The following is the text of a press release issued by the U.S. Coast Guard:
(NEW ORLEANS) — The Coast Guard granted a three month extension Thursday to the motor vessel Stuyvesant, which currently has outstanding deficiencies that need to be repaired in dry dock.
These deficiencies are not deemed by the Coast Guard to pose an unacceptable risk to the vessel, crew or the environment. The Stuyvesant, a 340-foot ocean-going dredge, is currently supporting the response efforts for the Deepwater Horizon oil spill through its involvement with the building of sand berms to help minimize the effects of the oil along Louisiana’s coast.
The Coast Guard has documented outstanding deficiencies for the Stuyvesant, which were originally required to be fixed by June 26, 2010. As a result of the Stuyvesant’s involvement in the oil spill response, the Coast Guard granted a three month extension. The new deadline for fixing the existing Coast Guard deficiencies is September 26, 2010.
U.S. regulations do not require Stuyvesant to hold a classification in order to accomplish the dredging work they are currently conducting. The Stuyvesant is classed by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and therefore must also meet the requirements of the ABS as the Classification Society. Classification is part of what is used to underwrite insurance for vessels. To be in compliance with the ABS, the Stuyvesant is required to dry dock by June 26, 2010 or face the possibility of having its Class suspended. If the vessel’s Class is suspended or revoked, the Stuyvesant’s owner can require the vessel to cease Deepwater Horizon dredging operations until the deficiencies are cleared.
