Page 136 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2024

HORIZON FROM THE BRIDGE

mechanical and electrical equipment of ships enter-
ing Chinese ports. In combination with the ship’s
“Pre-departure inspection checklist”, the ship will
have to conduct detailed technical inspections and
tests on the main propulsion device and its auxiliary
equipment, boilers, main power supply, emergency
power supply, steering device, etc., to ensure that
its mechanical and electrical equipment are in reli-
able working status and well prepared for the forth-
coming inspection.
The shipping company must also assign sufficient
and competent crew members onboard to meet
various safety operation and emergency response
requirements and ensure that the ship safety man-
agement system (SMS), especially the parts related
to the routine operations, maintenance, testing,
emergency management, and accident/near miss
reporting are effectively implemented. Crew mem-
bers should be able to operate and test various
mechanical and electrical equipment properly and
effectively, in compliance with the corresponding
procedures or instructions, report mechanical and
electrical equipment failures related to accidents or
near misses, and rectify the deficiencies identified
port has been further strengthened, effectively therefrom.
reducing such risks and preventing and containing The SMS should contain a drill and training plan
the occurrence of water traffic accidents. that is relevant to mechanical and electrical equip-
The MSA’s special action was launched on 7 April ment failures so that the ship can conduct drill or
2024 and will end on 31 October 2024. Its aim is to on-scene training in accordance with the plan,
prevent ship mechanical and electrical equipment improve the operation and emergency response
failures on ships entering Chinese ports (including capabilities of the crew, and familiarise the crew
seaports and river ports). with the emergency response measures and their
The MSA will conduct detailed inspections at all respective emergency responsibilities in the event
levels of ship mechanical and electrical equipment of accidents caused by mechanical and electrical
in combination with their routine safety inspec- failure. The emergency drills/training scenarios
tions. If it is discovered through various channels related to mechanical and electrical equipment
that a ship has experienced mechanical and elec- failures may include but are not limited to main
trical equipment failures, a special inspection will engine (M/E) failure, M/E emergency local control,
be performed. For vessels that have experienced blackout, emergency steering, operation, testing
two or more mechanical and electrical equipment procedures for emergency generators, etc. If an
failures in the past 12 months, the MSA will invite accident due to mechanical or electrical equipment
their shipping companies and ship inspection insti- failure occurs, appropriate actions and measures
tutions to jointly carry out inspections and require should be taken immediately to minimise or elimi-
that the ships submit accident analysis reports and nate the adverse effects of the accident. The ship
preventive measures for mechanical and electrical should also proactively report to the local MSA and
equipment failures. cooperate with and accept special safety inspec-
Additionally, ships experiencing mechanical or tions by the local MSA.
electrical equipment failures should proactively China’s maritime authorities have updated its ports’
report to the local maritime administration agency risk assessment following the M/V DALI incident
and accept special safety inspections, as required. in order to prevent the probability of a ship’s main
Those who fail to do so will face more stringent engine and power systems failures. Especially after
and severe penalties in accordance with the law the consequences of the M/V DALI incident on the
once discovered. Port of Baltimore, additional measures must be
This special action is similar to the “Concentrated taken to minimise the possibility of a recurrence.
Inspection Campaign” scheme, organised by the Finally, even in the extreme case of a recurrence, a
major PSC MoU around the world. During this ship must be ready in all respects to limit the con-
special action, the Chinese MSA will inspect the sequences by effectively responding to the incident.

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