Specialized provider of Maritime Solutions in the areas of Quality, Health, Safety, Environmental, Security and Risk Management.
Header

Good maintenance on board ships – Edition January 2015 by Class NK

18 Μαΐου, 2015 | Posted by admin in IMO | ISM | ISPS | Marpol | MOU | PARIS MOU | PSC | SOLAS | STCW | TOKYO MOU - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Good maintenance on board ships – Edition January 2015 by Class NK)

Click here for the new version of the well know “good maintenance on board ships” recently published by Class NKK in January 2015 including ISM/ISPS/MLC related check points.

, , , , , ,

Water Mist Systems – PSC detentions

18 Μαΐου, 2015 | Posted by admin in MOU | PARIS MOU | PSC | SOLAS | USCG - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Water Mist Systems – PSC detentions)

The Republic of the Marshall Islands has issued a marine safety advisory regarding some recent PSC Detentions due to issues with water mist systems.

We would like to emphasise the importance of having all water mist systems fully operational, all the time.

The majority of the detentions regarding the water mist systems on foreign flagged vessels entering US ports were related to the system being in “manual” mode instead of “automatic” mode. In several cases, the water supply valve was found closed, rendering the water mist system “not readily available for immediate use”.

The recommendations include paying close attention to valve alignment as well as ensuring that there is adequate labelling reminding the crew on board that critical fixed firefighting equipment must be made available for immediate use. The water mist control panels must be kept in “automatic” mode (and power supply turned “on”).

Special attention should be given to verify these settings prior to entering a U.S. port.

The full text of the Marine Safety Advisory can be found herein.

, ,

​PSC in China – China MSA

18 Μαΐου, 2015 | Posted by admin in PSC | TOKYO MOU - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο ​PSC in China – China MSA)

Click here to download  a summary of China PSC inspections during 2014 with detainable deficiencies/photographs in various ports of China.​

,

Port State Control of ILO MLC – Get Ready for 20 August!

16 Ιουλίου, 2013 | Posted by admin in Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Port State Control of ILO MLC – Get Ready for 20 August!)

The ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) enters into force on 20 August, and some countries may begin to enforce the ILO new standards via Port State Control inspections.

On 20 August 2013, the ILO Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) will enter into force and ship operators will need to be ready.

At the 2006 Diplomatic Conference which adopted the MLC, ILO also adopted a Resolution which recommends that Port State Control (PSC) should not commence until 12 months after entry into force, i.e. August 2014. However, some port states, if they have ratified the MLC, may still decide to subject ships to PSC inspections to check compliance with the MLC from 20 August 2013.

The International Chamber of Shipping/International Shipping Federation – which negotiated the MLC text on behalf of employers – have therefore produced some free advice for ship operators about MLC PSC .

WHEN CAN PORT STATES EXERCISE PSC?

1. NATIONS ENTITLED TO EXERCISE PSC FROM 20 AUGUST 2013 (notwithstanding ILO Recommendation)

Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Gabon, Kiribati, Latvia, Liberia, Luxembourg, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Norway, Palau, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Russian Federation, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Togo, Tuvalu.

2. NATIONS ENTITLED TO BEGIN EXERCISING PSC BETWEEN 20 AUGUST 2013 AND 20 AUGUST 2014

Barbados, Fiji, Finland, France,Greece, Lebanon, Malta,Morocco, Nigeria, Serbia,South Africa, Viet Nam.Exact dates of ratification(with PSC being permitted 12 months later) can be found at http://bit.ly/QHRuQa

3. NATIONS THAT HAVE NOT YET RATIFIED THE ILO MLC*

These states are not permitted to enforce PSC until 12 months after the date of ratification – See Article VIII, Paragraph 4 of the Convention.

The following advice is intended to help ship operators avoid potential PSC problems.

See  www.ics-shipping.org/ilopscguidance.pdf

, ,

Port State Control – Crew Familiarisation and Training: a weak area

27 Φεβρουαρίου, 2013 | Posted by admin in Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Port State Control – Crew Familiarisation and Training: a weak area)

In accordance with the ISM Code 6.3 and 6.5, the company managing the vessel must ensure that the ship’s personnel are familiar with their duties and should establish procedures for identifying training needs.

Unfortunately, shipboard audits and port state control results show this to be a weak area. In many cases, the crew is unfamiliar with the ship-specific LSA, FFS and pollution-prevention equipment.

An example that requires ship operators’ attention is the crew’s lack of familiarity with the 15ppm Oil Content Meter (OCM), else known as 15ppm Bilge Alarm and their inability to retrieve the built-in history log when so requested by the authorities.

