Monthly PSC Report for August 2013

During August 2013 the PSC detention in the Paris MoU area showed a slight decrease compared to July 2013. In the Tokyo MoU areas there has been a greater decrease of the vessels’ detentions, in August 2013 there were 97 detentions while during July 2013 there were 130. The number of detentions in the Mediterranean MoU has been decreased from 18 to just 4, maybe as a result of the civil unrest in Egypt during August. The Indian Ocean MoU detentions number remained the same for the month under review, that is 37. Finally there has been a decrease in the Black Sea MoU detentions from 15 to 7. A PDF version of this post is also available for download. Please click the following link in order to download OOW PSC Monthly Report for August 2013. The PDF version of this report can be also found in the OOW profile in Scribd by clicking HERE.

The tables contained in the monthly PSC report summarize the number Total Inspections, Inspections With Deficiencies and Inspections Without Deficiencies that have been conducted in the major PSC MoUs areas. The statistics that are being published each month in the Officer of the Watch blog are based in data available to the Black Sea MoU, the Mediterranean MoU, the Indian Ocean MoU, the Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU. Each month’s PSC report contains also information from the USCG, the MCA, the AMSA and Canadian Coast Guard, these information are presented as reference to the type of deficiencies that are being identified through PSC inspections.

Monthly PSC Inspection Overview in the Major PSC MoU Areas

Total Inspections & Inspections Ended with Deficiencies per Type of Vessel in the Major PSC MoU Areas

Brief Analysis of Vessels’ Detentions in the Major MoU Areas

Regarding the number of detentions and the Total Inspections & Inspections Ended with Deficiencies tables 5 types of vessels have been chosen for the analysis:

Bulk Carriers
General Cargo Ships
Chemical Tankers
Oil Tankers
Containerships

USCG Vessels’ Detention Information

VESSEL #1

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Hong Kong
Classification Society: BV
GRT: 32505
Year of Build: 2010
Port: New Orleans, Louisiana

Summary of deficiencies:

Fixed fire extinguishing installation. PSCO observed the zone valve to the #1 and #2 auxiliary generators for the fixed hyper mist fire fighting system in the closed position, rendering it unavailable for immediate use in that zone. PSCO also found that the vessel’s crew installed a cap on the water mist nozzle overthe #2 fuel oil purifier, rendering that portion of system inoperable.
Combustible Materials. PSCO observed several pieces of lagging on the main engine were soaked through with oil, creating a fire hazard in the engine room.

VESSEL #2

Vessel Type: Refrigerated Cargo Carrier
Flag: Panama
Classification Society: BV
GRT: 9438
Year of Build: 1995
Port: Delaware City, Delaware

Summary of deficiencies:

Oily-water separating equipment. The oil content meter is not able to monitor and automatically stop an overboard discharge in excess of 15 parts per million as designed and approved.
Oily-water separating equipment. The PSCO found the sample line to the oil content meter crimped which allowed the oily water separator to be operated without the effluent being analyzed by the oil content meter. The piping after the oily water separator three-way valve was also removed and found to contain a thick, black oil residue.
Maintenance of ship and equipment. The ship is not maintaining the oily water separator in accordance with the oily water separator (OWS) operating manual and could not produce any shipboard procedures related to maintenance of the OWS. In addition, the ship’s crew could not provide any inspection or maintenance records for the OWS.
Vessel Safety Management. The vessel did not have safety and environmental protection policy.
Piloting/Steering. The Gyro compass repeater in the steering gear room displayed a heading of 345 which was inconstant with the heading on the bridge of 180.
Fixed CO2 Fire Extinguishing System. Seventeen CO2 cylinders are not connected to the emergency release cable system as shown in the fire plan.
Construction/Loadline. Hatchway from bottom of engine room to tunnel had seized clamping device in open position.
Fire-fighting systems. Class A door from engine control room passage way to engine room was not self-closing.
Freshwater System (cylinder head cooling). A leak in the fresh water cooling line is producing approximately 15 m³ of water daily into the bilges.

