Visit of Sinogas to USCG Houston – Galveston Sector

For the sake of Cost Control in arranging the Lay berth when the USCG COC is not valid and closure of deficiencies in good time, a networking meeting with USCG was arranged by Capt. Zahid Butt / Marine Safety Manager, who visited Houston-Galveston office of USCG on 28^th July 2022 and was also accompanied by out QI – ECM representative Mr. Brian Lincoln as our representative in Houston. There were six attendees from USCG to listen the Sinogas introduction and issues were discussed in a very frank atmosphere.

Attendees:

Cdr. Joe Morgens - USCG

Lt Cdr. William Hickey - USCG

Mr. Logan Kise - USCG

Mr. Mark A. Bottiglieri - USCG

Mr. Jamie Wilson – USCG

Mr. Brian Lincoln - ECM

Following points were addressed:

- Introduction of speaker (Capt. Zahid Butt) and of the company (Sinogas Management Pte ltd).

- Our existing fleet and forthcoming planning of new building and expansion of the fleet.

- With continuing dual fuel ships being part of our fleet, using Gas as fuel in US waters and getting permissions to use Gas as fuel in US waters. ECM to help us coordinating in taking permission to use Gas fuel in ECA area and USCG shall enhance the resources for procedural time to reduce for their review.

- Type “B” tanks for VLEC next to be delivered and using Ethane as fuel. Also, that this ship and onwards vessels shall be under Wideshine and USCG to know that Sinogas team shall be behind Wideshine and in a year or so, rest of the vessels shall be included in the new company. This was noted down by all to remember that Wideshine shall not be treated as a new company to check with very stringent inspections but shall be treated same as Sinogas for vessels under Wideshine management.

- Aspect of Continued development of our crew by continuous training, inspections, Audits, SIRE/CDI as well as equipment maker’s familiarization training was described in details.

A few suggestions from Cdr Joe Morgens, Lt Cdr William Hickey and Mr. Logan were given during this discussion as: Condition Equipment not same and these have been circulated to all fleet vessels.  

- For sure Mark A. Bottiglieri and Jamie Wilson’s various explanations about how the system operates and how much efforts are being made by them to let us get our ships inspected.

- They were able to understand Capt. Zahid’s point ref Owner’s additional expenses for lay berth booking, additional pilotage and tugs plus mooring gang etc and explained their measures being taken to avoid cancellation of inspections for renewal of COC/PSC inspections.

- It was informed that about additional USD 150,000 are spent by the owner in arranging a lay berth and off hire charges in case a renewal inspection is cancelled. This was discussed in detail and USCG agreed and has informed that, since they are already in progress to resolve this issue, Sinogas’s added info shall help the USCG Houston-Galveston Sector to persuade their headquarters to further understand that how the owners are suffered in spending additional expenses in such cases.

- It was pointed out the once students are boarding during the USCG COC inspection, the Master and his crew can not attend so many people and therefore request to reduce the number of students boarding the vessels. 

- Our constraints ref time difference Singapore/Houston and most importantly when a code 15 (Next port rectification is given) causes us to rectify immediately at night of Singapore so that next port (if Indonesia or any other unsuitable port) may not be having facilities/workshops to have the deficiency rectified there. Requested to give time for rectification till next call USA. In such cases it was requested to consider code 40( prior calling next US port after sailing foreign).

As commented by our QI (also present in meeting), this was an extremely productive meeting, esp when the Cdr Joe Morgens was present, Sinogas shall be a lot benefited and USCG shall have more sympathetic approach to the vessels during USCG COC inspections. However, Sinogas shall continue presenting the ships prepared as usual practice of Sinogas.

As a result, a few days after the meeting, upon USCG inspection of Gas Pisces, instead of 5-6 inspectors, only two inspectors boarded, and vessel was cleared in three hours without inspecting any cargo related equipment and without stopping the cargo. For sure our crew had prepared the vessel extremely well.

L to R: Brian Lincoln – ECM/Mark A. Bottiglieri – USCG/- Cdr. Joe Morgens – USCG/Capt. Zahid Butt – Sinogas/Jamie Wilson – USCG/ Lady – USCG/ Lt Cdr. William Hickey - USCG

L to R: Logan Kise – USCG/Mark A. Bottiglieri – USCG/ Cdr. Joe Morgens – USCG/Capt. Zahid Butt – Sinogas/Jamie Wilson – USCG/ Lady – USCG/ Lt Cdr. William Hickey - USCG