American P&I Club Circular No 27/13
American P&I Club has issued Circular No. 27/13 regarding Condition Survey Requirement for Tankers Carrying Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) as Cargo.
As part of a concerted industry effort to ensure higher ship standards, the International Group of P&IClubs is continuing in its implementation of survey triggers for seagoing vessels of 10 years of age ormore carrying HFO.As a consequence, all sea-going vessels aged 10 years or more which have carried heavy HFO ascargo within the previous 12 months will be subject to condition survey, unless:
- the vessel has undergone a P&I club condition survey during the previous 12 months; or
- the vessel has undergone a Special Survey during the previous 6 months; or
- the vessel has a valid Condition Assessment Program (CAP) rating of 1 or 2 with aclassification society having membership in the International Association of ClassificationSocieties (IACS).
HFO is defined as residual fuel with a kinematic viscosity of 380 centipoises when measured at 50degrees Celsius by the ISO 3104 test method. This excludes vessels carrying intermediate fuel oilsor heavy crudes, as well as those carrying bitumen or tar.
Shipowners should note that a declaration is now required so that the American P&I Club may determine whether HFOhas in fact been carried by an insured vessel as cargo during a relevant policy period. Therefore, thefirst declaration must be made this year as soon as possible, but not later than October 31, 2013 forvessels carrying HFO between March 20, 2012 and March 20, 2013.
If a vessel continues to carry HFO as cargo over a period of successive years, the America Club is not obligedto carry out a survey every year. However, a survey will need to be held at least every three yearsafter the first survey has taken place.
Source: American P&I Club
