Technical Circular No: 006/2024
1. United States Coast Guard (USCG) will conduct an Enhanced Examination Program (EEP), which is equivalent to Concentrated Inspection Campaigns (CICs) performed by other Port State Control regimes.
2. The EEP will be held for three months, commencing from 1st April 2024, and continuing until 30 June 2024.
3. The purpose of enhanced examination is to verify compliance to engine room fire safety requirements. The enhanced examination will take place during every USCG PSC A* and PSC B** inspection conducted onboard cargo ships.
* PSC A is a “more detailed” exam with increased scope beyond a standard exam, to include operational tests of equipment and witnessing crew performance of drills.
** PSC B is the standard exam which includes a document check with a deck and engine room walk to verify validity of the ship’s certificates. Limited operational tests of equipment and systems may also be conducted. However, the PSCO may expand the scope of the exam, to include additional equipment tests and/or witness drills.
4. As part of the EEP, the USCG PSC team will verify:
a. Proper operation of at least one (1) fuel oil shutoff valve via remote operation. {SOLAS 11-2/4.2.2.3.4).
b. Proper operation of control of stopping power ventilation for machinery spaces from outside the machinery space. (SOLAS 11-2/5.2.1.2).
c. Presence and condition of protection against hot surfaces (i.e., lagging). {SOLAS 11- 2/26.1).
5. In view of above, Owners, Operators, and Masters of ships are advised to verify and ensure following prior to calling any U.S. ports:
a. Quick closing devices or remote operated fuel valves are operating satisfactorily, maintained, and ready for use at all times.
b. Records for the inspection, maintenance and testing of quick closing valves are available.
c. Power ventilation of machinery spaces is operable from two grouped positions, one of which is outside of such spaces.
d. Means provided for stopping the power ventilation of the machinery spaces are entirely separate from ventilation of other spaces.
e. Check operational status of control for power ventilation of machinery spaces. Both position systems to be checked.
f. Insulation/lagging on exhaust pipe and other hot surfaces including fire insulation for bulkheads/decks and penetrations are in satisfactory condition.
6. Further, Owners, Managers and Masters are advised to be guided by attached IRS Technical Circular No. 021/2023 reg. CIC on Fire Safety towards preparing the vessel for EEP by USCG.
7. Liberia Maritime Administration Marine Advisory 07/2024 in respect of USCG Enhanced Examination Program 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.