Guidance to RMI Vessel for Improvement of Compliance in US

Posted on July 2, 2015

RMI has issued a Marine Notice MN-05-034-5 with the intent to inform and raise the awareness of shipowners, operators, Masters, and officers and Recognized Organizations (ROs) of the recent increase in detentions of vessels, including Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) flagged vessels, calling in United States (US) ports and to reinforce performance and compliance measures as provided for in the RMI Maritime Act (MI-107) and RMI Regulations (MI-108).

These performance and compliance measures are for the benefit of the entire RMI registered fleet and are not intended to penalize a ship, its crew, shipowners, or operators. All vessels calling at any port, including US ports, are required to comply fully with national and international standards for safety, security, environmental protection and the welfare of seafarers.

The RMI Maritime Administrator has noted a marked increase in the number of ships being detained due to a single substandard condition. Although the Administrator frequently publishes Marine Notices (MNs), Marine Safety Advisories (MSAs) and other guidance regarding prevention methods, substandard conditions are still being found during port State control (PSC) examinations and other boardings. Such conditions include:
• a blocked or tied open quick closing fuel oil valve;
• the hypermist fire extinguishing system not ready for use, not lined up in automatic mode or with the water supply valve shut rather than open;inoperable oily water separator (OWS) or oil content meter (OCM) or not being able to demonstrate proper operation of the OWS and OCM;
• failure of the crew to adequately carry out a fire or abandon ship drill;
• items such as smoke detectors rendered inoperable by actions of the crew;
• substandard cleanliness or condition of the engine room; and/or
• failure to report inoperable equipment, such as fire dampers or other fire protection and extinguishing systems; and/or emergency fire pumps not fully operational or not able to take suction in ballast condition.

In the first two quarters of the 2015 calendar year, the detention rate of RMI flagged vessels in US ports has increased to a level more than double the previous year. At this current rate and without the attention of all parties involved in the operation of a ship, it is likely that the RMI will not be able to sustain its US Coast Guard (USCG) QUALSHIP 21 status.

Notice also contains a critical item checklist which needs to be submitted to Flag administration prior arrival US.

CLICK HERE TO READ NOTICE