Marine Symposium – World Shipping Forum

Chennai 19th November 2004

Ship Inspections & The Screening Process

Capt Howard N. Snaith. Master Mariner. M.N.I.

Director, Marine, Ports, Terminals, Chemical & Environmental

A Brief Introduction to INTERTANKO

The voice of independent tanker owners since 1970, ensuring that the oil that keeps the world turning is shipped safely, responsibly and competitively.

Membership is open to independent tanker owners and operators of oil and chemical tankers, i.e. non-oil companies and non-state controlled tanker owners, who fulfil the Association's membership criteria.  

Independent owners operate some 80% of the world's tanker fleet and the vast majority are INTERTANKO members.

The organisation has 242 members, whose combined fleet comprises more than 2,160 tankers totalling 160 million dwt, which is 70% of the world's independent tanker fleet above 10,000 dwt.

Within our membership we also cover 81 % of the Worlds Chemical Fleet by DWT

INTERTANKO's associate membership stands at 273 companies with an interest in shipping of oil and chemicals.

Our Members are INTERTANKO - Comprising :-

•14 Committees

•4 regional panels

INTERTANKO is Geographically Represented through our Offices in:

•Oslo

•London

•Singapore

•Washington

Preparing for the inspection

• The onboard inspection can only be successful if the tanker is prepared for the inspection.

• The inspector who is to carry out the inspection will start to collect impressions from even before the time he takes his first step onto the gangway and will continue to do so until he takes the last step off the gangway.

First Impressions are Important

Make sure that each head of department has completed his own inspection before arrival at port and that any

deficiencies have been reported/corrected.

This should be incorporated into the normal routine guidelines.

An effective way of administering this is to introduce a

Self-Assessment form covering the relevant areas

SELF INSPECT

Have

Them

Ready

The Inspector will probably want to see a copy of the following:

• Classification Document• Certificate of Registry

• Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate• Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate

• Safety Radiotelegraphy Certificate• Load Line Certificate

• IMO Certificate of Fitness• IOPP Certificate & Supplement

• Certificate of Financial Responsibility• A Crew List

• A Drawing of the vessel’s cargo tank arrangement• Vessel’s Safe Manning Document

• Officers’ Licenses• Health Certificates

• P&A Manual• Approved COW Manual

• Approved Ballast Manual• Oil/Cargo record book

• Oil transfer procedures• Garbage log for compliance with MARPOL Annex V

• Proof of cargo hose/piping testing• Proof of fixed and portable fire fighting equipment servicing

• Proof of professional servicing of breathing apparatus• Proof of life raft servicing

• Settings for vessel’s PV valves• Shipping document and cargo manifest

• Inhibitor Certificates • Declaration of Inspection if transferring bunkers• Cargo Information Cards for the cargo on board

• Inert Gas Manual• Waiver Letters, if any• Vessel Response Plan

• Safety Manual• Vessel Operation Manual

• Company’s policy for upgrading and training.

Have

Them

Ready

In the

Same

Order as

The

VIQ

Be Prepared to Calibrate and/or Demonstrate the Proper Operation of:

• Combustible gas detectors or fixed gas detection system

• Oxygen analyser• Toxic gas detector

• Overboard discharge monitor• Cargo pump Emergency shutdown and bearing

alarms• High level alarms

• Overfill alarms• Quick closing valves.

Be Prepared to Demonstrate the Proper Operation of the Following

Systems/Alarms:

• Inert Gas system alarms• Oily water separator• Fire fighting systems

• Steering gear• Emergency generator

• Engine room ventilation shutdowns• Fuel oil cut-off valves

The following items are of vital importance as these provide an overall impression of

thevessel, and will play an essential part in how the inspection will be conducted.

Gangway: Signs: Crew:

Deck Watch: Fire Equipment at the Manifold:

Deck: Scuppers:

Cargo Information: Emergency Equipment:.

Moorings: In good order, no lines on the winch ends. Accommodation: All doors closed, clean and in proper

order.

The Inspection

Remember you do not Pass or Fail a Vetting Inspection !That Decision is made Later

Make sure that the Inspector is accompanied around the Vessel during the Inspection by either the Master of a Senior Officer

Some of the most common deficiencies found in the following areas:

• Bridge and Radio Room• Cargo Control Room and Tank Deck

• Engine Room and Steering Gear• Accommodation/Galley

The Close Out Meeting

Make sure you all agree – Get it Right at This Stage

All inspectors should sit down and discuss observations and comments after the inspection is completed.

• If not, the Master should record a written objection that this has not taken place and inform his company immediately.

• The inspector gives the Master a written list of the observations found.

Did the Inspector discuss any observations found before leaving

the vessel ?

YES92%

N/A1%

NO7%

YES

NO

N/A

The INTERTANKO Vetting Inspection Feedback Forms indicate that in 7% of cases

Observations are not being discussed

Did the inspector change his opinion due to disussions of the observations ?

NO59%

YES37%

N/A4%

YES

NO

N/A

INTERTANKO Vetting Inspection Feedback Form

Owners Comments To the Inspectors Observations

The Charterer is looking for quality Comments that indicate the observations are taken seriously.

Your replies will be used as a measure of your quality management.

You should be able to identify the “ROOT CAUSE” of the deficiency.

Some examples of “BAD” Owners Comments are:

“The Deficiency has been rectified”

“We have instructed the Master not to do it again”

“The Spare Parts are on Order”

You Need to explain that the problem which caused the deficiency has been also been corrected - not just the

deficiency

The Screening Process

In addition to the vetting inspection and the owners comments, the charterer will also screen a host of other elements about the owner and his operation before a decision is made regarding “acceptance”.

g

“ACCEPTABILITY”

AGE OF VESSEL

FLAG

OWNER/ OPERATOR

CREW

CLASS SOCIETY

DRYDOCK/ FATIGUE ANALYSIS (15 YEARS + )

BALLAST ARRANGEMENTS

CLASS RECOMMENDATIONS

CAP RATING (15/ 20 YEARS +

)

ACCEPTANCE BY OTHER CHARTS LSA

FFA

INCIDENT HISTORY

IG SYSTEM & COW SYSTEMS

MOORING EQUIPMENT

BRIDGE PROCEDURES PSC RECORDS

ENGINE ROOM & STEERING GEAR

LOAD LINES

CERTIFICATION

GENERAL APPERANCE

OPERATING LEVEL- (MANNING)

TERMINAL REPORTS

SAFETY MANAGEMENT MANAGEMENT

D&A POLICY CARGO & BALLAST SYSTEMS

ISPS

OFFICER/ CREW TRAINING & CERTIFICATION

ELEMENTS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO VETTING- ACCEPTABILITY

5th Edition “A Guide to The Vetting Process”

CONTAINS

A Guide to Vetting Inspections OCIMF/SIRE Chemical Distribution Institute Regional Port State Control Agreements Port State Control Inspection in Australia Port State Control Inspection in the United Kingdom Port State Control Inspection in the U.S.A. Enhanced Survey Programme The Different Oil Company Vetting RequirementsMultiple Inspections Expanded Inspections with the Paris MOU INTERTANKO Terminal Vetting Project Paris MoU Detention Review Procedures Guide to Master for USCG Visits Generic Appeal Letter for USCG Interventions INTERTANKO’s Charter Vetting Clauses 2001 The importance of submitting VPQ’s to SIRE INTERTANKO Standard Inspection Feedback Form