Dated: April 5, 2006
 

Sub: PORT STATE CONTROL DETENTION OF INDIAN SHIPS.

       It has been observed that there has been a sudden increase in the number of PSC detentions of Indian ships due to failure/malfunctioning of emergency equipments such as life boat engines, emergency fire pump etc. In the last two months there were three detentions on account of lifeboat engines being unable to start. The reason for such failures was attributed by the Ship's Engineers/Technical Superintendents to the subzero temperatures prevailing in those areas / ports where the ships were subjected to the PSC inspection.  In another case the emergency fire pump could not be started due to jamming of primary pump linkage as a result of fresh painting done on the pump mover by the shipstaff, one day before.  

          It should however be clearly understood that such reasoning for non-performance of emergency equipments is unacceptable. Any emergency equipment is required to be available at any time or place for its ready use and any failure of these equipments can cause detention of the vessel instantly. The shipstaff are therefore advised once again to ensure that the check-lists circulated by the Classification Societies are used diligently prior to ship's port entry so that all the items covered therein are tried out/checked once again besides routine checks.  In addition the emergency equipments such as life boat engines, emergency fire pumps etc should be tried out on a daily basis when the ship is at a port in such weather conditions so that these equipments are in full readiness at all times. The shipowners are also reminded about the Directorate's instructions regarding more frequent inspections by their technical superintendents to ensure that the ship's maintenance standards are considerably  improved, all defect are properly listed for timely action and  the general upkeep of the  equipments such as oily water separator, all the LSAs and  the FFAs is of the required standard.  

The Master, Chief Engineer and other senior shipstaff should bear in mind that any detention of Indian vessel due to the breakdown of emergency equipments will be viewed seriously by the Directorate. The senior shipstaff should therefore be extremely vigilant and ensure that the emergency equipments are maintained to the highest standards. Any failure on their part, that may cause detention of the vessel, shall invite suitable disciplinary action against the concerned officials, under the provisions of the Act / Rules, as deemed fit.                                                                                    

Sd/-
(Suresh Kumar)
Ship Surveyor-cum-DDG(Tech.)      

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