Monthly PSC Report For November 2012

The following tables summarize some general findings from the PSC inspections conducted in the main PSC MoU areas (Black Sea MoU, Mediterranean MoU, Indian Ocean MoU, Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU) during last month. Data have been also gathered from various Coast Guard agencies and are presented in each month’s report. Data from other PSC MoUs (Vina del Mar, Abuja MoU, Riyadh MoU) could not be extracted at the time this report has been issued and therefore were not included.

PSC MoUs	Black Sea	Mediterranean	Indian	Paris	Tokyo
Total Inspections	493	488	445	1446	3193
With Deficiencies	356	245	265	1055	2133
Without Deficiencies	137	243	180	391	1060
Detentions	18	42	21	72	108

 

 
Total Inspections per Type of Vessel in the Main PSC MoU Areas

PSC MoUs	Black Sea	Mediterranean	Indian	Paris	Tokyo
Bulk Carrier	103	114	235	266	1096
General Cargo Ship	238	191	46	473	877
Chemical Tanker	21	1	35	130	215
Oil Tanker	56	13	25	113	181
Container Ship	14	65	51	132	430

 
Inspections Ended with Deficiencies per Type of Vessel in the Main PSC MoU Areas

PSC MoUs	Black Sea	Mediterranean	Indian	Paris	Tokyo
Bulk Carrier	60	41	142	180	662
General Cargo Ship	202	141	33	399	746
Chemical Tanker	10	1	17	79	130
Oil Tanker	32	–	5	67	91
Container Ship	9	20	35	94	273

 
Brief Analysis of the Vessels’ Detentions in the Main MoU Areas Regarding the number of detentions per type of vessel (5 types of vessels have been chosen for the analysis below) the following data have been extracted from the Black Sea MoU, Indian Ocean MoU, Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU.

Black Sea MoU	No. of Vessels	Deficiencies	Average Age of Vessels
Bulk Carrier	2	2	15
General Cargo Ship	11	45	28
Chemical Tanker	–	–	–
Oil Tanker	–	–	–
Container Ship	–	–	–

 

Indian Ocean MoU	No. of Vessels	Deficiencies	Average Age of Vessels
Bulk Carrier	9	60	13
General Cargo Ship	3	25	16
Chemical Tanker	2	20	27
Oil Tanker	2	20	7.5
Container Ship	1	8	15

 

Paris MoU	No. of Vessels	Deficiencies	Average Age of Vessels
Bulk Carrier	10	49	22
General Cargo Ship	20	116	25
Chemical Tanker	2	3	15
Oil Tanker	4	14	24
Container Ship	5	41	20

 

Tokyo MoU	No. of Vessels	Deficiencies	Average Age of Vessels
Bulk Carrier	19	48	12
General Cargo Ship	25	133	20
Chemical Tanker	6	31	18
Oil Tanker	2	10	14
Container Ship	3	12	13

 

USCG Vessels’ Detention Information VESSEL #1

• Vessel Type: General Cargo Ship
• Flag: Bolivia
• Classification Society: Compania Nacional de Registro y Inspecciones de Naves

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Hull – corrosion, The renewal survey shall include an inspection of the structure, machinery and equipment as referred to in paragraph (b) (i) “such as to ensure that the arrangements, material, scantlings and workmanship of the structure “to ensure that they comply with the requirements of the present regulations, are in satisfactory condition and are fit for the service for which the ship is intended. Vessel was given a renewal survey in the form of “Seaworthiness Certificate” by flag authorized surveyor 25Sep12. During subsequent transit on 29Nov12, vessel was found to be taking on water in main fore-aft passageway via an underwater rupture in cargo hold number 1. During Port State control Examination , free communication was also discovered from cargo hold number 1 to cargo hold number 2. Additionally, extensive wastage was found through-out transverse framing, pump foundation and ballast water/engine room bulkhead. The material making up the ransom is degraded to the stage that removal of paint an loose scale revealed a 3/4″ diameter hole, offering free communication with the sea.
2. Lashing (timber), The administration shall satisfy itself that the general structural strength of the hull is sufficient for the draught corresponding to the freeboard assigned. Seawater found entering the bilge via wasted areas in the engine room tunnel from the cargo hold starboard side amidships.

VESSEL #2

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Bahamas
• Classification Society: BV

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Other (MARPOL Related Operational Def.), The vessel’s crew is not familiar with essential shipboard procedures relating to the prevention of pollution by oil,. An external audit is recommended.
2. Masters responsibility and authority, The master is responsible for the verification that Safety Management System (SMS) requirements are observed. There is evidence of systematic breakdown of the vessel’s safe management maintenance procedures.

VESSEL #3

• Vessel Type: Chemical Tanker
• Flag: Singapore
• Classification Society: DNV

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Other (Suspected Of Discharge Violation), The PSCO discovered the vessel’s crew was discharging the oily water mixture collected in the machinery space engine room bilge wells into the sea via the sewage holding tank’s overboard discharge valve using hoses and a pneumatic pump without processing the mixtures through the installed and approved oil filtering equipment (OWS). This method did not permit the monitoring of the effluent to ensure the oil content discharged overboard did not exceed 15 parts per million.

