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Issue 13
Inspector Bulletin
Latest updates & News feeds for Inspectors. 27th Apr 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance and Updates
on Port and Terminal Access Worldwide
In view of the rapidly changing situation with COVID and
as we are still able to perform inspections in many
locations following both OCIMF and client risk based
approach the following attached links will be of assistance
to both inspectors, clients and operators to determine
where ports and terminals still permit inspections to be
performed. The decision to commission SIRE/BIRE and
OVID inspections rests with the Member/Submitting
Organisation and AWP will work with the members to
determine if it is feasible for an inspection to be
performed safely under the various industry guidance
provided.
The Guidance and Updates on Port and Terminal Access is
being updated on a regular basis hence should be reliable
for general planning.
• North of England P and I: https://www.nepia.com/
industry-news/coronavirus-outbreak-impact-on-
shipping/
• Inchcape Shipping Service: https://www.iss-
shipping.com/pages/coronavirus-port-country-
implications
“ Our company goals are simply stated
with the target towards No accidents,
No incidents and No negative feedback
from our customers and Employees ”
Experience Transfer Advice and Guidance Regulation Updates
Seafarer Mental Health Awareness
Mental illness is estimated to cost UK businesses £30billion every year, through lost production,
recruitment and absence. The Office of National Statistics has reported that one in six adults (almost
20%) will be experiencing a mental health problem at any one time. The chances of members of ships’
crews being affected are therefore statistically high – and may be exacerbated by particular aspects of
seafaring, such as separation from family and isolation. This is particularly prevalent at this very
stressful time during the CORONAVIRUS outbreak where seafarers are often forced to become even
more isolated with little or no shore leave, no possibility of relief due to travel restrictions and further
difficulties in obtaining fresh provisions onboard due to terminal and other restrictions.
The terms “mental health” and “mental illness” refer to the social, psychological and emotional
well-being of individuals.
Mental illnesses, which include conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder,
anorexia nervosa, obsessive-compulsive disorder, psychosis and schizophrenia, may be less visible
than many physical disabilities but their effects on affected individuals can be very serious.
The UK Chamber of Shipping have produced GUIDELINES TO SHIPPING COMPANIES ON MENTAL
HEALTH AWARENESS to aid shipping companies on drawing up policies on mental health and mental
illness. Companies are recommended to adopt such policies; if they already have policies in place,
they are recommended to review them in the light of these guidelines. This is particularly important
at this time with COVID-19 restrictions. https://awpmarine.com/DesktopModules/EasyDNNNews/
DocumentDownload.ashx?portalid=0&moduleid=425&articleid=302&documentid=175
Inspectors are encouraged to make themselves familiar with existing health guidelines on COVID-19
prior to visiting any vessel and ensure that they do not take up any assignment if they exhibit any such
COVID symptoms. The guidance can found on this link (https://www.ics-shipping.org/docs/default-
source/resources/coronavirus-(covid-19)-guidance-for-ship-operators-for-the-protection-of-the-
health-of-seafarers.pdf?sfvrsn=6 )
The inspector has a responsibility to:
• Decline or cancel an inspection appointment if they have suffered or have been in contact with
someone else who has suffered COVID-19 symptoms in the 14 days before an inspection.
• Decline or cancel an inspection appointment if they are aware that the vessel to be inspected has
been subject to health restrictions imposed by a government body in the 14 days before an
inspection.
• Decline or cancel an inspection appointment where travel to the vessel would breach travel
restrictions imposed by National, Regional or Local Governments or require them to self-isolate upon
returning home.
• Refuse a request to be accompanied by a trainee
inspector.
• Verify that travel to and from the port of inspection
can be completed in compliance with National,
Regional and Local Government regulations in force
at the time of travel.
• Comply with any additional safety precautions or
PPE requirements imposed by a terminal or vessel as
a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, provided it is safe
to do so.
• Comply with social distancing requirements put in
place by the vessel, terminal and, where applicable,
the local government as far as is possible while
onboard a vessel.
• Avoid personal contact and maximise social
distancing wherever possible.
AWP Marine Consultancy Ltd
EMAIL: admin@awpmarine.com TELEPHONE: +44 (0) 151 792 4882
 Please keep up to date on the latest news and the high quality services that AWP marine provided: http://awpmarine.com/
Issue 13
Inspector Bulletin Latest updates & News feeds for Inspectors. 27th Apr 2020
VIQ 2.7 Is the vessel free of conditions of class or
significant recommendations, memoranda or
notations?
Following on from this question raised in Newsletter 12 we have
had some very positive challenging comments on the subject
asking why we should be raising observations when class have
noted clearly in the survey status that a piece of equipment has
been removed from service requiring no further action by the
operators unless they chose to reinstate the equipment in the
future in which case class were to reattend the recommissioning.
