Shipboard inspections are a part of life on board, serving as the cornerstone of safety, compliance, and operational excellence. These inspections ensure that ships adhere to stringent regulations and standards and contribute to an efficient and reliable maritime industry. Shipboard inspections also instil confidence in all parties involved in shipping, and ultimately ensure that ships navigate the seas safely and responsibly, upholding the highest standards of maritime excellence.
Ships will undergo a number of different inspection types, all which have a different focus. Some inspections will ensure compliance with international and national standards through flag state inspection, whereas port state control acts as a spot check to ensure compliance with international standards, and some will be very focused on one specific aspect, such as ship sanitation or crew welfare.
Shipping companies, ship’s crews and inspectors are all working towards the same common goal – safe, environmentally client shipping. Transparency and open communication during an inspection is key.
It is vital that shipping companies and crew are prepared for all types of inspections, and do everything in their power to facilitate a thorough and systematic inspection process. This Guide helps ship superintendents and ship’s crews understand:
- How to deal with an inspector;
- The main parts of an inspection;
- What each type of inspection covers;
- How to prepare for each type of inspection;
- How to identify what aspects of their ship needs further improvement and maintenance; and
- How to deal with corruption during an inspection.
It can be used by ship’s officers, crew and superintendents who are involved in shipboard inspections. The Guide includes practical tips from inspectors, and helpful checklists for port state control, flag state, class and the master’s inspections to help crew prepare the ship for these inspections, and potentially reduce the number of findings on board ship.
Contents
Abbreviations Definitions Editorial note Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 Preparing for an inspection 2.1 Once an inspector boards 2.1.1 The opening meeting 2.1.2 During the inspection 2.1.3 How to make a good impression with an inspector 2.2 Top tips from inspectors 2.3 Closing out an inspection Chapter 3 Port state inspections 3.1 Port state control regimes 3.1.1 Inspection criteria 3.2 Initial inspections 3.2.1 Documentation check 3.2.2 Overall condition of the ship 3.3 More detailed inspections 3.3.1 Clear grounds for a more detailed inspection 3.3.2 Operational requirement checks after clear grounds have been established 3.3.3 Inspections under MARPOL 3.3.4 Ship structure inspections 3.3.5 Machinery space inspections 3.3.6 Life-saving appliance inspections 3.3.7 Fire safety inspections 3.3.8 Bridge operation inspections 3.3.9 Cargo operation inspections 3.3.10 Machinery inspections 3.4 Deficiencies 3.4.1 Detainable deficiencies 3.5 Detentions 3.5.1 Suspension of inspection 3.6 Appeal procedures 3.6.1 US Coast Guard 3.6.2 Paris MOU 3.6.3 Indian Ocean MOU 3.6.4 Acuerdo de Viña del Mar MOU 3.6.5 Black Sea MOU 3.7 Common findings 3.7.1 Paris MOU 3.7.2 US Coast Guard 3.7.3 Tokyo MOU 3.7.4 Black Sea MOU 3.7.5 Indian Ocean MOU 3.7.6 Riyadh MOU 3.7.7 Abuja MOU 3.7.8 Mediterranean MOU 3.7.9 Acuerdo de Viña del Mar MOU 3.8 Concentrated inspection campaigns Chapter 4 Flag state inspections 4.1 Statutory documentation check 4.1.1 Seafarer documentation and safe crewing 4.1.2 Ship’s documentation 4.2 The ISM Code and flag state inspections 4.3 General examination of the ship 4.3.1 The bridge 4.3.2 Crew accommodation 4.3.3 The ship’s structure, machinery and equipment 4.4 Life-saving appliances, fire-fighting and safety equipment 4.5 Additional inspections by ship type 4.5.1 Passenger ship safety certificate 4.5.2 The International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections During Surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers
4.6 Inspection report Chapter 5 Classification society inspections and surveys 5.1 New builds and transfer of class 5.2 Periodic surveys 5.2.1 Renewal or special surveys 5.2.2 Intermediate surveys 5.2.3 Annual surveys 5.3 Other class surveys 5.3.1 Bottom/docking surveys 5.3.2 Tailshaft survey 5.3.3 Boiler surveys 5.4 Suspension of class 5.5 Class terminology 5.6 Statutory surveys Chapter 6 Inspections by the master 6.1 How to conduct a weekly inspection 6.2 Inspections due to seafarer complaints 6.3 Inspection findings and actions Chapter 7 Other inspections 7.1 Tanker inspections 7.1.1 Ship Inspection Report Programme 7.1.2 Chemical Distribution Institute 7.2 Charter inspections 7.2.1 RightShip 7.3 International Transport Workers’ Federation inspections 7.3.1 The ITF inspector’s role 7.4 Port health inspections 7.5 Customs inspections Chapter 8
Preventing corruption through best practices during inspections
8.1 How the IMO is tackling corruption 8.2 Transparency during PSC inspections 8.3 Preventing corrupt demands 8.4 Rejecting corrupt demands
Appendices Appendix A Port state control checklists
Appendix A1 Required documents checklist Appendix A2 Additional documents Appendix A3 Overall condition of a ship checklist Appendix A4 Fire safety measures checklist Appendix A5 Safety of navigation measures checklist Appendix A6 Condition of life-saving appliances checklist Appendix A7 Concentrated inspection campaigns checklist for crew wages and employment agreements
Appendix A8 Concentrated inspection campaigns checklist for ballast water management Appendix A9 Concentrated inspection campaigns checklist for carriage of containers and cargo securing Appendix B Flag state checklists Appendix B1 Required documents checklist Appendix B2 Required charts and publications on the bridge checklist Appendix B3 Fire safety measures checklist Appendix B4 Condition of life-saving appliances checklist Appendix B5 Condition of crew accommodation checklist Appendix B6 Bulk carriers and oil tankers enhanced survey programme checklist Appendix C Required documents for a new build or a class change checklist Appendix D Master’s weekly inspection checklist Appendix E References |
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