PREPARATION FOR A CARGO SHIP

SAFETY EQUIPMENT SURVEY

1. Inspect the rescue boat, lifeboats, their stores and equipment.

Overhaul and renew as necessary, paying particular attention
to buoyancy material and check that the bottom boards and
thwarts are not cracked. Repaint the ship’s name and port of
registry if necessary.
2. Inspect the survival craft, on load release unit, HRU,
launching appliances, and embarkation arrangements.
3. Thoroughly overhaul and test for operation, davits, winches
and blocks and grease all moving parts. Check that the falls
used in launching appliances have been periodically inspected
and have been renewed as necessary in the past 5 years.
4. Conduct and practice lifeboat drills. When the boats are in
water run the lifeboat engines both ahead and astern.
5.     Check and ensure that the inflatable life rafts have been
serviced within the last 12 months.
6.     Check the lifebuoys, buoyant lines, self-igniting lights and
buoys with orange smoke signals are correctly located.
7.     Examine the condition of the life jackets and check that they
are correctly distributed.
8. Check that the EPIRBs and SART are located in the correct
positions for deployment.
9. Check line-throwing apparatus, pyrotechnics and their expiry
dates and replace as necessary.
10.   Check the lighting including emergency lighting of the muster
and embarkation stations, alleyways, stairways and exits.    
11.   Examine condition of fire pumps, fire main, hydrants, hoses
and nozzles and the international shore connection. Check that
each fire pump, including the emergency fire pump, can be
operated separately so that two jets of water are produced
 simultaneously from different hydrants at any part of the ship
whilst the required pressure is maintained in the fire main.
12.   Test and ensure the fire detection, alarm systems and the fixed
firefighting systems are fully operational.
13.   Check condition of portable and non-portable fire
extinguishers and replace charges where necessary.
14.   Check and confirm that all quick closing valves from remote
stations are operable.
15.   Check and overhaul the closing arrangement for ventilators,
skylights, doors, funnel spaces and tunnels.
16.   Inspect the fireman’s outfit and recharge the compressed air
B.A. as necessary.
17.   Inspect the pilot ladders and pilot hoists if carried. Replace
any damaged steps.
18. Check condition and operational status of navigational lights,
shapes and sound signals.
19.   Check functioning and maintenance of all navigation
equipment and carry out repairs where required. Ensure AIS
annual test and conformance test of LRIT has been carried
out.
20. Check fire control plans are posted and are legible.
21. Emergency instructions are available and updated muster lists
are conspicuously posted.
22. Check validity of all ship and crew certificates. Check training
manuals and fire safety operational booklets are provided.
23. Check the log books and determine when the last full muster
of the crew for boat and fire drills was conducted, lifeboats
were swung out, lowered and tried out.
24. Check nautical publications and charts are the latest and are
kept updated.
25. Check the ship maintains a valid curve of residual deviation
and ensure compass errors are being maintained.