6.3 Safety Conventions

Question 1

(a) Demonstrate a working knowledge of the contents of the important safety conventions and the MSA relating to seaworthiness and detention how they affect the operation of the vessel

Answer 1

Categories of matters to which seaworthiness extends:

1. Structure and other Technical Equipment
   a) Hull.
   b) Machinery and other technical equipment.
   c) Hatches, pipes and pumps.
   d) Tackle and Steering Gear.
   e) Temporary defects.
2. Design and Construction
   a) Compliance with requirements of Statutes and Rules of Classification Societies.
   b) Construction or design error in any part of the vessel.
3. Latent Defects
4. Navigational Equipment and Aids
   a) Radio, Radar, compasses etc.
   b) Charts and Publications.
5. Certificates and Documents
6. Fuel, Provisions and Medicine
   a) Sufficiency of fuel, stores and medicines.
   b) Quality of fuel.
7. Competency of Crew
   a) Competency in number.
   b) Competency as individuals.
8. Stowage and Loading of Cargo
   a) Dangerous stowage and/ or loading.
   b) Overloading
9. Pilot

Question 2

(b) State the legal obligations of signatory states to conventions

Answer 2

♣ Contracting Governments undertake to give effect to the provisions of any Convention to which they are bound.

♣ They are tasked with promulgating all laws, decrees, orders and regulations which would give the Convention effect so that from the point of view of a ship, it is fit for service for which it is intended.

♣ They are obliged to furnish the IMO with:

• Lists of non-governmental agencies authorized to act on behalf of the Contracting Government.
• Texts of all laws, decrees as mentioned above.
• Specimens of any certificates which would be required as part of a Convention.

For a Convention to enter into force it must be ratified by the Contracting Governments, either as a percentage of the total tonnage or the amount of Contracting Governments.

Question 3

(c) Discuss the authority of a port state to hold periodic inspections of a vessel

Answer 3

SOLAS Chapter I Regulation 19:

1. Every ship in a port of a Contracting Government is subject to control by authorized officers in so far as this control is directed towards verifying that the certificates issued are valid.
2. Such certificates shall be accepted unless:

• There are clear grounds for believing that the condition of the ship or its equipment do not correspond substantially with the particulars of any of the certificates.
• Certificates may also be suspected as not being accurate,
• If it suspected that the ship is not in compliance with the provisions of Regulation 11 (a) or (b)
• maintenance of conditions after survey or structural changes relating to the surveyed equipment that has not been sanctioned.

3. If the conditions in (2) above exist, or if the certificates have expired the Port State Officer shall take steps to ensure the ship does not sail until it can proceed to sea or to the repair yard without danger to the ship or persons onboard.

Question 4

(d) Demonstrate an understanding of circumstances leading to the detention of a vessel and the method by which it is detained

Answer 4

Reasons for a vessel being detained:

♣ Vessel is not seaworthy (includes expired certificates)

♣ Vessel cannot pay port fees.

♣ Vessel is in contravention of Local/ National Laws.

♣ There is a labour dispute in which the ITF has had the vessel detained until the dispute is settled.

Process:

a) In the event of the control giving rise to intervention of any kind, the officer carrying out the control shall inform, in writing, the Consul or nearest diplomatic representative of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly of all of the circumstances in which intervention was deemed necessary. In addition, nominated surveyors or recognized organizations responsible for the issue of the certificates shall also be informed. The facts concerning the intervention must also be reported to the IMO.
b) The Port State Authority concerned must report all relevant information about the ship to the authorities at the next port of call if it is unable to detain the ship for various reasons or if the ship has been allowed to proceed to the next port of call.
c) All possible efforts must be made to ensure that a ship is not unduly detained or delayed, if this occurs the vessel is entitled to compensation for any loss or damage suffered.

Question 5

(e) Demonstrate a full knowledge of all statutory certification and validity thereof

Answer 5

1. Certificate of Registry
   * Until vessel is sold, scrapped or until her GT/NT or description changes
2. International Tonnage Certificate
   * Until GT/ NT changes
3. Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate
   * 5 years with annual inspections
4. Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate
   * 2 years with annual inspections
5. Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate
   * 1 year
6. Document of Compliance (ISM)
   * 5 years with annual verification
7. Safety Management Certificate (ISM)
   * 5 years with verification between 2/ 3 years *
8. Ship Station Licence

• 1 year SA,
• 5 years Singapore

9. International Load Line Certificate
   * 5 years with annual verification
10. Safe Manning Document
    * Valid until replaced (Singapore)
11. Certificates of Competency (Officers) / Certificates of Qualification (Ratings)
    * 5 years and revalidation
12. International Oil Pollution Prevention Cert.

Annex 1 Oil Record Book,

Annex 2 Garbage Record Book

• 5 years with annual verification
  13. International Air Pollution Prevention Cert.
• 5 years with annual verification
  14. Engine International Air Pollution Prevention

(For all engines and generators except those used for emergencies only)

• Lifetime of engine
  15. International Sewage Pollution Prevention
• 2 years
  16. De-Ratting / De-Ratting Exemption / Maritime Declarations of Health
• 6 months from fumigation
• 6 months from inspection

17. International Ship Security Certificate
    * 5 years with intermediate verification *
18. Continuous Synopsis Record
    * Until the vessel changes her name and/ or ownership
19. Liferafts
    * Annualy / 30 months if aprooved type
20. Certificates of Class / Machinery

According to Rules of Classification Society

• Periodic Surveys 1 – 2 years
• Special Surveys 4 years

21. Compass Deviation Card
    * Annual

Question 6

(f) Demonstrate an understanding of procedures for inspections and surveys and maintenance of machinery and equipment as well as records of such inspections and surveys

Answer 6

♣ All machinery and equipment that was inspected and certified during an new build survey must be included as part of a planned maintenance system, which records the frequency at which equipment is inspected or tested, and what repairs have been done onboard.

♣ For machinery, this forms the basis of the continuous survey, whereby a suitably qualified person (Chief Engineer) inspects and verifies that the equipment is functioning properly. This system allows the surveyor to ensure regular maintenance and checks have been performed on the machinery, and that the machinery is working properly without having to dismantle it.

♣ All inspections, tests and repairs must be logged in the planned maintenance system, which allows the surveyor to quickly ascertain whether the vessel is maintaining the equipment to the level required by the Classification Society.