VESSEL #3

Vessel Type: Chemical Tanker
Flag: Marshall Islands
Classification Society: ABS
GRT: 17846
Year of Build: 2011
Port: Alameda, California

Summary of deficiencies:

Pumps. The emergency fire pump was not in working order and ready for immediate use. During the PSC exam, the emergency fire pump was discovered inoperable (failed to start) limiting the crews firefighting capabilities in the event of an emergency.

VESSEL #4

Vessel Type: Containership
Flag: Germany
Classification Society: GL
GRT: 53815
Year of Build: 1993
Port: Savannah, Georgia

Summary of deficiencies:

Auxiliary engines. The emergency generator failed to start using both the primary and secondary means of starting. In this condition the emergency generator is not capable of starting upon failure of the main source of power and connecting automatically to the emergency switchboard for providing power to all those services that are essential for safety in an emergency.
Logs. Ship’s deck log indicated that both the standby and emergency generator was tested (7 August 2013), however record indicates that the last date the emergency generator was tested on the 3rd of August. Pre-arrival checks should have been completed by the 2000 (local) on the 6th of August 2013.

VESSEL #5

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Liberia
Classification Society: BV
GRT: 22402
Year of Build: 2009
Port: New Orleans, Louisiana

Summary of deficiencies:

Fixed fire extinguishing installation. PSCO found that the main stop valve on the hyper-mist fixed fire-fighting system was closed, rendering the system unavailable for immediate use. The company’s internal procedures and the hyper mist system’s operating manual both indicate the main stop valve shall remain open.
Electric equipment in general. During an operational test of the emergency generator, the PSCO discovered that the emergency generator was unable to supply the required load to the emergency switchboard when transferred.
Oil Content Meter equipment. The sensor on the Oil Content Meter was inoperable.
Steering Gear Testing. The steering gear was not tested as per 33CFR164.25.
Ballast water reporting. The vessel failed to report required ballast information as per 33CFR151.2041.

VESSEL #6

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Malta
Classification Society: BV
GRT: 15467
Year of Build: 2010
Port: Miami, Florida

Summary of deficiencies:

Certificates of competency. At 0700 (7am) the Master requested to be medically evacuated from the vessel. A Coast Guard boarding team along with an Emergency Medical Technician boarded the vessel at anchorage to assess the Master’s condition and found that he did not require medical evacuation. The boarding team reported they suspected the Master of potentially being under the influence of alcohol. At 1400 (2pm) local time, a PSCO, Investigating Officer and Vessel Boarding Security Team boarded the vessel to assess the condition of the Master and crew. The Master admitted to consuming one liter of alcohol over the past two days. At 1700 (5pm) local time, based on his disposition, general appearance, loss of balance, behavior and strong smell of alcohol, the Master was transported into the custody of Customs & Border Protection and accompanied by the PSCO to the Miami Beach Police Station for a chemical testing The Master’s Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) was measured at 0.116 on the first test and 0.113 on the second test. Based on the Master’s intoxicated state, the Coast Guard does not consider the vessel to be sufficiently and efficiently manned in accordance with the Safe Manning Document.
Minimum Safe Manning. Master was removed from vessel not having the Chief Officer on board due to being removed from the vessel for medical reasons at an earlier time.

VESSEL #7

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Greece
Classification Society: ABS
GRT: 39758
Year of Build: 2001
Port: New Orleans, Louisiana

Summary of deficiencies:

Oily-water separating equipment. At the start of the operational test of the oily water separator (OWS), approximately 1-2 gallons of oily water mixture well in excess of 15ppm was discharged from the test piping. Further examination by the PSCO revealed that the piping from the OWS to the three way valve and the overboard discharge piping after the three-way valve was coated in what appeared to be oil well in excess of 15ppm. PSCO then observed engineering crew perform additional operational tests of the OWS by drawing water from bilge tank. During this test the three way valve stayed open and the oil content meter displayed 00 ppm with clean fresh water as well as oily water mixture that could not be seen through. The PSCO also noted that the system continued to operate regardless of sample pressure.
Oil Record Book. PSCO noted numerous inconsistencies: a. Entries overwritten in the ORB. b. Quantity retained was not recorded after incinerator operation. c. Soundings did not compare to ORB.