VESSEL #4

• Vessel Type: Container Ship
• Flag: Liberia
• Classification Society: GL

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Other (Prop. & Aux. Machinery), PSCO discovered a cement patch on the #2 salt water cooling pump piping check valve. This was an 8 – 12″ sea water pipe and the cement patch was over the non- return valve on the discharge side of the pump. Failure of this temporary patch could potentially cause rapid flooding of the vessel.
2. Other (Prop. & Aux. Machinery) PSCO discovered a crack approximately 3 feet in length on the heavy fuel oil settling tank overflow pipe with three soft patches and oil residue on, around, and leaking from the pipe. This vessel operates with an unattended machinery space and if the automated fuel transfer pump were to fail to stop, HFO would overflow into the overflow tank via this piping. The existing piping creates a fire hazard due to its condition.
3. Insulation wetted through (oil), The main engine piping insulation on the port side of the engine was soaked with oil creating a significant safety and fire hazard.

VESSEL #5

• Vessel Type: Chemical Tanker
• Flag: Panama
• Classification Society: NK

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Stability/strength, PSCOs discovered the vessel’s crew had conducted an unauthorized repair to the hull due to a hole in the sideshell plating 2-3 meters below the waterline, located approximately 1/2 inch from the boiler blow down overboard discharge pipe on the starboard side. The ship’s engineering crew failed to notify the master, owner or class of the defect and the temporary repairs in accordance with the vessel’s Safety Management System.

VESSEL #6

• Vessel Type: Ro-Ro Cargo
• Flag: Panama
• Classification Society: KRS

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Fixed fire extinguishing installation, PSCOs discovered the vessel’s low pressure fixed CO2 fire extinguishing system did not contain a sufficienty quanity of gas for the largest cargo space capable of being sealed. The CO2 level in the storage tank was 68% and not sufficient for the 2nd cargo deck, Zone B.

VESSEL #7

• Vessel Type: Chemical Tanker
• Flag: Marshal Islands
• Classification Society: ABS

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Fire protection cargo deck area, For all tankers of 20,000 DWT and upwards, the protection of the cargo tanks shall be achieved by a fixed inert gas system. During the operational test of the Inert Gas Generator (IGG) system, the PSCO discovered that the unit consistently tripped offline and was unable to produce inert gas with oxygen content at or below 5 percent for maintaining the atmosphere in a cargo tank in a non-flammable state.

VESSEL #8

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Panama
• Classification Society: ABS

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Pumping discharge arrangements, PSCO discovered evidence, confirmed by multiple crewmembers, that a bypass hose with flanges was connected from the oily bilge pump to the oily water separator overboard discharge through flexible hoses. This unapproved method did not permit the crew to monitor the oil content of the effluent to ensure the overboard discharge does not exceed 15 parts per million.
2. Safety and environmental policy, The company should establish procedures, plans, and instructions for shipboard operation concerning the protection of the environment. The company should ensure that the policy is implemented and maintained at all levels of the organization, both ship-base and shore based. Objective evidence discovered during an expanded ISM exam revealed intentional deviation from the company’s environmental protection policy. The company’s Saftey Management System Circular No. 53 addressing pollution prevention instructions states, “Oily Water Separator piping SHALL NOT be interfered with. PSCO discovered evidence, confirmed by multiple crewmembers, that a bypass hose with flanges was connected from the oily bilge pump to the oily water separator overboard discharge through flexible hoses.

VESSEL #9

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Malta
• Classification Society: LR

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Other (Crew), The PSCO discovered that the vessel was carrying Direct Reduced Iron without the hydrogen measurement equipment onboard as required by the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargo Code. Additionally, the master was unaware of the sampling requirements and did not conduct hydrogen concentration measurements in the cargo spaces as required.
2. Other (MARPOL Related Operational Def.), The PSCO discovered that the vessel has been operating within the North American Emission Control Area from November 12 – 14 2012, utilizing fuel oil that does not comply with the MARPOL Annex VI ECA sulfur limits. The vessel also failed to notify its Administration and the competent authority of the relevant port of destination that it could not purchase compliant fuel oil.

VESSEL #10

• Vessel Type: Container Ship
• Flag: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Classification Society: BV

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Launch arrangements for survival craft, Davit, falls, blocks all other gear shall be of such strength that the lifeboats can be turned out manned by a launching crew and then safely lowered with the falls complement of persons and equipment. Starboard side lifeboat davit structure was wasted and cropped out. Repairs were in progress while underway with no class notification or oversight. CG shall witness operational test.

VESSEL #11

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Cyprus
• Classification Society: CCS

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Fixed fire extinguishing installation, During examination of the engineroom, the PSCO noted that the water supply valve for the hyper mist system was in the shut position rendering the system inoperable in the event of a fire. Further examination showed that the remote operation of the hypermist system from the bridge had no power and was also not available for immediate use.

