AWO Strengthens Global Partnerships at OCIMF Day

The International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) has also released updated safety guidelines to address emerging fire risks associated with transporting electric vehicles by sea. With roughly 20 million cars shipped annually and EV volumes rising, IUMI highlights that while no vessel fires have been directly linked to EVs, these incidents pose unique hazards, including higher peak temperatures--sometimes exceeding 1,000 degrees Celcius--and the release of explosive gases during thermal runaway events. The guidelines focus on improving ventilation, addressing structural vulnerabilities in Pure Car and Truck Carriers (PCTCs), and promoting a "Fixed First" firefighting strategy that prioritizes early activation of fixed suppression systems. IUMI continues to work with the IMO to strengthen international fire safety standards for vessels carrying new energy vehicles.

Safety Professional Focus: Brian Khey

Brian Khey is Vice President of Safety and Compliance at Marquette Transportation Company, a role he has held for the past six years. He draws upon a distinguished 23-year career in the U.S. Coast Guard, where his leadership positions included Supervisor of the Outer Continental Shelf National Center of Expertise and Chief of the Prevention Department in New Orleans. Mr. Khey actively contributes to tugboat, towboat and barge industry safety through his service on the National Towing Safety Advisory Committee (NTSAC) and the AWO Safety Leadership Advisory Panel (SLAP).

What are some of the key safety initiatives that you are focused on to ensure the safety of Marquette employees and contractors?

At Marquette, our entire safety philosophy is centered on the principle of "Conquering Harm," which means proactively safeguarding life, the environment, and our equipment. This goal is achieved by focusing on two foundational pillars: the safety of our people and the precision of our navigation.

The cornerstone of this effort is our culture. We are dedicated to cultivating a workplace where every team member feels empowered to do the right thing and has the confidence to speak up when they feel unsafe or to identify a potential risk. Several key initiatives support this culture:

• Proactive Navigational Planning: We utilize geofencing in critical navigational areas. This technology prompts a required discussion between the vessel's wheelman and shoreside personnel before a vessel enters a challenging waterway to ensure a comprehensive and shared plan is in place.

• Targeted Training: We leverage Learning Engagement Tools to address specific, high-risk topics such as heat stress, distracted operations, and pinch points, ensuring our crews are equipped with relevant and timely knowledge.

• Active Shoreside Engagement: We place immense value on maintaining a strong shoreside presence on our vessels. It is vital that our leadership team listens directly to our crews, understands the challenges they face, and uses that feedback to drive meaningful improvements across the fleet.

You bring a great breadth of experience to your role, including as a veteran of the Coast Guard and an active member of several private and public safety focused organizations, including the National Towing Safety Advisory Committee and AWO's Safety Leadership Advisory Panel. How have these experiences shaped your approach to building and maintaining a strong safety culture?

My approach was fundamentally shaped early in my Coast Guard career while serving as a young Marine Inspector. I had the privilege of being mentored by two senior marine inspectors who instilled in me the importance of constantly asking three questions: "What is the intent of the regulation?", "What is the applicability?", and "Have you checked all of the policies?"

This way of thinking taught me that effective safety management isn't about the rigid, black-and-white application of rules. Instead, it's about collaborating with industry to meet the intent of those regulations. True safety is achieved through practical solutions. An idea may seem effective in theory, but if it is not practical or easily implemented by the mariners on the front line, it can be counterproductive.

I apply this principle of practicality in all aspects of my work, whether at Marquette or during my contributions to NTSAC and the AWO Safety Leadership Advisory Panel. The goal is always to develop and implement safety enhancements that are both effective and realistically achievable in the operational environment.

You have been highly successful in your career! Can you share how you came to work in the marine industry and any advice you have for someone considering a career in maritime transportation?

My path into the marine industry began at the New York Maritime College, where I was accepted into the Coast Guard's Maritime Academy Reserve Training Program (MARTP). This program provided invaluable hands-on experience, allowing me to conduct Port State Control inspections on weekends and a wide variety of vessel inspections during summers.

That early exposure confirmed my passion for marine safety and set the course for what would become a 23-year career in the Coast Guard.

Throughout my service and in my transition to the private sector, my passion for enhancing safety in the maritime industry has remained the driving force.

