7 FOREIGN SHIPS UNDER DETENTION IN THE UK DURING JANUARY

The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today that 7 foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during January 2009 after failing Port State Control (PSC) inspection.

Latest monthly figures show that there were 6 new detentions of foreign flagged ships in UK ports during January 2009 and 1 vessel under detention from previous months. The overall rate of detentions compared with inspections carried out over the last twelve months was 3.77% this is slightly down from Decembers’ twelve month rate.

During the month of January 145 Port State Control inspections were carried out in the UK. A total of 44 vessels had no deficiencies raised against them, 64 had between one and five deficiencies; 27 had between six and ten deficiencies; 7 had between eleven and twenty deficiencies and there were 3 vessels inspected that had more than twenty deficiencies.

Out of the detained vessels, 5 were registered with flags states listed on the Paris MOU white list, none were registered with flag states on the grey list, 1 was registered with a flag state on the black list and 1 was registered with an unlisted flag state.

1.In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldson's Inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping and in compliance with the EU Directive on Port State Control (95/21/EC as amended), the Maritime and Coastguard agency (MCA) publishes full details of the foreign flagged vessels detained in UK ports each month

2.Inspections of foreign flagged ships in UK ports are undertaken by surveyors from the MCA. Where a ship is found to be deficient or lacks the required documentation, MCA surveyors can take a range of actions leading to detention in serious cases. The UK is part of a regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) and information on all ships that are inspected is held centrally in an electronic database known as SIReNaC. This allows the ships of flags with poor detention records to be targeted for future inspection.

3.Detained ships have to satisfy surveyors that remedial work has been carried out before they are allowed to leave port.

4.When applicable the list includes those passenger craft prevented from operating under the provisions of the EU Directive on Mandatory Surveys for the safe operation of regular Ro-Ro ferry and high speed passenger craft services (1999/35/EU).

Notes on the list of detentions

Full details of the ship

The accompanying detention list shows ship’s name, the flag state and the ship’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) number which is unchanging throughout the ship’s life and uniquely identifies it.

Company

The company shown in the vessel’s Safety Management Certificate or the party otherwise believed to be responsible for the safety of the ship at the time of inspection.

Classification Society

The list shows the Classification Society responsible for classing the ship and not necessarily the party issuing and/or carrying out surveys for certificates relevant to the defect found.

Recognised Organisation

The “organisation” - responsible for conducting the statutory surveys: and issuing statutory certificates, (on behalf of the Flag State).

Defects

The list gives a summary of the main grounds for detention and includes information where the ship has been released to sail to another port for repairs.

Vessels detained in January included:

A 22,638 GT Oil/Chemical Tanker was detained in Belfast as her radar was inoperable and her MF/HF installations were not working correctly. The radar had not been working since July 2008.  A major non conformity was identified in respect of the ship maintenance and documentation which was against the SMS system. 43 deficiencies in all were identified, and the ship was still detained at the end of January.

A 2,599 GT Other Cargo vessel was detained in Chatham because oil was being pumped overboard into the dock via the ballast system, in addition the engine room bilges were covered with heavy oil leaking from the fuel treatment unit. The ship was still detained at the end of January

SHIPS DETAINED IN JANUARY 2009

This vessel was detained in Plymouth for 8 days because the Certificates of Equivalent Competency (CECs) for the mate, second mate and engineer were not available on board. Other deficiencies identified included, the International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate (IAPP) and the International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate (ISPP) had expired.

The vessel was released from detention on 09/01/2009

This vessel was detained in Northfleet for 4 days because the VHF radio was not capable of transmitting via DSC, in addition the port and starboard engine room fire flaps could not be closed. A major non conformity was identified with regard to the emergency preparedness; the fire and boat drills were poor and showed lack of training and control. Other deficiencies identified included: the reflective tape was missing from the keel of the lifeboat: the Ops battery room lifebuoy was not ready for use – the light was inoperative; some deck fire hydrants were leaking and the vent system to the cabins on main deck had no fire flaps.

The vessel was released from detention on 19/01/2009

This vessel was detained in Hull for 12 days because the lifeboat buoyancy chambers were damaged in 2 places in way of gunnel where the davit arms rest. In addition most tank vent heads were either seized or corroded or were not secured to prevent covers coming off in seaway. Other deficiencies identified included; there was no means of testing the fire detection system on board or routine test procedure implemented; the seals were broken on the spare batteries for the hand held GMDSS/VHF sets and the reserve source of energy the cells  electrolyte level was low.

The vessel was released from detention on 27/01/2009

The vessel was detained in Sunderland because hatch access lids were corroded through and repaired with tape, the 15ppm alarm was inoperable as there was no electrical supply to the unit. Other deficiencies included; fuel oil tank self closing gauge glass held open; the starboard main engine fw cooler had 2 rubber patch repairs.

A major non conformity was identified in respect of the maintenance procedures which had failed to comply with load line rules.

The vessel was still detained at 31/01/2009

The vessel was detained in Belfast because the 3 cm radar had been inoperative since July 2008 and the VHF and MF/HF installations were not working correctly. In addition the air inlet to the emergency generator was holed below the fire damper and the exhaust gas boiler safety valve easing gear had been disconnected. A major non conformity was identified with regard to the maintenance of ship and equipment and the maintenance of records and documentation which was not in compliance with the ISM code.

Other deficiencies identified included The emergency battery and the emergency generator were not as required; a number of fire flaps and hatches throughout the vessel had missing dogs; escape routes from some cabins were blocked by iron bars and some crew cabins had naked lights in the showers . In addition the galley and pantries were unhygienic and in the officers laundry room light covers were missing and wash machines not secured.

The vessel was still detained at 31/01/2009

The vessel was detained in Chatham because oil was being pumped overboard into the dock via the ballast system, and the engine room bilges were covered in heavy oil. Other deficiencies identified included, the accommodation doors self closers needed adjusting; the ballast system needed cleaning; there was no record of engine room bilge water in the oil record book and safety ropes were missing at the lower level.

The vessel was still detained at 31/01/2009

DETENTIONS CARRIED OVER FROM PREVIOUS MONTHS

The vessel was detained with a significant amount of oil leaking from the silencer drain soaking the exhaust manifold lagging of the main engine, causing an imminent fire hazard. There was no effective fire pump available due to the breakdown of the main engine, and the alternative submersible electric pump was not effective. Also the Aldis signalling lamp was out of order, the VHF radio installation had an incorrect MMSI number and the radio battery charger arrangement and power distribution were incorrect. Other deficiencies included: some inoperative navigation lights as well as improperly maintained emergency batteries and portable fire extinguishers. The ship was still detained at 31/01/2009