15 02 Port State Control Inspections in Australia Rev1 Final

Technical Alert No.
Issue Date
15-02
09 Jan 2015
TECHNICAL ALERT No.15-02 Rev.01

Port State Control Inspections in Australia
1.
Introduction
1.1.
The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) is concerned at the increase in

Port State Control (PSC) detentions of Bahamian ships in Australian ports
from seven in 2013 to eleven in 2014, an increase of more than 50%.
1.2.
The BMA has produced this Technical Alert to bring to the attention of
ship owners, manager and crews of Bahamian ships calling at Australian
Ports the various web-based resources provided by the Australian
Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to assist in preparation for PSC
inspections.1
2.
PSC Detentions in Australia
2.1.
There were a total of 11 detentions of Bahamian ships in Australia during

2014 resulting from 191 inspections. The detainable deficiencies can be
grouped into the following categories:
ISM related (5);

Life Saving Appliances, including launching appliances (3);
GMDSS equipment, including reserve power batteries (2);
MARPOL related (2);
Fire Protection related (2).
2.2.
It is noted that some detentions were imposed under the ISM Code, owing
to the cumulative effect of a number of non-detainable deficiencies being
identified during the inspection.
2.3.
Investigations into the detentions have identified that they were largely
attributed to lack of maintenance, failings in the implementation of the
Safety Management System and/or lack of crew training or familiarity.
This Technical Alert is provided by the Bahamas Maritime Authority with the aim of highlighting incidents,
lessons learnt and to increase awareness, which may help avoid similar incidents occurring elsewhere. Any
queries on the content of the information provided should be referred to the party providing the information.
Contact:
TECHNICAL ALERT No. 15-02

[email protected]
Page 1 of 4
+44 20 7562 1300
Bahamas Maritime Authority

3.
Preparation for PSC inspections in Australia
3.1.
AMSAs website has extensive information on the scope and conduct of

AMSAs PSC inspections and information to assist ship owners, managers
and crews in the preparation for a PSC inspection by AMSA.
http://www.amsa.gov.au/vessels/ship-safety/port-state-control/
3.2
The AMSA website provides information on PSC statistics, Focused

Inspection Campaigns, downloadable videos and specific details on the
most frequent deficiency areas, which include:
-
3.2.
Hours of Rest and Fatigue (STCW and MLC);

Life-Saving Appliances and Fire Fighting Equipment;
MARPOL;
Radio Communication Equipment (GMDSS); and
ISM Code.
AMSA has also published a dedicated checklist addressing the general

scope and the specific aspects of the PSC inspections as an aid to the
Port State Control Officer (PSCO) inspecting international ships in
Australian ports. This checklist can be used on board ships calling at
Australian ports to prepare for any PSC inspection.
http://www.amsa.gov.au/forms-and-publications/AMSA36.pdf
4.
Conduct of AMSA PSC Inspections
4.1.
Before a PSC inspection by AMSA formally commences, the PSCO will

hold an opening meeting with the Master.
4.2.
At the opening meeting the PSCO will explicitly ask the Master if the
vessel is in a seaworthy condition with all equipment working.
4.3.
If the Master confirms to the PSCO that all equipment is working and
that the ship is seaworthy, the Master will then be asked to sign the front
page of the Ship Inspection Record (SIR) book alongside the statement
Master advises that all equipment is operating satisfactorily and
that the vessel is seaworthy.
4.4.
Once the SIR has been signed by the Master, any deficiency identified,
which has not been previously advised to the PSCO, will be reported in
the inspection form and allocated an appropriate action code (e.g. 16,
17, 30, etc).
Contact:

[email protected]
Page 2 of 4
+44 20 7562 1300

4.5.
AMSAs position on reporting of existing deficiencies is as follows:

if a Master advises his Administration, Class and local Port State
Authorities of a deficiency that has, or may, impact on the vessels
seaworthiness, that deficiency should not be considered as grounds for
detention, unless the ship intends to sail with the deficiency un-actioned.
This does not mean that a deficiency will not be recorded or that the
vessel will be permitted to depart without rectifying a normally detainable
deficiency but that actions to rectify the deficiency will be monitored to
ensure proper remedial actions are taken before it is allowed to depart.
4.6.
This reflects the existing guidance in BMA Information Bulletin No.85,

which states at paragraph 4.2:
Companies are reminded that failures and breakdowns of equipment
need not be a cause for detention provided that the Flag State and
Recognised Organisation have been advised as soon as the
breakdown is experienced, and the Port State has been alerted
prior to arrival.
5.
AMSA policy tackling poor PSC performance - Prohibition to enter

Australian waters
AMSA has recently advised the BMA of recent changes to the Australian
Navigation Act 2012.
Where a ship has been detained in an Australian port 3 times during any
24 month period, the new powers conferred by the Act empower AMSA
to prohibit:
- the entry of a ship to any Australian port; and,
- the operation of a ship within the waters of Australias Exclusive
Economic Zone (EEZ)
A copy of the policy can be found on AMSAs website:
http://www.amsa.gov.au/vessels/ship-safety/port-statecontrol/refusal/index.asp
The BMA continuously monitors PSC performance of Bahamian ships
calling at Australian ports. The BMA will address any occasion where
AMSA has prohibited the operation of a Bahamian Ship in Australian
ports or EEZ pursuant to the provisions of the Australian Navigation Act
Contact:

[email protected]
Page 3 of 4
+44 20 7562 1300

2012, in accordance with the requirements of section 5.4 of BMA
Information Bulletin No.120.
6.
Further Information
6.1.
The BMA has produced a number of Technical Alerts related to PSC

findings, as follows:
TA 13-08 Port State Control Fire Fighting Equipment Rev. 01
TA 14-19 PSC deficiencies - OWS and 15ppm Monitor
TA 14-23 Port State Control & Qualship 21
7.
Validity
7.1.
This alert is valid until further notice.
8.
Revision History
Rev.1 (27 March 2015) new paragraph 5 added
Contact:

[email protected]
Page 4 of 4
+44 20 7562 1300

15 02 Port State Control Inspections in Australia Rev1 Final

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

15 02 Port State Control Inspections in Australia Rev1 Final

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

15 02 Port State Control Inspections in Australia Rev1 Final

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Technical Alert No.

TECHNICAL ALERT No.15-02 Rev.01

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) is concerned at the increase in

PSC Detentions in Australia

There were a total of 11 detentions of Bahamian ships in Australia during

ISM related (5);

TECHNICAL ALERT No. 15-02

Bahamas Maritime Authority

Preparation for PSC inspections in Australia

AMSAs website has extensive information on the scope and conduct of

The AMSA website provides information on PSC statistics, Focused

Hours of Rest and Fatigue (STCW and MLC);

AMSA has also published a dedicated checklist addressing the general

Conduct of AMSA PSC Inspections

Before a PSC inspection by AMSA formally commences, the PSCO will

TECHNICAL ALERT No. 15-02

Bahamas Maritime Authority

AMSAs position on reporting of existing deficiencies is as follows:

This reflects the existing guidance in BMA Information Bulletin No.85,

AMSA policy tackling poor PSC performance - Prohibition to enter

TECHNICAL ALERT No. 15-02

Bahamas Maritime Authority

The BMA has produced a number of Technical Alerts related to PSC

This alert is valid until further notice.

Rev.1 (27 March 2015) new paragraph 5 added

TECHNICAL ALERT No. 15-02

You might also like