MAY 2018 • FOGHORN 23 SAFETYMATTERS by the crew or company personnel and proactive steps are taken to correct problems, that type of behavior should be rewarded. If there are ongoing repairs at the time of a Coast Guard inspection, notifying the Coast Guard of said repairs will put the deficiency in the self reported category. Sure, the deficiencies will still be documented by the Coast Guard on the CG-835V, but those requirements will not show up on the Coast Guard’s online searchable database, the Port State Information Exchange (PSIX). In addition, worklist items associ- ated with new construction, refits, and drydock inspections will also not show up in PSIX. Again, the information will be used to determine common deficien- cies and trends across the fleet, but not in a vessel’s history. Your Vessel’s Online Profile The closest thing your vessel has to an online profile are the records main- tained in the USCG Marine Information Exchange (CGMIX) at https://cgmix. uscg.mil/. Within CGMIX is the PSIX database where vessels can be located, and their Coast Guard interactions examined. Deficiency history is one of the primary areas tracked in PSIX. Proactive operators should see a decrease in deficiencies logged into PSIX. A Nod to SIP Block 7 of the new CG-835V documents if the vessel is part of an alternative compliance program. One of the options is SIP or the Streamlined Inspection Program. There are still a handful of companies participating in this program originally rolled out in the late 1990s as a domestic alternative to safety management. Until now we believed it was largely abandoned by the Coast Guard since their inspectors are no longer trained in this form of alternate com- pliance. Perhaps that will change. Of note under the Action Code block at the bottom of the form is the ability to clear a requirement to the satisfaction of the SIP coordinator. Let’s hope this is progress. Impact The new CG-835V is full of references to safety management, PSC, alternative compliance and Recognized Organizations. Some of those are not applicable to our world of work, but safety, quality, and compliance are squarely in our wheelhouse. Those who embrace safety management and SIP should be rewarded. If the Coast Guard can use this form to provide information improving an already safe industry with a strong culture of safety, then that is an impact we need to embrace. n Designed for Productivity On Time Solutions Re-powered with twin 6-cylinder Volvo Penta D13MH 400-HP keel engines, Maid of the Mist sightseeing vessels are proving to be better performing, more responsive and more efficient than ever before, according to their captains. Learn more at volvopenta.us/marinecommercial