Security Levels
SECTOR SAN JUAN
INSPECTIONS
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Inspections Overview:
The Inspections Department is responsible for ensuring the safety of commercial vessels in the ports of Puerto Rico and the U. S. Virgin Islands. The department’s responsibilities include conducting commercial U.S. vessel inspections and Port State Control examinations and providing documentation and licensing services to U.S. Merchant Mariners. The U.S. fleet is comprised mainly of small passenger vessels inspected under Subchapters T and K, and several tank vessels and tank barges. The majority of the department’s workload comes from foreign flagged freight and passenger vessels. In an average year, Puerto Rico has over 5000 foreign vessel arrivals and the Virgin Islands have over 2800 arrivals. Additionally, San Juan receives over 650 foreign passenger vessel arrivals and St. Thomas receives over 1250 passenger vessel arrivals per year. Additionally, the Port of San Juan is ranked 4th in container TEUs in the US and 16th in the world and the Hovensa Oil Refinery ranks as the 5th largest tanker port in the US according to American Association of Port Authorities 1999 statistics.
Principally through on-scene vessel inspection activities are conducted by experienced Marine Inspectors, the Coast Guard enforces an array of U.S. and international standards relating to the design, construction, and operation of U.S. commercial vessels. Our Inspection program’s primary objective is to protect individuals, their property and the marine environment from the consequences of incidents involving material unsafe vessels. Vessel inspections focus on lifesaving and fire fighting systems, hull structure and machinery, pollution prevention, navigation systems, human factors and emergency procedures. The Inspection Department also conducts voluntary examination programs for three classes of un-inspected vessels: commercial fishing, towing, and passenger.
The ports in Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands receive approximately 3000 foreign vessel arrivals, annually. These vessels are subject to many U. S. and International laws and regulations while operating in U. S. waters. The goals of this program are to reduce the risk posed by substandard vessels to the safety and security of our ports and the marine environment and to eliminate those substandard vessels from operating in the United States. The U.S. Coast Guard's Port State Control Program ensures all foreign vessels trading in the United States are periodically boarded. We have developed a comprehensive Agents Handbook that has consolidated Coast Guard Regulations and Policy for vessels operating in Puerto Rico and the U.S.Virgin Islands.
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