China MSA – Special Campaign to prevent electro-mechanical failures

C24010 | 11 April 2024

Notice to: Ship Owners / Managers/ Operators /Surveyors/ Auditors :

The Maritime Safety Administration of the People’s Republic of China has issued a Notice advising the launch of a special campaign to prevent mechanical and electrical equipment failures onboard ships.

The campaign runs from 07 April 2023 until 31 October 2024.

The campaign is in three parts:

• Self-inspection of electromechanical equipment.
• Electromechanical Equipment Failure Reporting.
• Special Inspections of electromechanical equipment.

Self Inspection

The Administration has included in the Notice “Special Self-Inspection Guidelines for Preventing Ship Mechanical and Electrical Equipment Failures”, for Companies to formulate key inspection items for electromechanical equipment onboard. Any defects or problems should be promptly rectified. A translation of the Guidelines can be found here.

Failure Reporting

Mechanical or electrical equipment failures should be proactively reported to the local Maritime Administration, who may perform a special safety inspection. Failure to report such failures will incur severe punishment in accordance with the law.

Special Inspections

The Managers of ships that have experienced electromechanical equipment failure should carry out a special inspection.

Where a ship has experienced two or more electromechanical equipment failures within twelve months, the Maritime Administration Agency will invite the Company together with Ship Inspection Agencies to jointly conduct an inspection and submit a fault analysis report together with measures to prevent such equipment failures.

Act now

Ship Owners/Managers/Operators of vessels trading to China should ensure that:

• a checklist of key inspection items to be inspected is formulated from the Guidelines;
• that the necessary pre-voyage inspections are carried out and documented;
• that any failures of mechanical or electrical equipment are reported to the local Maritime Administration; and
• special inspections are carried out for any electromechanical failures.