For anyone considering a career in this field, my advice is to recognize that the industry's greatest asset is its people. The most rewarding and impactful part of my work has always been the relationships formed with the people on the front lines. Whether speaking with our captains and crew members, collaborating with fellow safety professionals, or engaging with my former colleagues in the Coast Guard, it is the people who make this industry exceptional. My advice is to listen, learn, and build strong connections at every level-that is the key to a fulfilling and successful maritime career.

Coast Guard and Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Safety Alerts

The U.S. Coast Guard, NTSB, and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement publish Safety Alerts on their websites on a regular basis. Alerts issued since last publication of the NTZ are listed below:

• U.S. Coast Guard Safety Alert 17-25: Parasail Operations: Inclement Weather and Emergency Situations
• BSEE Safety Alert 508 - Review anchor-handling plans now: Incident damages subsea equipment, triggers gas release.
• BSEE Safety Alert 507 - Improper Use of Equipment and Tools Increases Risk of Fires and Explosions Offshore.
• BSEE Safety Alert 506 - Arc Flash Incident Highlights Critical Need for Voltage Verification During Offshore Electrical Maintenance.

Stakeholders are urged to review these alerts to enhance safety measures and prevent incidents. Please contact Michael Breslin for more information.

USCG Sector Ohio Valley Issues MSIB Highlighting Distraction Risks for Vessel Pilots

The USCG Sector Ohio Valley Marine Safety Information Bulletin 04-2025, published in September, warns of the serious hazards posed by pilot use of personal electronic devices (PED) while operating vessels. The bulletin cites a "concerning trend of pilots and operators of commercial vessels engaging in streaming activities and active social media use while on duty," which undermines situational awareness, slows reaction time, and can impair judgment during navigation. The Coast Guard reminds mariners that such actions violate navigation and bridge resource management regulations, placing crews, vessels, and the public at risk. The Coast Guard urges operators to adopt and enforce clear "no-device" policies, designate phone-free zones such as the wheelhouse, and provide comprehensive training on the dangers of distracted operation.

This alert aligns directly with AWO's Distracted Operations Resources, which offer tools to help members develop company policies, safety talks, and training modules addressing cognitive, visual, and manual distraction. Both the MSIB and AWO's resources reinforce a shared goal: ensuring that mariners remain fully focused when performing safety-critical duties. By integrating these Coast Guard recommendations with AWO's best practices, companies can strengthen their bridge management culture, prevent distraction-related incidents, and continue advancing toward the industry's goal of zero harm.

USCG Reports of Investigation and Findings of Concern

The U.S. Coast Guard offers a monthly email to alert stakeholders about new Reports of Investigation and Findings of Concern, published on its Office of Investigations & Casualty Analysis website. To request alerts, email HQS-SMB-CG-INV@uscg.mil with the subject line "Please add me to the Monthly Findings of Concern Distribution List" or "Please add me to the Monthly Reports of Investigation Distribution List."

These Reports of Investigation (RoI) and Findings of Concern (FoC)  highlight recent towing-related cases and high value lessons from other vessel classes released since the last safety newsletter:

