Marine Compliance Alliance Hosts Strategic Lunch In Paducah
Marine Compliance Alliance (MCA) members learned about best practices and lessons learned February 8 during the organization’s strategic regional luncheon in Paducah, Ky.
Mark Sawyer, executive director, gave a brief history of the organization, noting that it now includes 85 different companies representing compliance professionals from the inland marine industry.
MCA has several initiatives underway and is working closely with the Coast Guard regarding uniform implementation of Subchapter M, including required Certificate of Inspection (COI) renewals, drydock inspections and internal structural exams, Sawyer said.
“Our hope is that the units will be as consistent as possible,” Sawyer told the group.
He said that the workload for companies involved in implementing the towing safety management system (TSMS) option of Subchapter M is growing, even though all inland towboats are already required to have had COIs following the four-year phase in.
MCA has also recently developed some compliance guides, including a new construction checklist and a marine casualty reporting guide.
Sawyer additionally spoke about policy and regulatory updates and upcoming industry and MCA events, including its annual workshop scheduled for August 6 in Paducah. The workshop will be followed by two days of compliance-related training. More information, including registration information and the meeting agenda, will be posted online at www.marinecompliancealliance.com in the coming weeks.
In conjunction with the luncheon, MCA held line and rigging training at Paducah Rigging. Jay Somero and his team from Paducah Rigging provided information about line maintenance, inspection and management as it relates to Subchapter M compliance and industry best practices.
Those attending toured the manufacturing facility and watched line-breaking tests. There was also discussion about the importance of vetting rigging providers.
Caption for photo: Jay Somero of Paducah Rigging talks to members of the Marine Compliance Alliance (MCA) about the importance of rigging training along with the vetting of rigging providers at February’s MCA meeting. (Photo by Patrice Hoffman)
