Technical Circular No: 061/2021
1. Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) vide Marine Notice 09/2021 has informed that a focused inspection campaign (FIC) on Planned Maintenance will be initiated by AMSA.
2. The FIC will be conducted from 15 January 2022 to 30 March 2022.
3. The purpose of the FIC is to determine the level of compliance with the maintenance requirements of the International Conventions.
4. The Focused Inspection Campaign (FIC) is specific to Australia. It will apply to foreign flagged ships and Regulated Australian Vessels (RAVs) arriving at an Australian port.
5. AMSA inspectors will undertake the FIC in conjunction with a normal port or flag State control inspection. Any port State control deficiencies will be reported to regional port State control databases.
6. Accordingly ship owners and masters of ships plying in Australian waters are advised to take a note of above and familiarise themselves with the requirements of SOLAS Chapter II/1, Australian Marine Order 31 and the safety management systems implemented onboard.
7. With respect to the questionnaire, Please be guided as following;
a. Survival Crafts falls are to be inspected periodically, with special regards to areas passing through sheaves. The falls to be renewed at a 5 yearly interval or earlier as required and record for same to be maintained on-board.
b. Procedures for permits to work is to be incorporated in the vessels SMS and followed. Records for same will be verified during inspections.
c. For ships fitted with fixed carbon dioxide fire extinguishing system, ensure that IMO Guidelines vide MSC.1/Circ.1318, Rev 1 have been incorporated in the maintenance plan for fixed CO2 system. Record of inspections to be maintained for verification by the authorities.
d. Air pipes to ballast and other tanks are inspected and maintained in satisfactory condition. Check for any corrosion/ pitting and ensure that ball or float seating arrangements are free.
e. Planned maintenance are undertaken at appropriate intervals in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and company SMS and records for same to be maintained.
f. Ensure that the Sewage Treatment Plant installed on-board is meeting the applicable performance standard as per MARPOL Annex IV. The maintenance of Sewage treatment plant is to be carried out as required as per Manufacturer’s requirements. Further, ensure that the ship staff are able to demonstrate the operation and confirm that the system is in normal working condition. Record of maintenance carried out on STP to be maintained on-board.
g. Ensure that essential software, such as engine and general control system software are maintained in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions. The software for various equipment like ECDIS, Engine safety control systems, PMS to be kept updated and maintained as per Company’s Cyber Risk Procedure.
h. Where applicable, ensure that approved Cargo Securing Manual is available onboard. Further, the inventory and inspection of cargo securing equipment is conducted by the ship’s crew on a regular basis and records maintained.
i. Procedure with respect to maintenance system is to be established in the SMS requiring vessel inspection by the company and vessel staff on a regular basis to maintain the vessel in seaworthy condition.
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.