VESSEL #8

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Bahamas
Classification Society: ABS
GRT: 30587
Year of Build: 2007
Port: Houston, Texas

Summary of deficiencies:

Launch arrangements for rescue boats. The launching appliance for the rescue boat and davit launched life raft was inoperable.
Rescue boats. Wind shield on rescue boat is shattered to the point of obstructing visibility and steering wheel is not adequately mounted.
Cargo ship safety equipment. Supplement form to the SOLAS Cargo Ship Safety Certificate (Form E) was not on board.
Oil Record Book documentation: Oil Record Book entries are inaccurate to capacity of the equipment.
Operations/Management: Clear grounds exist that the vessel is not in compliance with SOLAS CH. IX reg. 3.1 (Safety Management Requirements ISM Code).

VESSEL #9

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Greece
Classification Society: NKK
GRT: 32351
Year of Build: 2011
Port: New Orleans, Louisiana

Summary of deficiencies:

Fixed fire extinguishing installation. The master and crew are not familiar with essential shipboard procedures relating to the safety of ships. PSCO observed that the hyper mist fire-fighting system’s 2 control panels was kept in the manual mode and not the automatic mode as per the system’s operating manual and shipboard procedures. When in the manual mode, the system can only be activated manually in the steering gear room and cannot be automatically activated by the fire detection system as designed.
Fixed Fire Detection System. PSCO observed a general fault indicator on the fire alarm and detecting system panel on the bridge.

VESSEL #10

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Marshall Islands
Classification Society: BV
GRT: 31273
Year of Build: 2005
Port: New Orleans, Louisiana

Summary of deficiencies:

Garbage. Master and crew are not familiar with essential shipboard procedure relating to the prevention of pollution by garbage. Vessel received updated garbage management plan, garbage record book forms, updated placards and detailed instructions from company. Since Jan 1, 2013 vessel discharged 10 times totaling 3.2 cubic meters of prohibited garbage and logged 44 discharges of garbage into the sea on the obsolete version of the garbage record book.

AMSA Vessels’ Detention Information

VESSEL #1

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Portugal
Classification Society: GL
GRT: 24341
Year of Build: 2013
Port: Kwinana, WA

Summary of deficiencies:

Cold room temperature
Fixed fire extinguishing installation

VESSEL #2

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Malta
Classification Society: NKK
GRT: 86743
Year of Build: 2001
Port: Hay Point, QLD

Summary of deficiencies:

Emergency fire pump and its pipes
Covers (hatchway-, portable-, tarpaulins, etc.)

VESSEL #3

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Marshall Islands
Classification Society: GL
GRT: 38878
Year of Build: 2000
Port: Bunbury, WA

Summary of deficiencies:

Abandon ship drills
Other (fire safety)
Fire doors/openings in fire-resisting divisions
Ventilators, air pipes, casings
Emergency Escape Breathing Device and disposition
Fire-fighting equipment and appliances
Survey report file
Garbage management plan
Garbage
Records of rest
Shipboard operations

VESSEL #4

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Greece
Classification Society: Other
GRT: 87050
Year of Build: 2004
Port: Newcastle, NSW

Summary of deficiencies:

Monitoring of voyage or passage plan
Covers (hatchway-, portable-, tarpaulins, etc.)
On board training and instructions
Launching arrangements for survival craft

VESSEL #5

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Qatar
Classification Society: Other
GRT: 32957
Year of Build: 2009
Port: Geelong, VIC

Summary of deficiencies:

Voyage or passage plan
Monitoring of voyage or passage plan
Monitoring of voyage or passage plan (other)
Charts
Shipboard operations
Wages
Other safety in general
Winches & capstans
Pilot ladders and hoist/pilot transfer arrangements
Oil fuel tank protection
Emergency Escape Breathing Device and disposition
Fire-dampers
Cold room temperature
Other (food)
Fire-dampers
Sanitary Facilities

VESSEL #6

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Greece
Classification Society: ABS
GRT: 39958
Year of Build: 2002
Port: Newcastle, NSW

Summary of deficiencies:

Voyage or passage plan
Charts
Oil filtering equipment
Shipboard operations
Pumping, piping and discharge arrangements

