The United States Coast Guard and Marine Safety Office Memphis are committed to the elimination of substandard vessels from U.S. waters. At coastal ports, this initiative is addressed via Port State Control actions. Vessels are boarded to ensure their compliance with applicable U.S. laws and regulations as well as international laws and treaties. If any discrepancies are found, they are documented in the Coast Guard's Marine Safety Information System (MSIS).
At western river ports, the initiative is addressed with actions associated with the Cooperative Towing Vessel Examination Program (CTVEP). The owners and operators of towing vessels invite the Coast Guard to board their vessels and check for compliance with applicable laws and regulations. After the initial examination, no violation reports are processed. The operators are given a list of the discrepancies and allowed an opportunity to correct them. Once the discrepancies are corrected the, Boarding Officers verify and enter the examination results into MSIS.
The public may check a vessel's history to see if the vessel is part of the CTVEP. Using a computer via Internet, anyone can access the Port Safety Information Exchange, or "PSIX system" for short. The address is http://psix.uscg.mil. The system not only portrays vessels that have trouble meeting the requirements of laws and regulations, but also shows the vessel's history of marine causalities. Most importantly, companies with a commitment to excellence are easily identified by successful participation in the CTVEP and minimal association with marine casualties.
The PSIX system contains vessel specific information derived from the MSIS. The information contained in PSIX represents a snapshot of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) data compiled within the MSIS database. Information on unclosed cases or cases pending further action is considered privileged information and is precluded from the PSIX system. The U.S. Coast Guard and the United States are not liable for any loss, damage, or harm resulting from the use of information contained in this database, or for any reliance on its accuracy, completeness or timeliness. Unauthorized attempts to upload information or change information on this web site are strictly prohibited and may be punishable under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 and the National Information Infrastructure Protection Act.
If you are the owner or operator of a towing vessel which operates in the Marine Safety Office Memphis zone (from mile 507 to 882 on the LMR and the entire Arkansas River system) and would like to join the CTVEP, please call the Port Operations Department at (901) 544-3941 ext: 231 or by e-mail to "C.Brackett/MSOMemphis@internet.uscg.mil".
For more information or questions about the system, please contact Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Eric A. Bauer at (901) 544-3941 ext: 238 or by e-mail at "E.Bauer/MSOMemphis@internet.uscg.mil".For more information or questions about the system, please contact Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Eric A. Bauer at (901) 544-3941 ext: 238 or by e-mail at "E.Bauer/MSOMemphis@internet.uscg.mil".