Alert on detainable deficiencies

15 February 2022 |  C22011

Following a recent Port State Control (PSC) inspection, several deficiencies have been imposed that resulted in the detention of the vessel.  Dromon wishes to draw attention to these detainable deficiencies to avoid re-occurrence.

NOTICE TO
Ship Owners/ Managers/ Operators | Surveyors/Auditors

BEAMS, FRAMES, FLOORS CORROSION

During the PSC Inspection it was noted that beams, frames, and floors have been found heavily corroded, holed and/or broken.

SOLAS Ch. II-1 requires that all double skin spaces must be provided with a compliant protection coating. Maintenance of the protective coating system shall be included in the overall ship’s maintenance scheme. The effectiveness of the protective coating system shall be verified during the life of a ship by the Administration or Dromon Head Office, based on the guidelines developed by the Organization.

The root cause for such deficiencies is the combination of the marine environment and the difficulty to access the tanks for the protection and maintenance of the protective coating. If the protective coating is not properly maintained, the hull’s structure may suffer severe localized corrosion. It is highly recommended that, as soon as any cracks are seen, arrangements are made immediately to repair them.

Steel corrosion is a chronic problem aboard bulk carriers which are more susceptible than other large vessels such as tankers and container ships due to the nature of their construction and operation. Protective coatings are compromised by the use of heavy equipment for loading and discharge.

DECKS CORROSION

During the PSC Inspection it was noted that the vessel’s cargo deck No. 4 has been found corroded and holed.

This deficiency shows that three major issues are the main cause: the lack of planned maintenance properly followed by the crew on board, the lack of Crew Familiarization with SMS system and the lack of monitoring by the ISM Company.

SANITARY FACILITIES

During the PSC Inspection it was noted that all sanitary facilities including personal & common toilets and bathrooms have been found poorly maintained and in bad condition.

MLC, 2006 requires that Washbasins and tub baths should be constructed of approved material with a smooth surface not liable to crack, flake or corrode, while all toilets should be of an approved pattern and provided with an ample flush of water or with some other suitable flushing means, such as air, which are available at all times and independently controllable.

Sanitary accommodation intended for the use of more than one person should comply with the following:

• floors should be of approved durable material, impervious to damp, and should be properly drained;
• bulkheads should be of steel or other approved material and should be watertight up to at least 23 centimetres above the level of the deck;
• the accommodation should be sufficiently lit, heated and ventilated;
• toilets should be situated convenient to, but separate from, sleeping rooms and wash rooms, without direct access from the sleeping rooms or from a passage between sleeping rooms and toilets to which there is no other access; and
• where there is more than one toilet in a compartment, they should be sufficiently screened to ensure privacy.

Additionally, all seafarers shall have convenient access on the ship to sanitary facilities meeting minimum standards of health and hygiene and reasonable standards of comfort, with separate sanitary facilities being provided for men and for women. Tthere shall be sanitary facilities within easy access of the navigating bridge and the machinery space or near the engine room control centre; in all ships a minimum of one toilet, one wash basin and one tub or shower or both for every six persons or less who do not have personal facilities shall be provided at a convenient location; and hot and cold running fresh water shall be available in all wash places.

Act now

Surveyors / Auditors must take note on the above detainable deficiencies and give special attention during forthcoming class and statutory surveys and audits, irrespective of scope.

Shipowners / Managers / Operators are kindly requested to pay special attention into those deficiencies, note the regulations’ requirements and to inform Masters on taking corrective actions, if and where necessary.