AMSA Vessels’ Detention Information VESSEL #1

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Liberia
• Classification Society: ABS

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Lifeboats (port and stbd) engine – not capable of being started by two independent means of starting.

VESSEL #2

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Bahamas
• Classification Society: NKK

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Sewage treatment plant not operational.

VESSEL #3

• Vessel Type: General Cargo Ship
• Flag: Antigua & Barbuda
• Classification Society: GL

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Crew not familiar with carbon dioxide system operation.
2. Engine crew unable to demonstrate/not familiar with propeller local pitch control procedure.
3. No procedure or checklists available for engine room unmanned machinery space operations.
4. Engine crew unable to demonstrate operation of oily water separator.
5. Safety Management System does not ensure that personnel are given adequate familiarisation with their duties related to critical equipment as evidenced by deficiencies above.
6. Sewage treatment plant defective.

VESSEL #4

• Vessel Type: Vehicle Carrier
• Flag: Panama
• Classification Society: NKK

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Bridge watchkeepers unfit for duty for first and subsequent watches at sea.
2. Records of hours of rest do not reflect actual hours worked.
3. Safety Management System fails to ensure that the bridge watchkeepers are fit for duty for first and subsequent watches at sea, and that rest hour records reflect actual hours worked as evidenced by deficiencies above.

VESSEL #5

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Panama
• Classification Society: ABS

Summary of deficiencies:

1. No. 1 engine room fire damper – defective
2. Hours of rest do not reflect actual hours worked.
3. The Safety Management System, as implemented, fails to ensure that records of hours of work/rest are recorded accurately. The Master is unable to ensure that watchkeepers are sufficiently rested as required by STCW.
4. No. 1 engine room fire damper defective.

VESSEL #6

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Barbados
• Classification Society: LR

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Unable to demonstrate the emergency generator automatically providing essential power after a blackout.

VESSEL #7

• Vessel Type: General Cargo Ship
• Flag: Gibraltar
• Classification Society: GL

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Crew unable to demonstrate operation of MF/HF digital selective calling, transmit and receive on either mains or battery power in the presence of the AMSA Surveyor.

VESSEL #8

• Vessel Type: Container Ship
• Flag: Liberia
• Classification Society: GL

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Engine room funnel flaps and all engine room fan fire dampers defective.
2. Emergency generator defective.
3. Purifier room – numerous oil leaks, oil soaked lagging, buckets of oil and diesel on floor plates.
4. Safety Management System has failed to ensure that the vessel can effectively respond to emergency situations and is properly maintained as evidenced by above deficiencies.

VESSEL #9

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Panama
• Classification Society: KRS

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Emergency Generator – Not operational.

VESSEL #10

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Panama
• Classification Society: NKK

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Fire main engine room isolation valve defective – not able to be fully closed.
2. Lifeboats, port & stbd, on-load release hooks not properly reset.

VESSEL #11

• Vessel Type: Passenger Ship
• Flag: Malta
• Classification Society: LR

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Lifeboat on-load release arrangements defective for lifeboat number 4.
2. Engine room fire dampers defective.

VESSEL #12

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Liberia
• Classification Society: DNV

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Stbd lifeboat on-load release arrangements defective.

VESSEL #13

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Marshal Islands
• Classification Society: RINA

Summary of deficiencies:

1. No records of hours of rest for November for Master or Chief Engineer.
2. Deficiency above is objective evidence that the Safety Management System, as implemented, fails to adequately ensure the requirements of the ISM Code are met.

VESSEL #14

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Panama
• Classification Society: CSS

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Emergency generator not able to automatically connect to emergency switchboard when main power supply lost.

Transport Canada Vessels’ Detention Information

VESSEL #1

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Malta
• Classification Society: NK

Summary of deficiencies:

1. voyage data recorder (VDR)

VESSEL #2

• Vessel Type: General Cargo Ship
• Flag: Antigua and Barbuda
• Classification Society: GL

Summary of deficiencies:

1. reserve source of energy
2. radio lifesaving appliances
3. radar
4. rescue boats
5. winches and capstans

VESSEL #3

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Bahamas
• Classification Society: NK

Summary of deficiencies:

1. Fire Doors/opening in fire-resisting divisions

VESSEL #4

• Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
• Flag: Man, Isle of (UK)
• Classification Society: BV

Summary of deficiencies:

1. other (fire safety)
2. ready availability of fire fighting equipment
3. Fire Doors/opening in fire-resisting divisions

The above information have been gathered mainly from PSC MoUs websites as well as from various Coast Guard Authorities and may serve only as reference for the inspections being carried out each month onboard merchant vessels. The consistency of the information may differ between MoU since there are slight differences on the way each organization presents the inspection info as well as due to the fact that some countries are member in more than one PSC MoU. For more information on the inspections carried out please refer to each organization’s website.

Sources used for the development of this report:

• Caribbean MoU
• Black Sea MoU
• Mediterranean MoU
• Vina del Mar
• Abuja MoU
• Indian Ocean MoU
• Paris MoU
• Tokyo MoU
• Riyadh MoU
• USCG
• AMSA
• Transport Canada