China MSA’s action plan to prevent equipment failure
The China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) has issued a notice announcing a special safety inspection period to prevent the failure of ships’ mechanical and electrical equipment. The China MSA said that maritime management agencies at all levels will conduct detailed inspections of ships’ electromechanical equipment in conjunction with daily ship safety inspections. The period of extra inspections covers from April to 31 October 2024.
Background
During this period of extra scrutiny for ships entering Chinese ports and shipyards if it is discovered through various channels that a ship has experienced electromechanical equipment failure, special inspections will be carried out. For ships that have experienced two or more electromechanical equipment failures within 12 months, the maritime administration agency will invite shipping companies and ship inspection agencies to jointly conduct inspections, and require the ships to submit fault analysis reports and measures to prevent ship electromechanical equipment failures.
Any such equipment failures on board must be reported promptly to the local MSA and follow Chinese port authority safety requirements. Failure to comply could result in delays, detention in port and legal consequences say authorities.
In addition to the inspection of the electromechanical equipment itself, attention should also be paid to the possibility that other systems may cause problems with the ship’s electromechanical equipment. For example, the malfunction of the fuel quick-closing valve may cause the accidental cutoff of the main/ auxiliary engine fuel supply, the lack of mechanical and electrical equipment protection facilities may injure the crew and cause manual emergency stop of the equipment, and the failure of the bilge water system
may cause engine room flooding, etc. Additional attention should also be paid to crew fatigue issues on board ships and ships leaving the shipyard after repairs.
There is a list with 9 focus items that the MSA will inspect for functionality and good order:
- Main Propulsion - Main propulsion remote control - Stem Boiler - Main source of power (auxiliary engines, main board) - Emergency Generator and Emergency board - Steering Gear - Crew members’ competence and familiarity with above systems
- If system documents related to electromechanical equipment are effectively implemented on the ship
- Other problems that may cause electromechanical failures of ships
Actions required
Ship owners/managers should be prepared for the above inspections even if their managed ships are not eligible for a normal PSC inspection, as below actions to be performed: - Send Appendix A with key actions for each of the 9 items that will be inspected on board ships in order to conduct a self assessment.
- Report any failure on above systems prior to entering China’s ports.
- Assume rectification actions as may be required. THE REPORT | SEP 2024 | ISSUE 109 | 83
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