1625-0032 Stat/Authority

jdjones on DSK8KYBLC1PROD with CFR

Coast Guard, DHS

§ 176.655

(a) If you use divers to conduct the
underwater survey, you must—
(1) Locate the vessel so the divers can
work safely under the vessel’s keel and
around both sides. The water velocity
must be safe for dive operations;
(2) Provide permanent hull markings,
a temporary grid system of wires or cables spaced not more than 10 feet apart
and tagged at one-foot intervals, or
any other acoustic or electronic positioning system approved by the OCMI
to identify the diver’s location with respect to the hull, within one foot of accuracy;
(3)
Take
ultrasonic
thickness
gaugings at a minimum of 5 points on
each plate, evenly spaced;
(4) Take hull plating thickness
gaugings along transverse belts at the
bow, stern, and midships, as a minimum. Plating thickness gaugings
must also be taken along a longitudinal belt at the wind and water
strake. Individual gaugings along the
transverse and longitudinal belts must
be spaced no more than 3 feet apart;
(5) Ensure the third party examiner
observes the entire underwater examination process;
(6) Record the entire underwater survey with audio and video recording
equipment and ensure that communications between divers and the third
party examiner are recorded; and
(7) Use appropriate equipment, such
as a clear box, if underwater visibility
is poor, to provide the camera with a
clear view of the hull.
(b) You may use an underwater ROV
to conduct the underwater survey. The
underwater ROV operating team, survey process and equipment, quality assurance methods, and the content and
format of the survey report must be accepted by the Officer in Charge, Marine
Inspection (OCMI) prior to the survey.
If you choose this option, you must—
(1) Locate the vessel to ensure that
the underwater ROV can operate effectively under the vessel’s keel and
around both sides; and
(2) Employ divers to examine any
sections of the hull and appurtenances
that the underwater ROV cannot access or is otherwise unable to evaluate.
(3) If the OCMI determines that the
data obtained by the ROV, including
non-destructive testing results, read-

ability of the results, and positioning
standards, will not integrate into the
data obtained by the divers, then a
third party examiner must be present
during the divers portion of the examination.
[USCG–2000–6858, 67 FR 21086, Apr. 29, 2002, as
amended at 69 FR 47384, Aug. 5, 2004]

§ 176.655

Hull examination reports.

(a) If you use only divers for the underwater survey portion of the Alternative Hull Examination (AHE), you
must provide the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI), with a written
hull examination report. This report
must include thickness gauging results, bearing clearances, a copy of the
audio and video recordings, and any
other information that will help the
OCMI evaluate your vessel for a credit
hull exam. The third party examiner
must sign the report and confirm the
validity of its contents.
(b) If you use an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) as the
predominate means to examine the
vessel’s underwater hull plating, you
must provide the OCMI with a report in
a format that is acceptable to the
OCMI, per § 176.650(b) of this part.
(c) The OCMI will evaluate the hull
examination report and grant a credit
hull exam if satisfied with the condition of the vessel. If approved and you
exclusively use divers to examine the
hull plating, you will receive a credit
hull exam of up to 36 months. (Underwater examinations are required twice
every 5 years.) If approved and you use
an underwater ROV as the predominate
means to examine the hull plating, you
will receive a credit hull exam of up to
60 months (5 years).
(d) At least 60 days prior to each
scheduled underwater exam, the owner
may request a waiver from the OCMI if:
(1) A satisfactory exam has been
completed within the last three years;
(2) The conditions during the last
exam allowed at least 80 percent of the
bottom surface to be viewed and recorded; and
(3) The results of the last exam indicated that an extended interval is safe
and reasonable.
[USCG–2000–6858, 67 FR 21086, Apr. 29, 2002, as
amended at 69 FR 47384, Aug. 5, 2004]

197

VerDate Mar<15>2010

12:01 Nov 15, 2010

Jkt 220197

PO 00000

Frm 00207

Fmt 8010

Sfmt 8010

Y:\SGML\220197.XXX

220197