USCG detains 751-foot bulk carrier for safety violations

The United States Coast Guard detained the bulk carrier Lowlands Kamsar in Seattle, Wash. Monday after discovering several safety violations onboard.    The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) detained the Lowlands Kamsar in Seattle, Wash. Monday after several violations were discovered aboard the 751-foot Panamanian-flagged bulk carrier during an exam carried out by Coast Guard Port State Control officers.
   The Lowlands Kamsar’s crew disabled the vessel’s automatic fire extinguishing system, which protects the engine room, the USCG said yesterday. In addition, the vessel’s owner, Misuga S.A., failed to ensure that appropriate corrective action was taken.
   Until the violations are corrected, the Lowlands Kamsar will remain in Sector Puget Sound’s Captain of the Port zone.
   “The Port State Control program holds foreign flagged vessels to internationally agreed upon standards to ensure the safety of life at sea,” Sector Puget Sound, Chief of Port State Control Branch Lt. Kimberly Glore said. “Fire detection and extinguishing systems are vital systems that must be ready for immediate use in case of a fire onboard the ship. We are continuing to monitor the Lowlands Kamsar and are working with the crew and Panamanian representatives to correct these deficiencies.”