• RoI 7879209 - 3-12-2024 - Allision of the Recreational Fishing Vessel LINDEDOUT (Hull Identification Number JDJ5V303J223) With Fixed Platform SS-087B Resulting in the Loss of One Life While Underway Near South Marsh Island Block 69 in the Gulf of America.
• RoI 7556241 - 09-10-2022 - U.S. Coast Guard Report of Investigation: Collision Between the Uninspected Passenger Vessel (UPV) TX5645JL and the UPV TX9011JL Resulting in Injuries and the Loss of One Life While Underway in the Vicinity of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Inner Basin Near Corpus Christi, Texas.
• RoI 7681968 - 04-28-2023 - Fire Aboard the Offshore Supply Vessel HARVEY ENERGY (O.N. 1243697) Resulting in Two Injuries While Moored in Port Fourchon, Louisiana.
• RoI 7114883 - 10-15-2020 - Capsizing of the Gold Dredging Vessel CHARLOTTE (AK5879C) and Subsequent Loss of Two Lives in the Bering Sea, 2 Nautical Miles Southwest of Cape Nome, Alaska.
• RoI 7724663 - 6-18-2023 - Marine Board's Report (initial): Implosion of the Submersible TITAN (CG1788361) in the North Atlantic Ocean Near the Wreck of the RMS TITANIC Resulting in the Loss of Five Lives.
  • Enclosures: (1) Marine Board of Investigation Convening Order dated June 23, 2023
  • Appendix: (A) NTSB Materials Laboratory Factual Report 24-011 dated July 5, 2024
  • Appendix: (B) NTSB Materials Laboratory Factual Report 24-012 dated July 5, 2024
• RoI 7904106 - 04-27-2024 - Capsizing and the Loss of One Life Aboard the Recreational Vessel CT5085BF While Under Tow by the Assistance Towing Vessel SEA TOW (O.N. 1346603) Offshore of Point Gammon Near Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
• RoI 7969744 - 02-10-2024 - Fall Overboard into the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and Subsequent Loss of Life from the Uninspected Freight Barge JMC 300 (O.N. 1094810) While Moored at LAD Services of Louisiana Shipyard in Amelia, Louisiana.
• RoI 7818429 - 05-24-2023 - Man Overboard and Subsequent Loss of Life from the Passenger Vessel BLACKBEARD'S REVENGE (Bahamas Registry NP:8095) in the Vicinity of Nassau, Bahamas.
• FoC 012-25 - September 2025 - Wind Related Decision Making: Prioritizing Safety During Vessel Maneuvers.

Stakeholders are urged to review these alerts to enhance safety measures and prevent incidents. Please contact Michael Breslin for more information.

AWO High-Value Near Misses for August

AWO's High-Value Near Miss Program seeks to prevent incidents by sharing lessons learned. In addition, AWO's Tankering and Barge Operations Subcommittee has established the Terminal Near Miss Program, which investigates near misses at terminals to form action plans to mitigate or eliminate hazards by communicating with terminal operators. Bridge events may be recorded using AWO's Bridge Event Reporting Form.

MEMBER-SUBMITTED NEAR MISS :

Water Skier Falls in Front of Towing Vessel Underway with Barges

Incident Summary
A towing vessel pushing a fuel-oil barge on a narrow multi-use waterway in California was making 3.5 knots when the captain noticed a ski-type pleasure boat pulling a water skier at approximately 1/4 mile ahead and approaching quickly toward his port bow. Approximately 300 feet in front of the tow, the skier fell in front of the tow. The captain immediately sounded the danger signal and turned starboard, narrowly missing the person in the water. The captain of the towing vessel noted that he would surely have run over the person if not for his keen lookout and quick course change.

 Key Safety Issues

• NAV RULE 9: Narrow Channel: Vessels should operate "as near to the outer limit of the channel" and "shall not impede the passage of a vessel that can safely navigate only within a narrow channel." 
• NAV RULE 34: Maneuvering and Warning Signals: Power-driven vessels in sight of one another shall signal by whistle, light, or other obvious means as to their intention when meeting or passing.
• Risk of Fatality or Severe Injury: The pleasure boat operator, passengers, and the skier were at risk of serious injury or death by operating in an unsafe manner near commercial vessels in a busy waterway.
• Risk of Serious Marine Incident: The pleasure boat and water skier put not only themselves at risk, but also risked the life and health of the professional mariners on the tow, the other boaters in the area, the community and the environment by forcing the towing vessel to make a course correction that could have led to grounding, allision, collision with another vessel, or a number of other possibilities.

 Next Steps:

Sharing near misses like this within your company and with AWO, harbor safety committees, and boating authorities such as the California State Parks Boating Division and the Coast Guard provides an opportunity for other vessel operators to learn from this near miss and prevent an incident resulting from similar circumstances in the future.

AWO will hold its next HERO Award ceremony on February 26, 2026, during the AWO Winter Safety Meeting in New Orleans. To nominate your crew's efforts, fill out this simple form on the AWO website. Each event is recognized with a certificate of recognition for the vessel, a HERO Award Coin for each mariner, and a complimentary one-year marine license and liability insurance policy for each mariner offered by 360 Coverage Pros & Berkley Offshore.