Preliminary results from the Harmonized Verification Programme (HAVEP) on passenger ships, carried out between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2013 in the Paris MoU region highlight the importance of regular realistic fire and abandon ship drills on passenger ships.
On lowering the starboard lifeboat during preparation for survey on behalf of a Maritime administration, the forward attachment to the davit snapped when the lifeboat was lowered. The lifeboat remained hanging vertically by the aft wire only. The aft deck of the lifeboat was found to be fractured in way of the connection to the falls.
On 25 July 2007 the MV Captain Blue loaded with cement bags, sent a distress alert to JRCC (Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre) Piraeus reporting a starboard list of four degrees west of Kefalonia Island at the Ionian Sea. Following the appropriate actions from the Hellenic SAR Authorities, the ship was towed safely in the port of Kefalonia Island. The master reported to the local Coast Guard Authority that he was not in position of proceeding to ballast operations since he suspected that there could be a hole in the hold, resulting to damage on cargo. As a consequence the ship was inspected by a team of PSCOs from the PSC Office of Patra and the inspection revealed 20 deficiencies, with most of them of a serious nature resulting in a detention.
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Officer of the Watch 