It therefore follows that this has little impact on the risk of the
vessel or its operation and hence raising the issue as an
observation would be of no value to the member or the
operators of the vessel. This should therefore be the approach
recording such equipment removed from service under the
comments section rather than to raise as an observation.
It was stated in the last newsletter OCIMF take the stance that if
a piece of equipment is fitted to the vessel regardless of
whether it is mandatory then it should be operational or should
be removed from the vessel. This should refer specifically to VIQ
4.7 where the OCIMF guidance states Note: Regardless of
whether a vessel is required by legislation to carry specific
navigational equipment, if equipment is fitted then it should be
operational.
IACS Definitions
Recommendations/Conditions of Class
‘Recommendation’ and ‘Condition of Class’ are different terms
used by IACS Societies for the same thing, i.e. requirements to
the effect that specific measures, repairs, surveys etc. are to be
carried out within a specific time limit in order to retain class.
Memoranda
Other information of assistance to the surveyor and owners may
be recorded as ‘memoranda’ or a similar term. They may, for
example, include notes concerning materials and other
constructional information. A memorandum may also define a
condition which, though deviating from the technical standard,
does not affect the class (e.g. slight indents in the shell which do
not have an effect upon the overall strength of the hull or minor
deficiencies, which do not affect the operational safety of the
machinery).
In addition, memoranda could define recurring survey
requirements, such as annual survey of specified spaces, or
retrofit requirements, which have the de-facto effect of
conditions of class.
Experience Transfer Advice and Guidance Regulation Updates
VIQ 10.32 Are the following, where
applicable, all in good order and do they
appear to be well maintained?
Inspector Observations: The remote wire pulley for
the port boiler safety valve was obstructed by a
bracket when tensioned such that the valve may
not lift when fully activated.
Initial Operator Comments: We thank the inspector
for bringing this to our attention. The valve lever
bonnet is screwed onto the valve body and this had
come loose due to vibration. This occurred shortly
prior to the inspection and resulted in the wire being
obstructed by the bracket. We have since
re-attached the point where it is screwed to the
valve body and the wire is now clear of the bracket
Crew are reminded to frequently check the
readiness of safety mechanisms. The finding will be
shared with other vessels in our fleet to raise
awareness and prevent recurrence.
VIQ 5.9 Are the officers and
ratings aware of the
requirements of the ISGOTT
Ship/Shore Safety Check List
(SSSCL) and are the provisions
of the check list being complied
with?
Ashtrays should be of the self-
extinguishing type (honeycomb,
enclosed)
Possibly not the best impression
made on the bridge !!!!
VIQ 4.7 Is navigation equipment appropriate for the
size of the vessel and in good order?
One way to identify if the bridge team are fully familiar with
the navigational equipment and its optimum use is by
identifying alarm settings which must be set practically and in
line with industry and/or operators policies.
To the right you can see a compass display having 2 gyros and
one magnetic compass. Note the alarm threshold for the gyro
compasses set at 10 degrees between the two which I believe
is excessive here. Practically this should not be set more than
3 to 5 degrees maximum to optimise the alarms in the event
of failures or problems occurring. Just one of the many points
to determine the overall awareness of the OOW onboard.
AWP Marine Consultancy Ltd
EMAIL: admin@awpmarine.com TELEPHONE: +44 (0) 151 792 4882
 Please keep up to date on the latest news and the high quality services that AWP marine provided: http://awpmarine.com/
Issue 13
Inspector Bulletin
Latest updates & News feeds for Inspectors. 27th Apr 2020
VIQ 5.31 Are lifebuoys, associated equipment and
pyrotechnics in good order, clearly marked and are
there clear procedures in place to ensure that only
intrinsically safe lights are located in the gas
hazardous areas?
Self-contained RLTA are often disassembled for trans-
porting the units to the vessel. Inspectors should check to
ensure that the equipment is reassembled and rockets
correctly positioned ready for immediate use.
The WRONG way – firing pin disconnected and
not ready to be used.
The RIGHT way (please ignore the date as this is
an older photograph for illustration purposes)
Experience Transfer Advice and Guidance Regulation Updates
VIQ 4.7 Is navigation equipment appropriate for the size of the vessel and in
good order?
4.7.10 A daylight signalling lamp.
All ships of over 150 GT, when engaged on international voyages, shall have on board an
efficient daylight signalling lamp which shall not be solely dependent on the ship’s main
source of electrical power. (SOLAS 1974 V/11)
Reference MSC.95(72) Performance Standards for Daylight Signalling Lamps
“Each daylight signalling lamp should be provided with at least three spare illuminants
complying with the type tested illuminant.”
Quick Note:
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interest that you would like to share with us or you wish to add anything to the next
edition, please Email Jordan@awpmarine.com
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https://awpmarine.com/Latest-News
AWP Marine Consultancy Ltd
EMAIL: admin@awpmarine.com TELEPHONE: +44 (0) 151 792 4882