"And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered."-Gordon Lightfoot, 1976
With the gales of November remembered."-Gordon Lightfoot, 1976
The following USCG "Actions" were taken in response to the Fitzgerald , saving countless lives.
"Action: Assignments of freeboard are based upon, among other things, a presumption of the ability to achieve the weather tight integrity necessary to prevent significant flooding.
The mutually dependent areas of safety which are an integral part of all Load Line Regulations are:
a.That the hull is strong enough for all anticipated seaways;
b. That the ship is designed and operated with proper stability;
c. That the hull is watertight to the freeboard deck;
d. That the hull has sufficient reserve buoyancy for seaworthiness;
e. That the topside area is properly fitted so as to be capable of being made weather tight for all anticipated seaways; and,
f . That protection for the movement of the crew on the weather decks at sea is provided.
Action: The Commandant intends to develop a federal regulation establishing a minimum level of subdivision for inspected Great Lakes cargo ships for two reasons directly related to this casualty. First, the sudden catastrophic foundering of the vessel apparently allowed no time for radio messages nor for individual survival. Second, the SS EDMUND FITZGERALD survived for several hours after indicating by radio message that some damage had occurred and the ship was about one hour from a safe harbor when it sank.
Action: The intent of these recommendations is concurred with and the need for improved and periodic meaningful training in the use of lifesaving equipment and a vessel readiness inspection program prior to severe weather sailing is supported. The following action has been taken or will be taken relative to these recommendations :
a. In October 1976, the Coast Guard instituted a continuing program of inspections and drills for Great Lakes vessels prior to the severe weather season. The scope of the program includes the specific items listed in Recommendation 8 and the inspections are conducted while the vessels are underway and under actual operational conditions .
The requirements for conducting emergency drills and crew training are contained in 46 CFR Parts 97 .15—35 and 97 .13—20, Emergency fire and boat drills are required at least once every week and the master is responsible to assure that they are conducted. Assuring adequate drills are conducted is not unique to Great Lakes vessels, therefore the operations sections of 46 CFR, Parts 35, 78, 167, 168, and 185 will be amended to incorporate crew training in the launching, inflation, and operation of inflatable life rafts. The Coast Guard recognizes this lack of training is of international magnitude and is working within IMCO in the preliminary stages of such a program.
b. Owners, operators, labor organizations, and training schools will be encouraged to develop a training program of the type indicated in Recommendation 6. To support this effort, the Merchant Vessel Personnel Division will work with the Maritime Administration to develop such training programs. The Coast Guard will set qualification standards requiring all licensed officers and able seamen be trained in the operation of inflatable life rafts as well as other lifesaving equipment . Input from the owners and operators of Creat Lakes vessels, along with their crews' labor organizations and training schools, will be solicited.
c . The Coast Guard is expanding its public awareness program to provide useful information to seamen and aid operators and unions in the conduct of their training programs. In September 1975, a pamphlet on hypothermia, CG—473, was published and distributed on the Great Lakes and other areas where cold weather survival could be a problem. A proposal has been submitted within the Coast Guard to the Office of Research and Development to develop a means by which the public, specifically those on board commercial vessels, will be made aware of various safety factors, regulations, and safe operating pro— cedures that apply to their particular commercial operation. For example, pamphlets may be developed and distributed (i.e. , via labor unions, commercial fisherman organizations, vessel documentation officers, professional and business organizations) for each class of commercial operation. Great Lakes vessels would be an appropriate area for such a public awareness program.
A summary of the Board's report and an article, directed at increasing the mariner's awareness of the hazards of the Great Lakes, will be prepared for publication in the Proceedings of the Marine Safety Council.
Concerning Recommendations 10 and 13, a Notice of Proposed Rule-making based on an Advance Notice of Proposed Rule-making, published 7 June 1976 in the Federal Register, is being prepared for Great Lakes cargo, tank, and passenger vessels which will propose that :
a. All lifeboats on vessels be totally enclosed to provide protection from exposure and to lessen the danger of swamping and subsequent capsizing.
b. All lifeboats be diesel engine driven with the ability to start the engine in temperatures as low as —22 O F.
c. Sufficient lifeboats be provided to accommodate 100% of the persons on board the ship with additional lifeboats and life rafts provided and located so as to provide accommodation for an additional 100% in the event that a casualty renders the other lifeboats unusable .
d. All survival craft be provided with launching devices which will be launched from their stowed positions with all persons onboard, eliminating the need for lengthy pre-launch preparation, a deck crew to stay aboard to control the launch, and in the case of life rafts, the need to enter the water before boarding.
e. Automatic float—free launching be required for life rafts.
f. . An exposure suit be required for each person on board that will protect the wearer from exposure and hypothermia.
The remainder of the Board's recommendations are addressed individually.
Action: The Coast Guard will develop performance criteria for loading manuals which will cover all the items in this recommendation except flooding conditions. Flooding conditions will be addressed in conjunction with the casualty control efforts discussed in the action on Recommendation 2 .
Action: Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District has implemented this recommendation by issuing a District Directive on 9 September 1976. This Directive contains the requirements and guidelines for scheduling maintenance and underway periods of Coast Guard vessels on the Great Lakes .
Action: Action is being taken to permit the operation of EPIRB's [Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons} in the VHF—FM marine band. There is at present virtually complete shore station coverage on the Great Lakes on this band and constant monitoring of Channel 16 by stations in both the United States and Canada. A prototype EPIRB for testing is now being developed by the Transportation Systems Center. When the VHF—FM EPIRB's become available, regulations will be proposed requiring that they be installed on board inspected Great Lakes vessels during all seasons.
