DNV GL issued a guide with recommendations concerning remote surveys, or as they call them “radio surveys”, including the general procedures for radio surveys and the responsibilities for managers or owners.
Accorrdingly, the remote survey process is different from traditional radio survey.
To conduct a a traditional radio survey on board DNV GL classed vessels, the owners of the vessel shall contact a DNV GL approved radio service supplier who shall then assign a qualified radio inspector (‘inspector’ hereafter) for the task.
It is noted that the owners and inspectors should contact the local DNV GL statio prior to any radio survey.
When it comes to remote radio survey, it can be conducted after the submission of the survey request. It has to be confirmed by the class and it will be assigned to a DNV GL remote surveyor (‘remote surveyor’ hereafter) who will be responsible for coordinating the radio survey.
The owners of the vessel and the supplier/inspector conducting the survey Remote radio survey has been implemented since October 2018 and is a cost-effective way of staying in compliance. The remote survey process is however slightly different from traditional radio survey.
Below, DNV GL summarizes the steps to take to ensure that DNV GL receives the required information in time:
Owner/manager’s responsibilities:
It is important to provide or confirm the following:
- place, date, time of the radio survey.
- The contact details of the supplier (must be DNV GL certified as found in DNV GL Approval Finder Portal;).
- Name and contact details (mobile number/email) of the inspector.
- Inform the approved supplier/inspector to contact the assigned remote surveyor at least 24 hours before attending the vessel, and when on board.
- Master’s statement confirming that radio equipment is free of known deficiencies.
- Information about any delays or transfer of the radio survey to another time zone for DNV GL to be able to assign the task to another remote surveyor.
- After conclusion of the radio survey: Master’s endorsement of the survey results and confirmation that the radio inspector was not involved in any reprogramming, repair, commissioning, and/or installation of the GMDSS installation before, during, or after the radio survey.
- Failure to follow the above may result in DNV GL not crediting the radio survey remotely.
Radio service supplier/radio inspector’s responsibilities:
When a supplier is hired by an owner or manager to conduct a remote radio survey, the supplier shall assign a qualified inspector for the task.
The inspector assigned to conduct the survey should:
Contact the DNV GL remote surveyor as soon as possible and preferably at least 24 hours before attending the vessel to:
a. Confirm the exact time of the survey, and
b. Obtain all relevant flag and class related information/ forms, and
c. Agree with the remote surveyor on further follow-up during and after the survey.
Additonal recommendations include:
- Contact the remote surveyor when arriving on board to confirm the start of the survey.
- Report to the remote surveyor about possible findings, observations, changes to the installation since the last radio survey and possible needs for amendments of the safety radio certificate before leaving the vessel.
- Submit pictures of any physical defects on the installation and possible changes to the installation since the last radio survey.
- Clarify the status of all deficiencies with the crew and remote surveyor before the ship leaves port.
- Submit a scanned copy of the completed and signed radio survey report (form CRC521) to the remote surveyor as soon as possible, such that the remote surveyor can take appropriate steps to conclude the job.
- Complete, sign and leave the EPIRB test report (form CRC401) on board.
- Confirm that inspector has not been engaged in any reprogramming, repair, commissioning and/or installation of the same installation before, during, or after the survey. Note: As per the scheme for the approval of service suppliers by class, the radio inspector shall be different than the installation/commissioning/repair/service technician.
- Failure to follow the above may result in re-evaluation of the supplier’s approval.