VESSEL #7

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Marshall Islands
Classification Society: KRS
GRT: 93166
Year of Build: 2013
Port: Port Hedland, WA

Summary of deficiencies:

Oil record book
Suspected of discharge violation
Safety and environment policy

VESSEL #8

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Panama
Classification Society: NKK
GRT: 31279
Year of Build: 2006
Port: Newcastle, NSW

Summary of deficiencies:

Radar related
Radar related
Ventilators, air pipes, casings
Survey report file
Automatic Identification System (AIS)
Voyage data recorder (VDR)/Simplified Voyage data recorder(S-VDR)
Maintenance of the ship and equipment

VESSEL #9

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Cyprus
Classification Society: GL
GRT: 40605
Year of Build: 2001
Port: Hay Point, QLD

Summary of deficiencies:

Operation of Life Saving Appliances
Reserve source of energy
Lifeboats

VESSEL #10

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Malta
Classification Society: BV
GRT: 24167
Year of Build: 2012
Port: Geelong, VIC

Summary of deficiencies:

Operation of Life Saving Appliances Records of rest
Charts
Lifebuoys incl. provision and disposition
Lights, shapes, sound-signals
International shore-connection
Ventilators, air pipes, casings
Other (fire safety)
Sewage treatment plant
Other (MARPOL operational)
Other (machinery)
Maintenance of the ship and equipment

VESSEL #11

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Panama
Classification Society: CCS
GRT: 94710
Year of Build: 2010
Port: Dampier, WA

Summary of deficiencies:

Fire-dampers
Lights, shapes, sound-signals
On board training and instructions
Facilities for reception of marine safety inform.
On board training and instructions
Electrical installations in general
Other (ISM)

VESSEL #12

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Hong Kong, China
Classification Society: NKK
GRT: 19717
Year of Build: 2000
Port: Geelong, VIC

Summary of deficiencies:

Other (fire safety)
Safe means of access
Sewage treatment plant
Sewage discharge connection
Maintenance of the ship and equipment

VESSEL #13

Vessel Type: General Cargo Ship
Flag: Indonesia
Classification Society: Other
GRT: 2542
Year of Build: 2004
Port: Port Alma, QLD

Summary of deficiencies:

Records of rest
Shipboard operations
Oil record book
Garbage record book
Garbage management plan
Voyage or passage plan
Nautical publications
Radio log (diary)
Shipboard operations
Ventilation (Working spaces)

VESSEL #14

Vessel Type: General Cargo Ship
Flag: Panama
Classification Society: LR
GRT: 22998
Year of Build: 2011
Port: Geelong, VIC

Summary of deficiencies:

Monitoring of voyage or passage plan
Lifeboats
On board training and instructions
Other (load lines)
UMS – alarms
15 PPM Alarm arrangements
Emergency preparedness
Shipboard operations

VESSEL #15

Vessel Type: Oil Tanker
Flag: Thailand
Classification Society: NKK
GRT: 6035
Year of Build: 2003
Port: Brisbane, QLD

Summary of deficiencies:

Launching arrangements for survival craft

VESSEL #16

Vessel Type: Containership
Flag: Cyprus
Classification Society: BV
GRT: 26050
Year of Build: 2001
Port: Port Botany, NSW

Summary of deficiencies:

Oil filtering equipment
Lifeboats
Magnetic compass
Other (cargo)

VESSEL #17

Vessel Type: Containership
Flag: China
Classification Society: CCS
GRT: 66452
Year of Build: 2005
Port: Port Botany, NSW

Summary of deficiencies:

Electrical
On board training and instructions
Cargo & other hatchways
Ventilators, air pipes, casings
Beams, frames, floors-corrosion
Safe means of access
Machinery
Pipes, wires (insulation)
Cleanliness of engine room
Structural features (ship)
Maintenance of the ship and equipment

VESSEL #18

Vessel Type: Vehicles Carrier
Flag: Panama
Classification Society: KRS
GRT: 50309
Year of Build: 1999
Port: Brisbane, QLD

Summary of deficiencies:

On board training and instructions
Records of rest
Fire-dampers
Fire pumps and its pipes
Sanitary Facilities
Fixed fire extinguishing installation
Emergency preparedness

