Tag: ship inspections

Effective 01 January 2018 RightShip's age trigger for a bulk carrier inspection for vessels over 8,000 dwt will change from 18 years to 14 years, after which an annual acceptable RightShip inspection will be required, according to the company. The observations of Inspectors feeds back into the vetting process, providing critical control to improve safety.

Paris MoU has expressed its satisfaction with the overall result of its CIC on MLC for which a total of 3,674 questionnaires were completed from 1 Sep to 30 Nov 2016. The campaign resulted in 42 MLC detentions. Positive results were recorded on certificates attesting medical fitness, the verification of records of the inspections of the accommodation, food and catering.

The American P&I Club issued a notice to inform that the Maritime Safety Agency of the People’s Republic of China is initiating a special safety inspection program, with effect from June 1, 2017.

AMSA provides an overview to facilitate vessels calling at Australian ports with the safe and effective use of ECDIS and to inform operators about ECDIS requirements for compliance during PSC inspections.

The US Coast Guard published a Marine Safety Alert, highlighting the importance of maintaining safety measures, when inspecting a Gas Valve Unit room, especially on board conventional LNG fueled vessels and LNG Carriers. The GVU is a multi-component device which manages the liquefied natural gas pressure supplied to the propulsion engines.

The Liberian Maritime Authority issued a marine notice, informing that there has been an increase in Port State Control inspections in China. As many of these inspections are reporting detainable deficiencies, the administration considers advisable that an Advance Notice of Arrival or notice of deficiencies and corrective action is provided.

A Norwegian technology company has developed a low-cost underwater drone, that allows hull inspections without the need for divers or expensive remotely operated vehicles. The drone transmits a live video via a thin umbilical cable to the surface and thereafter wirelessly to the user, who may either be located onboard a vessel or onshore.

Overall, statistics from 2013 to 2016 show an increase in the number of detentions and deficiencies per inspection. This demonstrates the increased confidence of port State inspectors arising from the trainings offered by the IMO and other regional MoUs, Abuja MoU comments.

The Danish Maritime Authority informed that 29 countries from the Paris MoU and the Tokyo Mou have signed a new Ministerial Declaration on port State control, which has been under preparation for three years. The declaration stipulates new goals for port State control and for cooperation on port State control.

The North P&I Club says that US is ‘getting tough’ on Ballast Water extension. USCG officers focus on BWM compliance issues during their routing PSC inspections. The Club advises that all ships calling at US ports and intending to discharge ballast water must either carry out ballast water exchange or treatment, in addition to fouling and sediment management.