PSC
Extended Deadline for Certificate of Proficiency for Security Awareness Approaching
Regulation VI/6 of the STCW Convention introduced mandatory minimum requirements for security related training and instruction for all seafarers, which have entered into force on 1/1/2014. However it was observed that many maritime Administrations were not ready to issue these new certificates of proficiency (CoP).
In order to resolve this situation, some flag States extended the deadline by means of a marine advisory notice despite the fact that STCW Convention has no provision for an extension of the deadline.
The matter was later considered during IMO-HTW Subcommittee in February 2014 where the date of 01 July 2015 was agreed.
PSC MOUs like Paris MOU had issued guidelines to PSCOs to record missing COP as deficiency (code 01223 – Security awareness training) with an Action Taken code 99 (master instructed to rectify before 01 July 2015).
As the date of 01st July 2015 is nearing, many of the seafarers sailing on board may still be without this certificate if due diligence was not observed by the company. It will be prudent to check the issue to avoid any odd situation during inspection, audit or Survey.
Transport Canada implements additional measures for dead ship towing operations
Recent failures in dead ship towing operations resulting in the loss of the tow have illustrated the need for additional oversight of such operations. Transport Canada published Ship Safety Bulletin highlighting additional safety measures being taken to assess the safety of a dead ship towing operation prior to departing Canada on an international voyage.
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Guidelines for Safe Ocean Towing (MSC/Circ.884) provide important information for a safe towing operation covering such areas as; planning and preparation, environmental considerations, and requirements for the towing vessel, the towing equipment and the towed object. These Guidelines can be viewed at:http://www.imo.org/blast/blastDataHelper.asp?data_id=1798
The towing vessel’s master is responsible for ensuring the safety of the towing operation and that the towing arrangements are adequate for the intended voyage.
Transport Canada Marine Safety and Security has implemented a policy to conduct a safety assessment of dead ship towing operations prior to departure from Canada on its international voyage. This safety assessment has the aim of achieving the objectives set out by the IMO Guidelines is for Safe Ocean Towing (MSC/Circ.884).
In addition, foreign towing vessels will be subject to a Port State Control inspection at the same time as the safety assessment of the towing operation.
The owner, operator or master of the towing vessel for the dead ship towing operation should contact the nearest Transport Canada Centre with Marine Safety Services to arrange for the safety assessment as early as possible to avoid any potential delays.
Source: Transport Canada
IO MOU Preliminary Report on STCW Work/Rest Hour CIC
The Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on STCW Hours of Rest was carried out in the Indian Ocean MOU region between 1 September and 30 November 2014. This campaign was conducted in conjunction with the CIC carried out by the Tokyo MoU and the Paris MoU.
During the campaign, member Authorities of the IOMOU carried out inspections of 1623 individual ships with 118 detentions out of which 1259 inspections of individual ships covering 63 flags were undertaken using the CIC questionnaire and total 35 ships were detained for the CIC related deficiencies. A total of 174 ships were found with 246 deficiencies as a result of the CIC campaign.
The overall detentions during the campaign were 7.27%, however detentions with respect to the CIC deficiencies were 2.78 %.
The highest number of CIC inspections were carried out on ships under the flag of Panama (284) followed by Liberia (147). The flag with the highest number of CIC related detentions was Panama (10). With regard to the ship type, the highest number of CIC inspections accounted were bulk carriers (695) followed by container ship (119).
The most significant deficiencies found during the campaign were:
1) lack of correctly recorded records related to hours of rest (8.34%);
2) non-compliance with the STCW requirements of rest periods for all watchkeeping personnel including the weekly requirements of rest (2.14%); and
3) with respect to the records indicating that a bridge lookout is being maintained (1.74%)
The Authority of Australia carried out the maximum number (837) of inspections representing 66.5% of the total inspections with 13 detentions (1.6%) followed by India (160) inspections representing 12.7% with 11 detentions (6.9 %)
The results of the CIC will be further analyzed and the final analysis and findings will be considered by the Indian Ocean MOU Committee and presented to the Sub-Committee of Implementation of IMO Instruments (III), to be held at IMO.
