502 EM385-1-1 Sections 14-19

SECTION 19 - FLOATING PLANT AND MARINE ACTIVITIES

19.A General.

19.A.01 Floating plant inspection and certification

1. All floating plant regulated by the USCG must have required USCG documentation that is current before being placed in service. A copy must be posted in a public area on board the vessel. A copy of any USCG Form 835 issued to the vessel in the preceding year must be available to the GDA and a copy must be on board the vessel.
2. All dredges and quarter boats not subject to USCG inspection and certification or not having a current ABS classification must be inspected in the working mode annually by a marine surveyor accredited by the National Association of Marine Surveyors (NAMS) or the Society of Accredited Marine Surveyors (SAMS) and having at least 5 years experience in commercial marine plant and equipment.
• (1) All other plant must be inspected before being placed in use and at least annually by a qualified person.
• (2) The inspection must be documented, a copy of the most recent inspection report must be posted in a public area on board the vessel, and a copy must be furnished to the GDA upon request.
• (3) The inspection must be appropriate for the intended use of the plant and must, as a minimum, evaluate structural condition and compliance with NFPA 302.
3. Periodic inspections and tests must assure that a safe operating condition is maintained.
4. Records of inspections must be maintained at the site and must be available to the GDA.
5. Floating plant found in an unsafe condition must be taken out of service and its use prohibited until unsafe conditions have been corrected.

19.A.02 Personnel qualifications.

2. Government operators must be licensed or certified in accordance with the requirements outlined in ER 385-1-91. A qualified individual designated as the USACE Command's marine licensing official will perform licensing and certification in accordance with the requirements of ER 385-1-91.
3. Officers and crew of government floating plant must be licensed and/or documented by the USCG when the plant is subject to one or more of the following criteria:
• (1) The vessel is inspected and certified by USCG in accordance with EP 1130-2-500, Appendix L;
• (2) The vessel is normally engaged in or near a channel or fairway in operations that restrict or affect navigation of other vessels and is required by law to be equipped with radio-telephones of the 156-162 band frequency; or
• (3) Floating plant is engaged in the transfer of oil or hazardous material in bulk.
4. A USCG Radar Observers endorsement on licenses is required for Operators of Uninspected Towing Vessels and Masters and Pilots on radar-equipped vessels 26 ft (7.9 m) or more in length. Endorsements must be issued from a USCG-approved training facility.

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