BACKGROUND
IMO resolution MEPC.107(49) of 18 July 2003 adopted the Revised Guidelines and Specifications for Pollution Prevention Equipment for Machinery Space Bilges of Ships.

Oil-filtering equipment and 15ppm OCM approved by latest standards are fitted to newbuildings with a keel laid on or after 01/01/2005 or to existing ships when the equipment is replaced after 01/01/2005.

One of the new features of this latest technology is that the 15ppm OCM is fitted with a built-in electronic history log. The system automatically keeps records of the equipment’s operations. These records must remain available on board for 18 months for third-party inspections (reference MEPC.107 (49) paragraph 4.2).

The ship’s personnel need to be trained to operate the equipment and should be able to retrieve the history log when requested (reference MEPC.07(49) paragraph 1.1.5 and ISM Code).

DEFICIENCIES
During a port state control inspection, the engine-room personnel (usually the Chief Engineer) might be requested to retrieve the electronic log from the OCM. The records are then compared with the entries in the Oil Record Book.

Inspections reveal that very often the crew does not know how to retrieve the log from the unit. Even worse, the crew sometimes completely ignores the fact that the unit keeps a built-in log of its operations and alarms. On several occasions when the records have been compared to the Oil Record Book, serious inconsistencies have been revealed leading to in-depth MARPOL inspections.

RECOMMENDATION TO SHIP MANAGERS

The company should check what types of equipment it has on board its ship and amend its training procedures accordingly. The crew should be trained on the ship-specific type of OCM and should know how to retrieve the history log from the unit.

The company is further strongly recommended to use this facility of the OCM to check the accuracy of the Oil Record Book entries during its internal on board inspections.

Source: DNV

, , ,

Hong Kong (MD) – Establishement of Quality Assurance System in the SMSM

5 Δεκεμβρίου, 2012 | Posted by admin in Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Hong Kong (MD) – Establishement of Quality Assurance System in the SMSM)

The Hong Kong Marine Department(MD) announced the policy to ensure their in house Quality Assurance System to monitor more effectively the PSC situation of their managed ships.

The implementation of this system will be verified during DOC and SMC audits from 1 January 2013 and ship management companies are required to prepare the successful implementation of the Quality Assurance System in consideration of  Circular No. 85.

, ,

USCG – Guidance implementing the AFS Convention

19 Οκτωβρίου, 2012 | Posted by admin in Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο USCG – Guidance implementing the AFS Convention)

The US Coast Guard issued a policy letter providing guidance to US vessels and to foreign vessels calling in US waters on compliance with the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships (AFS Convention). The policy letter addresses domestic vessel inspections and certifications, as well as port state control (PSC) procedures for foreign vessels.

Starting on November 21, 2012, US flagged vessels, wherever located, and foreign flagged vessels in the United States, in any port, shipyard, offshore terminal, or other place in the US, lightering in the territorial sea of the US, or anchoring in the territorial sea of the US, must comply with the applicable portions of the AFS Convention. The type of anti- fouling systems controlled (prohibited) are specified in Annex 1 of the Convention. The Coast Guard implements the AFS Convention through reference (a), (33 U.S.C. §§ 3801-3857). Compliance verification for US and foreign vessels shall follow the process and scope as described in the applicable portions of this policy letter.

Port State Control Procedures are also outlined in this policy letter.

Click here to read the policy letter CG-CVC 12-08 dtd 15/10/2012 .

 

, , ,

Port State Control deficiencies on oil content meters

30 Αυγούστου, 2012 | Posted by admin in OWS | PSC - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Port State Control deficiencies on oil content meters)

Several port State control reports noted involving deficiencies related to crew members not having sufficient  or adequate knowledge on retrieving historical data from  Oil Content Meters (OCM) installed on Oily Water Separator  units.

It is recommended Masters, Officers, and crew members to review the following and take the appropriate precautionary measures:

  1. Based on U.S. PSC examinations, crew members have been requested to retrieve historical data from Oil Content Meters (OCM)  which meet the MEPC 107(49) requirements.

  2. On several occasions, crew members were not familiar with how to retrieve historical data  from the OCM  and  in these instances, the vessels were issued  action code 17, “rectify before departure,”  deficiencies.   Also on one occasion, the inability to demonstrate retrieval of historical data led to the identification of a defective OCM. 