Source: IO MOU
BS MOU Published Report on the CIC on STCW Hours of Rest
Black Sea MOU has issued its final report on the results of the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on STCW Hours of Rest, which was carried out by 6 Member Authorities between September 1st and November 30th 2014.
Some of the facts from report is summarized below
1. During the campaign a total of 1,146 inspections were carried out with the CIC questionnaire involving 1,146 individual ships. Of this 21 ships were detained with 6 (28.57%) detentions were being within the CIC scope. A total of 168 deficiencies have been recorded as a direct result of this campaign.
2. The most notable non-conformities observed were lack of correctly recorded records related hours of rest (7.33%), followed by lack of watch schedule posted in an accessible area (1.75%) and endorsement of the daily hours of rest records for each watch keeper (1.48%).
3. 421 (36.74%) inspections concerned general cargo/multi-purpose ships, followed by bulk carriers with 399 (34.82%) inspections, oil tankers with 112 (9.77%) inspections and chemical tankers with 77 (6.72%) inspections.
4. 5 (83.33%) of the ships detained for CIC-related deficiencies were general cargo/multipurpose ships. 1 (16.67%) of the ships detained was a commercial yacht.
5. Most inspections were carried out on board ships flying the flags of Malta with 160 (13.96%) inspections, Panama with 149 (13.00%) inspections, Turkey with 102 (8.90%) inspections and Liberia with 87 (7.59%) inspections.
6. Ships younger than 6 years age performing relatively good with 240 (20.94%) inspections without detentions. Older ships, particularly those 30 years and older, show reason for concern with majority of detentions 6 (85.71%) and deficiencies 97 (65.54%), although subjecting minority of inspections 241 (21.29%).
Click here to view Report
Source: BS MOU
Tokyo MOU Preliminary Result on STCW Hours of Rest CIC
Aside Posted on
Preliminary results from the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on STCW Hours of Rest, carried out between 1 September 2014 and 30 November 2014 in the Tokyo MoU region show that:
16 ships (7.77% of detentions during CIC) were detained over the 3 month period as a direct result of the CIC for deficiencies related to hours of rest. Main areas of concern are hours of rest not being recorded properly and watch-keeping personnel without sufficient rest.
In recent years there has been a growing concern regarding hours of rest for watch-keeping personnel. Supported by PSC inspection results and a number of incidents, the Tokyo MoU and Paris MoU, as well as other MoUs, decided to organize a joint campaign to verify a list of 10 selected items against the STCW requirements.
The CIC questionnaire was completed during 6,392 inspections. A total of 1,589 CIC-related deficiencies were recorded and 16 ships (7.77% of the detentions) were detained as a direct result of the CIC during the 3 month period.
Investigations into a number of recent incidents throughout the Asia–Pacific region have identified fatigue and insufficient rest of watch-keeping personal as key contributing factors in these incidents. There has been a significant loss of human life and damage to the marine environmental resulting from many of these incidents.
During the campaign most inspections occurred on bulk carriers with 2,206 (35%) inspections, followed by general cargo/multi-purpose ships with 1,361 (21%) inspections, container ships with 1154 (18%) inspections and chemical tankers with 436 (7%) inspections.
5 (31%) of the detained ships were general cargo/multi-purpose ships, 3 (19%) were container ships, 2 bulk carriers and 2 vehicle carriers and 4 on other ship types. Analysis of the recorded deficiencies shows that most deficiencies relate to hours of rest not being recorded correctly in 997 cases (63%), vessel manning not in accordance with the minimum safe manning document 241(15%) and shipboard working arrangements 232 (15%).
The flag with the highest number of CIC-topic related detentions was Panama with 5 CIC-topic related detentions.
The CIC was a joint campaign with the Paris MoU. Others co-operating MoUs have followed the same routine during the campaign.
The detailed results of the campaign will be further analysed and findings will be presented to the coming PSC Committee meeting in October 2015, after which the report will be submitted to the International Maritime Organization.
Source: Tokyo MOU
- ← Previous
- 1
- …
- 3
- 4
www.maritimesutra.com 