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MARINE SAFETY UNIT CHICAGO

Chicago, Illinois Unit Logo

NEW ADDRESS

555 Plainfield Rd. Suite A
Willowbrook, IL 60527
630-986-2155
630-986-2120 fax
(click here to view map)

Additional information available on http://homeport.uscg.mil/lakemichigan

Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Chicago is responsible for executing the Coast Guard’s Port Safety and Security, Marine Environmental Protection, and Commercial Vessel Safety missions under the auspices of the Department of Homeland Security. These missions serve as the underpinnings of our stewardship to ensure a safe, secure, and environmentally sound maritime domain that continues to promote recreation and the free flow of commerce on Southern Lake Michigan, as well as the Chicago Area Waterway System and the Illinois River Watershed.

MSU Chicago serves an active network of domestic and international maritime interests covering the Lake Michigan shorelines of Illinois and Indiana, as well as 177 miles of the Illinois River System segmented by 7 locks and over 250 bridges. The MSU Chicago area of responsibility includes 9 Lake Michigan ports, a fleet of 235 inspected vessels, 101 regulated waterfront facilities, and 8 permanent security zones. They also oversee the safety and security of more than 25 million passengers that frequent 6 Riverboat Casinos and 58 passenger vessels annually.

As the third largest intermodal container handler in the world and the largest distribution center in the nation with a population of 8.2 million, Chicago is a crossroads of commerce nationally, as well as a regional attraction for recreation on the water. The unit’s 53 active duty, reserve and civilian personnel perform a variety of tasks each day, ranging from conducting armed port security patrols, inspecting commercial vessels, conducting pollution and marine casualty investigations, enforcing safety zones and conducting waterfront facility exams for compliance with federal regulations. In the past year, unit members have dedicated their time to numerous port security and harbor patrols, conducted 707 vessel inspections, completed 185 investigations, and oversaw regulatory compliance at 101 waterfront facilities.

Marine Safety Unit (MSU) Chicago is located in the Southwest Suburbs of Chicago in Burr Ridge, Illinois, 40 minutes from Downtown Chicago.

National Response Center

Report suspicious activity at: 1-800-424-8802
Contact the NRC for oil spills, hazmat releases or breaches of security.

The swine flu virus (H1N1) is infecting people and is spreading from person-to-person, sparking a growing outbreak of illness in the United States. An increasing number of cases are being reported internationally as well. Passenger vessels are encouraged to train their crews in preventative measures as soon as possible.

EPA launched “SmartWay” an innovative brand that represents environmentally cleaner, more fuel efficient transportation options. The EPA believes the quality of the environment is everyone’s responsibility; therefore, SmartWay is a personal choice that can make a difference for the environment.

Current News and Events

FINAL RULING "Limited Service Domestic Voyage Load Lines for River Barges on Lake Michigan"

The Coast Guard is establishing a special load line regime for certain unmanned dry-cargo river barges to be exempted from the normal Great Lakes load line assignment while operating on Lake Michigan. Depending on the route, eligible barges may obtain a limited domestic service load line assignment or be conditionally exempted from any load line assignment at all. This special load line regime allows river barges operating under safe conditions to directly transport non- hazardous cargoes originating at inland river ports as far as Milwaukee and Muskegon, resulting in significant cost savings.
See the following links: Text , PDF

Towing Vessel Bridging Program

A Towing Vessel Bridging Program (TVBP) has been initiated by the Office of Vessel Activities (CG-5431) to ease the transition and ensure that both the Coast Guard and the towing vessel industry are informed and prepared to meet the new requirements to be finalized in Subchapter M. This goal will be accomplished by enhancing, improving, and increasing Coast Guard interactions with the towing vessel industry, and by acclimating all involved with the procedures, policy, requirements and administration of existing and, as implementation draws closer, new Subchapter M regulations. To further these ends, during this period of transition the Coast Guard will conduct extensive industry outreach, properly train our people, and will examine every uninspected towing vessel (UTV) that will be inspected under Subchapter M.

The initial focus of Phase I will be on industry outreach and CG personnel education, and qualification. The focus will shift to conducting Industry Initiated Examinations after CG personnel are trained and qualified to perform towing vessel examinations. Phase 1 commenced during the summer of 2009 with an anticipated duration of up to 18 months, but will be scaled based on progress in meeting industry demand for exams.

For more information, please contact Jeff Carie at (630)986-2140.

Marine Safety Information Bulletins and Safety Alerts

Review all current Marine Safety Unit Chicago Information Bulletins and recent Safety Alerts.

Ninth District : Drawbridge Signals/Operation Delay Report Form

Please download, complete, and promptly submit this form to the Ninth District Bridge Branch Office within 15 days of each reported incident or delay.

Life-Saving

Watch Video

United States Coast Guard - A History of Chicago

A short and poetic video of the historical presence of the United States Coast Guard in the Chicago area.

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Last Modified 1/26/2012