boat Captains, LLC and American Marine Supply
