We are pleased to report to you on the condition surveys carried out during the 2007 Policy Year ( 20 February 2007 to 20 February 2008).
1. General Policy
Our criteria are as follows;
(1)Pre-entry survey:All vessels : 10 years old and more, however;
(a) Any chemical tankers with coated tanks : 6 years old and more
(2)Entered vessels:All vessels : at 16 years old, and in addition;
(a) Any vessels suffering two or more similar accidents due to unseaworthiness
(b) Any chemical tankers with coated tanks entered for Indemnity Risks: when 6 years old
(c) Any reefer vessels entered for Indemnity Risks : when 11 years old
(d) Any tankers which have carried Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO) as cargo for the last 12 months: 10 years old and more; except when
- Vessels have undergone our condition survey for the last 12 months,
- Vessels have undergone a special survey by the classification society, or
- Vessels has a current CAP 1 or CAP 2 rating issued by an IACS classification society.
(3)Re-check:
(a) All vessels surveyed by under (1) and (2) above: Every 4 years after the first survey.
(b) Vessels entered when over 20 years: Every 2 years after the entry survey.
Note:-
1 One or two surveyors of the Association's designated organization will attend on a condition survey. They check certificates/documentations, maintenance, a navigation plan, life saving appliances, fire control plan, seaworthiness, cargo worthiness, and special characteristics to be inspected according to each type of vessel in accordance with the Association's requirements. The survey needs about from half a day to 2days in the maximum and the surveyors avoid the vessel's delay.
2 In addition to the above criteria, from time to time a surveyor who is attending a vessel to check the cause and extent of cargo damage may be given a special order to carry out a condition survey of the vessel. (There were seven cases in 2007)
3 It is preferable to carry out a survey on a prospective ship prior to entry into the Club. However in cases a pre-entry survey is not practical, we will try to carry out a condition survey within 30days.
2. 118 Vessels were surveyed
In total 118 vessels were surveyed, 66 being surveys of entered vessels and 52 pre-entry, a similar number to last year. Surveys were carried out in Korea (39), Japan (35), China (16), Singapore (6), Taiwan (5), Philippine (4) , Thailand and Vietnam (3 each), Bangladesh, Brazil, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico and Sri Lanka (1 each). We will make effort to carry out more hereinafter.
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3. Types of Vessels
| General Cargo Vessels |
37 |
| Bulk carriers |
15 |
| PCC/RORO Vessels |
12 |
| Reefer Carriers |
10 |
| Wood Chip carrier |
6 |
| Ore/Coal Carriers |
4 |
| Cement Carriers |
3 |
| Container Carriers |
3 |
| Chemical Tankers |
18 |
| LPG/LNG Tankers |
3 |
| Other Tankers |
4 |
| Passenger ship |
2 |
| Hydrofoil craft |
1 |
| Total |
118 vessels |
4. Recommendations
In total there were 316 recommendations for 93 vessels, the details being:
|
| (1) Repairs required |
| a. |
Hatch covers/Hatch coamings |
50 |
| b. |
Holds/Tanks |
21 |
| c. |
Shell Plate/Bulkhead |
4 |
| d. |
Decks/Bulwark |
5 |
| e. |
Water tight doors |
12 |
| f. |
Mooring gear |
45 |
| g. |
Cargo gear |
16 |
| h. |
Lashing gear |
2 |
| i. |
Main/Auxiliary Engine |
16 |
| j. |
Others |
78 |
|
| (2) Inappropriate documentation or certificates |
| a. |
Charts |
9 |
| b. |
Emergency Equipment |
16 |
| c. |
Owners Instructions |
2 |
| d. |
Others |
40 |
| Total |
316 |
5. Follow Up by the Association
As a result of the condition surveys, cover was restricted for 10 vessels and owners were asked to take immediate steps to rectify deficiencies.
However no vessels were refused entry (11 vessels have been refused entry over the past 16 years). The restrictions in cover will be lifted after it has been confirmed in follow up surveys that the deficiencies have been rectified.
We will carry out follow-up survey within 30days after the notification.
6. The Association's Policy
Presumable factors behind a recent trend of marine accidents, increase in number and claimed amount of each accident, may be deducted that congested sea traffic due to activated marine transportation, lack and deterioration in the quality of crew, a move to introduce international regulations which aggravate the ship owner's legal liability, and so on. The Association will continue to promote to carry our condition survey to keep and upgrade the entered vessel's quality as a member of the International Group of P&I Clubs, and to stabilize premium because of keeping good loss record.
The inspection items of the condition survey are composed by type of a vessel, and we are pleased to provide a from for each type of the vessel. Should the member would like the from, please feel free to contact us (Phone +81-3-3662-7229, e-mail: lossprevention- dpt@piclub.or.jp). In the inspection items, a hose test, a pressure test, an internal inspection of cargo holds may be included, and it is impossible to accomplish them without cooperation of the Master and crew. The members' kind understanding and cooperation would be highly appreciated.
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