Technical Circular No: 007/2024
1. China Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) has announced a nationwide campaign of Enhanced Inspection of the vessel’s machinery and electrical equipment.
2. The Enhanced Inspection has commenced from 7th April 2024, and will continue until 31st October 2024 and will apply to all vessels calling any China ports, regardless of type, sizes, or flags of the vessels.
3. The inspection will principally focus on operational states and maintenance of major propulsion machinery, generators, boilers, steering gears, anchoring devices, MARPOLrelated equipment, etc.
4. In addition to the machinery and equipment, the crew's operational competence will also be a key aspect of the inspection. Crew members might be requested by PSC officers to demonstrate proper operational ability on all machines and equipment onboard. Crew unfamiliar with electromechanical equipment operation requirements could result in detention of the vessel.
5. The inspection will be included as part of routine Port State Control (PSC) inspections or conducted as detailed inspections in response to identified and/or reported failures of electromechanical equipment. Vessels with a history of such equipment failures will be a priority for PSC inspections.
6. Items subject to inspection include, but are not limited to:
a. Main propulsion - fully operational?
b. Main propulsion security, remote monitoring, and ancillary equipment fully operational?
c. Ship’s boiler(s) - fully operational?
d. Main & emergency power supplies - fully operational?
e. Steering gear - fully operational?
f. Crew proficient in operation of electromechanical equipment within scope of duties?
g. Associated maintenance and servicing records in order?
7. In view of above, Owners, Operators, and Masters of ships intending to call any Chinese ports are advised to verify and ensure proper operation of electromechanical equipment prior to arrival ports.
8. Where a mechanical or electrical equipment failure is noted, same is to be proactively reported to the local Maritime Administration agency.
9. Liberia Maritime Administration Marine Advisory 08/2024 in respect of China MSA Enhanced Inspection of the vessel’s machinery and electrical equipment is attached.
Enclosure:
Disclaimer:
This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.