Action: A copy of the completed marine casualty report will be forwarded to the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with a request that they coordinate the correction of the applicable charts"
-USCG Report No. USCG 16732/64216
The mutually dependent areas of safety which are an integral part of all Load Line Regulations are:
a.That the hull is strong enough for all anticipated seaways;
b. That the ship is designed and operated with proper stability;
c. That the hull is watertight to the freeboard deck;
d. That the hull has sufficient reserve buoyancy for seaworthiness;
e. That the topside area is properly fitted so as to be capable of being made weather tight for all anticipated seaways; and,
f . That protection for the movement of the crew on the weather decks at sea is provided.
Action: The Commandant intends to develop a federal regulation establishing a minimum level of subdivision for inspected Great Lakes cargo ships for two reasons directly related to this casualty. First, the sudden catastrophic foundering of the vessel apparently allowed no time for radio messages nor for individual survival. Second, the SS EDMUND FITZGERALD survived for several hours after indicating by radio message that some damage had occurred and the ship was about one hour from a safe harbor when it sank.
Action: The intent of these recommendations is concurred with and the need for improved and periodic meaningful training in the use of lifesaving equipment and a vessel readiness inspection program prior to severe weather sailing is supported. The following action has been taken or will be taken relative to these recommendations :
a. In October 1976, the Coast Guard instituted a continuing program of inspections and drills for Great Lakes vessels prior to the severe weather season. The scope of the program includes the specific items listed in Recommendation 8 and the inspections are conducted while the vessels are underway and under actual operational conditions .
The requirements for conducting emergency drills and crew training are contained in 46 CFR Parts 97 .15—35 and 97 .13—20, Emergency fire and boat drills are required at least once every week and the master is responsible to assure that they are conducted. Assuring adequate drills are conducted is not unique to Great Lakes vessels, therefore the operations sections of 46 CFR, Parts 35, 78, 167, 168, and 185 will be amended to incorporate crew training in the launching, inflation, and operation of inflatable life rafts. The Coast Guard recognizes this lack of training is of international magnitude and is working within IMCO in the preliminary stages of such a program.
b. Owners, operators, labor organizations, and training schools will be encouraged to develop a training program of the type indicated in Recommendation 6. To support this effort, the Merchant Vessel Personnel Division will work with the Maritime Administration to develop such training programs. The Coast Guard will set qualification standards requiring all licensed officers and able seamen be trained in the operation of inflatable life rafts as well as other lifesaving equipment . Input from the owners and operators of Creat Lakes vessels, along with their crews' labor organizations and training schools, will be solicited.
c . The Coast Guard is expanding its public awareness program to provide useful information to seamen and aid operators and unions in the conduct of their training programs. In September 1975, a pamphlet on hypothermia, CG—473, was published and distributed on the Great Lakes and other areas where cold weather survival could be a problem. A proposal has been submitted within the Coast Guard to the Office of Research and Development to develop a means by which the public, specifically those on board commercial vessels, will be made aware of various safety factors, regulations, and safe operating pro— cedures that apply to their particular commercial operation. For example, pamphlets may be developed and distributed (i.e. , via labor unions, commercial fisherman organizations, vessel documentation officers, professional and business organizations) for each class of commercial operation. Great Lakes vessels would be an appropriate area for such a public awareness program.
A summary of the Board's report and an article, directed at increasing the mariner's awareness of the hazards of the Great Lakes, will be prepared for publication in the Proceedings of the Marine Safety Council.
Concerning Recommendations 10 and 13, a Notice of Proposed Rule-making based on an Advance Notice of Proposed Rule-making, published 7 June 1976 in the Federal Register, is being prepared for Great Lakes cargo, tank, and passenger vessels which will propose that :
a. All lifeboats on vessels be totally enclosed to provide protection from exposure and to lessen the danger of swamping and subsequent capsizing.
b. All lifeboats be diesel engine driven with the ability to start the engine in temperatures as low as —22 O F.
c. Sufficient lifeboats be provided to accommodate 100% of the persons on board the ship with additional lifeboats and life rafts provided and located so as to provide accommodation for an additional 100% in the event that a casualty renders the other lifeboats unusable .
d. All survival craft be provided with launching devices which will be launched from their stowed positions with all persons onboard, eliminating the need for lengthy pre-launch preparation, a deck crew to stay aboard to control the launch, and in the case of life rafts, the need to enter the water before boarding.
e. Automatic float—free launching be required for life rafts.
f. . An exposure suit be required for each person on board that will protect the wearer from exposure and hypothermia.
The remainder of the Board's recommendations are addressed individually.
Action: The Coast Guard will develop performance criteria for loading manuals which will cover all the items in this recommendation except flooding conditions. Flooding conditions will be addressed in conjunction with the casualty control efforts discussed in the action on Recommendation 2 .
Action: Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District has implemented this recommendation by issuing a District Directive on 9 September 1976. This Directive contains the requirements and guidelines for scheduling maintenance and underway periods of Coast Guard vessels on the Great Lakes .
Action: Action is being taken to permit the operation of EPIRB's [Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons} in the VHF—FM marine band. There is at present virtually complete shore station coverage on the Great Lakes on this band and constant monitoring of Channel 16 by stations in both the United States and Canada. A prototype EPIRB for testing is now being developed by the Transportation Systems Center. When the VHF—FM EPIRB's become available, regulations will be proposed requiring that they be installed on board inspected Great Lakes vessels during all seasons.
Action: A copy of the completed marine casualty report will be forwarded to the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with a request that they coordinate the correction of the applicable charts"
-USCG Report No. USCG 16732/64216