News

Report on 2008 Policy Year P&I Condition Surveys

24 April 2009 No.09-001
We are pleased to report to you on the condition surveys carried outduring the 2008 Policy Year ( 20 February 2008 - 20 February 2009).
1. General Policy

Our criteria are as follows;


(1) Pre-entry survey:All vessels : 10years 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 when a vessel causes claim due to unseaworthiness, we will carry out a condition survey of the vessel.
 

3 It is preferable to carry out asurvey on a prospective ship prior to entry into the Club. However in cases a pre-entrysurvey is not practical, we will carry out a condition survey within 30days.
 
2. 160 Vessels were surveyed

In total 160 vessels were surveyed, 125 being surveys of entered vessels and 35 pre-entry, a exceeded number to last year. We appreciate for members' kind cooperation for the survey.
 

Surveys were carried out in Korea (55), Japan (48), China (28), Singapore (4), Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, America, Germany and Spain (2 each), Philippine, Indonesia, Bangladesh, India, Kuwait, Turkey, Greece, Belgium, Egypt and Algeria (1 each).
 
3. Types of Vessels
PCC/RORO Vessels 30
General Cargo Vessels 28
Bulk Carriers 27
Reefer Carriers 11
Wood Chip Carrier 7
Ore/Coal Carriers 5
Container Carriers 4
Cement Carriers 2
Fishing Vessels 2
Heavy Cargo Carrier 1
Chemical Tankers 21
LPG/LNG Tankers 4
Other Tankers 15
Passenger ship 3
Total 160 vessels
 
4. Recommendations

In total there were 420 recommendations for 123 vessels,the details being:

(1) Repairs required
a. Hatch covers/Hatch coamings 63
b. Holds/Tanks 23
c. Shell Plate/Bulkhead 14
d. Decks/Bulwark 7
e. Water tight doors 7
f. Mooring gear 60
g. Cargo gear 14
h. Lashing gear 5
i. Main/Auxiliary Engine 26
j. Others 109
 

(2) Inappropriate documentation or certificates and others
a. Charts 7
b. Emergency Equipment 27
c. Owners Instructions 7
d. Others 51
Total 420
 
5. Follow Up by the Association

As a result of the condition surveys, cover was restricted for 24 vessels and owners were asked to take immediate steps to rectify deficiencies. However, only 1 vessel was refused entry. 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 form for each type of the vessel. Should the member would like the form, 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.
 
Condition Survey Committee