  3. For vessels equipped with OWS filtering equipment complying with MEPC 107(49), officers and crew members must be thoroughly familiar with the operation and maintenance of the equipment, which includes the ability to retrieve historical data from the OCM in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions and as indicated in MEPC 107 (49) and as paraphrased as follows: 

“4.2.9 The 15 ppm Bilge Alarm should record date, time and alarm status, and operating status of the 15 ppm Bilge Separator. The recording device should also store data for at least eighteen months and should be able to display or print a protocol for official inspections as required. In the event the 15 ppm Bilge Alarm is replaced, means should be provided to ensure the data recorded remains available on board for 18 months”.

,

Indian Ocean, Black Sea and Viña del Mar MOUs – CIC on Fire Safety System

27 Αυγούστου, 2012 | Posted by admin in Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Indian Ocean, Black Sea and Viña del Mar MOUs – CIC on Fire Safety System)

In 27 June 2012 through post http://www.ombros-consulting.com/?p=1045 we have advised that the Paris and Tokyo MOUs on Port State Control (PSC) would be running a joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) from 1 September 2012 until 30 November 2012 covering compliance with SOLAS Chapter II-2/Construction – fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction. The Indian Ocean, Black Sea and Viña del Mar MOUs on PSC have since announced they will also be running a CIC covering compliance with the same regulatory requirements during the same period.

Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) conducting routine PSC inspections during the currency of the CIC may refer to an additional checklist of 12 items which is the same as the CIC checklist being used by the Paris and Tokyo MOUs, covering the following areas:

  1. Fire Control Plan

  2. Fire detection and alarm systems

  3. Fire fighting appliances

  4. Fire suppression systems

  5. Emergency fire pump and fire main isolation valves

  6. Escape route lighting

  7. The planned maintenance system in place in respect of these areas

In addition to the physical inspection and testing of the foregoing areas, the crew may be required to demonstrate their familiarity with the fire fighting systems and appliances and may also be called upon to conduct a fire drill for the benefit of the PSCO.

If deficiencies are found, the action taken will depend on the severity of the findings. Serious deficiencies may result in the vessel being detained, particularly if the PSCO answers “No” to one or more of the six questions on the additional checklist marked with an asterisk.

, ,

Asbestos inspections on foreign sea-going vessels in Dutch ports

24 Αυγούστου, 2012 | Posted by admin in Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Asbestos inspections on foreign sea-going vessels in Dutch ports)

The Shipping Department of the Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT/Scheepvaart) will be carrying out on-board checks for compliance with the international SOLAS requirement during the regular PSC inspections of foreign ships in Dutch ports. These inspections will commence in the 3rd/4th quarter of 2012.

The PSC inspector will be accompanied by an expert from an asbestos company who will take samples where necessary. These samples will be analysed and, if asbestos is found, the ship must immediately contact its own Flag State to request an exemption certificate in accordance with MSC.1/circ. 1374.If the ship departs before the results of the analysis are known, a report will be made in Thetis, the PMoU database, if the analysis showed asbestos to be present. If the ship visits a port within the PMoU region, a check will be made to see if the exemption certificate has been issued by the relevant Flag State.

Since the 1st of July 2002 the new installation or use of asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) on board sea-going vessels has been prohibited under SOLAS regulations II-1/3-5, except for use in some systems involving high temperatures and high pressure as specified in the aforementioned legislation.

From 1 January 2011, new installation of ACMs is prohibited without exception for all sea-going vessels, pursuant to the SOLAS regulations.

Despite this clear and unambiguous prohibition of ACMs, asbestos is still regularly encountered in various locations on board ships. During inspections asbestos has been found in such places as fire blankets, insulation materials, types of sealants, friction material for brakes, wall and ceiling coverings, cables, cords, electric fuses etc. Moreover, ships that were originally free of asbestos appear to have ACMs on board as a result of repairs at shipyards and/or the purchase of spare parts at a later stage.

Source: http://ilent.nl/english/merchant_shipping/port_state_control/asbest/

,

PSC Deficiencies-Maintenance, servicing and inspection for lifeboats and launching appliances

17 Αυγούστου, 2012 | Posted by admin in Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο PSC Deficiencies-Maintenance, servicing and inspection for lifeboats and launching appliances)

According to a statistic data of PSC inspections for ships classed with ClassNK in 2011, a frequency of PSC pointing-out deficiencies with the lifeboat arrangements had once decreased in 2010, however, it was increased again in 2011 to the top frequency. (277 deficiencies pointed out/ 78 detentions).Analysis of PCS inspection reports shows that the main items, with which deficiencies were pointed out, are as follows:

– Releasing gear: 32 deficiencies

-Engine (including fuel, lub., exh. and cooling systems, clutch and battery): 71 deficiencies,

– Battery for starter: 26 deficiencies

– Reflective tape: 15 deficiencies

These deficiencies themselves may be judged “to be rectified before departure” etc. However, if two or more deficiencies are found concurrently, these can be objective evidences for the judgement of non-conformity with ISM Code 10 “Maintenance of the Ship and Equipment”, and that often results ship detention. It is expected further attention to the condition of lifeboat arrangements will be paid.It seems that, usually, ship managers specify the SMS Procedure on check and maintenance of lifeboat arrangements, basing on the recommended plan and guidance by the makers.