VESSEL #19

Vessel Type: General Cargo Ship
Flag: Antigua and Barbuda
Classification Society: GL
GRT: 9611
Year of Build: 2007
Port: Melbourne, VIC

Summary of deficiencies:

On board training and instructions
Other MARPOL Annex V
Other (SOLAS operational)
MF Radio installation
Voyage data recorder (VDR)/Simplified Voyage data recorder(S-VDR)
Lifeboats
Lights, shapes, sound-signals
Personal equipment for fire safety
Rescue boats
Signs, indications
Emergency preparedness

VESSEL #20

Vessel Type: Woodchip carrier
Flag: Panama
Classification Society: NKK
GRT: 40245
Year of Build: 1998
Port: Portland, VIC

Summary of deficiencies:

Emergency fire pump and its pipes
Personal equipment for fire safety
Emergency preparedness

VESSEL #21

Vessel Type: Vehicles Carrier
Flag: Panama
Classification Society: KRS
GRT: 50309
Year of Build: 2000
Port: Townsville, QLD

Summary of deficiencies:

Fire-dampers
Maintenance of the ship and equipment
Maintenance of Life Saving Appliances

MCA Vessels’ Detention Information

VESSEL #1

Vessel Type: Ro-Ro cargo
Flag: Spain
Classification Society: Other
GRT: 13112
Year of Build: 2001
Port: Tyne

Summary of deficiencies:

Decks – cracking
Fitness for duty – work and rest hours. Not as required.
Other (fire safety)
Remote Means of control (opening,pumps,ventilation,etc.)
Machinery spaces. Not as required.
Operation of Life Saving Appliances. Not as required.
Cargo Ship Safety (including exemption). Not properly filled. ISM. Not as required.
Rescue boats. Inoperative.

VESSEL #2

Vessel Type: General Cargo Ship
Flag: Antigua and Barbuda
Classification Society: GL
GRT: 1984
Year of Build: 1986
Port: Royal Portbury

Summary of deficiencies:

Steering gear. Not as required.
Fire detection and alarm system. Inoperative.
Other (fire safety)
Fire drills. Lack of knowledge.
Cleanliness of engine room. Insufficient.
Ventilation (Accommodation). Inoperative.
Other
On board training and instructions. Not as required.
ISM. Not as required.
Auxiliary engine. Not as required.
Other (navigation)

VESSEL #3

Vessel Type: Oil tanker
Flag: Spain
Classification Society: Other
GRT: 117
Year of Build: 1976
Port: Gibraltar

Summary of deficiencies:

Suspected of discharge violation. Not as required.
Safe means of access. Not as required.

Transport Canada Vessels’ Detention Information

VESSEL #1

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Marshall Islands
Classification Society: NKK
GRT: 38818
Year of Build: 1999
Port: Vancouver

Summary of deficiencies:

Emergency source of power. Emergency generator inoperative.

VESSEL #2

Vessel Type: Bulk Carrier
Flag: Panama
Classification Society: ABS
GRT: 92944
Year of Build: 2011
Port: Sept Îles

Summary of deficiencies:

Records of seafarers’ daily hours of work or rest. Entries missing.
Wages. Not adequate.
Launching arrangements for rescue boats. Not as required.
Certificates for master and officers. Entries missing.
ISM. Not as required.
Embarkation arrangement survival craft. Inoperative.
Retention of oil on board. Not as required.
Electrical. Unsafe.
Seafarers’ employment agreement (SEA). Not Available.

VESSEL #3

Vessel Type: Containership
Flag: Germany
Classification Society: GL
GRT: 25361
Year of Build: 1998
Port: Montreal

Summary of deficiencies:

Other (MARPOL Annex I).
Fire-dampers. Not as required.
Ventilators, air pipes, casings. Not properly mantained.
Other (SOLAS operational)
Other (MARPOL Annex I)
Lighting (Working spaces). Inoperative.
Decks – corrosion. Holed.
Bilge pumping arrangements. Not as required.
Safe means of access Shore – Ship. Not as required.
ISM. Not as required.

Note: In the above information deficiencies marked with red color represent deficiencies that caused the ship to be detained (grounds for detention).

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.