According to a standardized check & maintenance plan prepared by the makers, in each opportunity of weekly, monthly and at drill, some check items with releasing gear, and engine & its surroundings are specified. Therefore, we would suggest you to carry out:

1. Confirmation whether the relevant SMS Procedure satisfies the maker-recommended plan, etc.

2. Instruction to the ships under your good management, in order for them to confirm the detailed check points (i.e., for releasing gear, weekly  check points are the sureness of resetting and cleanliness of the moving parts) & its guidance at each occasion when they carry out the check & maintenance specified in SMS Procedure.

Regarding reflective tapes (broken, scraped or paint-damaged), it might not be described in a maker-recommended plan. Please consider to describe this item into your own plan, as necessary.

Source : ClassNK

You may also like to read “Accidents at Sea: Falling Off a Lifeboat Causes Death”

and Life boat safety-fall preventer devices by BIMCO-a user guide

, , ,

Paris and Tokyo MoUs on PSC will hold joint CIC on Fire Safety Systems-2012

27 Ιουνίου, 2012 | Posted by admin in MOU | PARIS MOU | PSC | Χωρίς κατηγορία - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Paris and Tokyo MoUs on PSC will hold joint CIC on Fire Safety Systems-2012)

Launch of concentrated inspection campaign on Fire Safety Systems beginning 1 September 2012 by Paris Mou and Tokyo MoU on Port State Control.

The 43 Maritime Authorities of the Paris and the Tokyo Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) on Port State Control will launch a joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) with the purpose to ensure compliance with SOLAS Chapter II-2/ Construction – fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction arrangements on board ships. This inspection campaign will be held for three months, commencing from 1 September 2012 and ending on 30 November 2012.

In practice, the CIC will mean that during a regular port State control inspection conducted under the regional ship selection criteria within the Paris and Tokyo MoU regions, the fire safety arrangements, maintenance records and other applicable documentation will be verified in more detail for compliance with SOLAS Chapter II-2.

Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) will use a list of 12 selected items to verify critical areas for the shipboard fire safety systems, some of which are related to documentation, equipment and crew familiarisation.

 

For this purpose, PSCOs will apply a CIC FSS – Questionnaire to be covered during the concentrated inspection.

When deficiencies are found, actions by the port State may vary from recording a deficiency and instructing the master to rectify it within a certain period to detaining the ship until serious deficiencies have been rectified.

In the case of detention, publication in the monthly detention lists of the Paris and Tokyo MoU web sites will take place.

It is expected that the Paris and Tokyo MoUs will carry out approximately 10,000 inspections during the CIC.

The results of the campaign will be analysed and findings will be presented to the governing bodies of the MoUs for submission to the IMO.

Other MOUs may also carry out a CIC on the same topic during this period.

, , ,

Detainable and ISM related Deficiencies noted in PSC inspection reports

20 Μαΐου, 2012 | Posted by admin in ISM | PSC - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Detainable and ISM related Deficiencies noted in PSC inspection reports)

Click here for a published  list of detainable and ISM related deficiencies noted in PSC inspection reports of Class NK & NK -SMC  ships in various ports.

Source :http://www.classnk.or.jp/hp/en/activities/statutory/ism/index.html

,

Procedures for Port State Control , 2011

2 Μαΐου, 2012 | Posted by admin in PSC - (Δεν επιτρέπεται σχολιασμός στο Procedures for Port State Control , 2011)

The Assembly, recognizing that efforts by port States have greatly contributed to enhanced maritime safety and security,prevention of marine pollution and also the need to update the Procedures, as amended, to take account of the amendments to IMO instruments which have entered into force or have become effective since the adoption of resolutions A.787(19) and A.882(21),having considered the recommendations made by the Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-ninth session, and the Marine Environment Protection Committee, at its sixty-second session, adopts Resolution A.1052(27) ”Procedures for Port State Control,2011”.

This document is intended to provide basic guidance on the conduct of port State control inspections and afford consistency in the conduct of these inspections, the recognition of deficiencies of a ship, its equipment, or its crew, and the application of control procedures.

Resolutions A.787(19) and A.882(21) are revoked.