Question

Foreign going vessels are required to possess a valid safety equipment certificate renewed at intervals after the survey of the safety equipment.

a) Compile a list of items that are contained in the safety equipment survey.

b) From the list compiled in a) above select two ship systems and

Explain how they would be examined and identify possible defects.

SOLUTION (Ref. M.963).

(a) The safety equipment survey is carried out annually.  In general the scope of the annual survey should be:

1.                An examination of the ship's certificates

2.                A visual examination, together with certain tests, of the ship's safety equipment, of sufficient extent to confirm that its condition is being properly maintained.

The examination of the ship's certificates in general should consist of checking:

l.(i)       the validity of the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate, the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, the Cargo Ship Safety Radiotelegraphy  or Radiotelephony Certificate as applicable and Exemption Certificates;

l-(ii)     the validity of the International Load Line Certificate, or the International Load Line Exemption Certificate;

(iii)    the certificate of class if the ship is classed with a classification society.

The examination of the ship's safety equipment falls into the following categories:

2.(i)      Survey of the life-saving appliances and other equipment.

2.(ii)     Survey of the fire appliances.

2.(iii)    Survey of the navigational equipment.            

2.(iv)    Additional survey for tankers.                                

(b)         Details from the above list, details would be as follows (select any two):

SURVEY OF THE LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES AND OTHER EQUIPMENT.

The survey should consist of:

a)         Confirming that any new equipment has been properly approved before installation and that no changes have been made such as would affect the validity of the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate.

b)        An examination of the ship's Official Log Book to establish that the required musters, training,  emergency procedures and inspections of lifeboat equipment have been carried out as required by the Merchant Shipping (Musters) Regulations 1980, SI 1980/542, together with posting of the appropriate

Muster List as required by these said Regulations.

An examination of all lifeboats, davits, embarkation arrangements and launching gear in position, as far as practicable.

If practicable, one of the lifeboats should be lowered to the water.

An examination of the lifeboat engines, if permitted by cargo handling conditions, to establish that they will readily start and operate in the ahead and astern mode.   

 Checking that the inflatable life-rafts have been serviced during the past twelve months, provided that in any case where this has not been practicable such interval has not been exceeded by more than three months; checking that stowage will facilitate proper release and that launching instructions are posted. The embarkation arrangement of inflatable life rafts shall also be examined and, when provided, the launching arrangement of davit launched life rafts.

Checking the provision of radio equipment for survival craft.

Checking that lifebuoys arc in good condition and that the required number are fitted with self-igniting lights and self-activating smoke signals and that all are properly stationed.

Checking that rigid life rafts are in good condition and that stowage will facilitate rapid launching.

Checking the stowage of life-jackets and a random examination of their condition, and that they are adequate in number.

checking that ship and lifeboat distress signals and the line-throwing appliance rockets are not out of date; a test of the emergency lighting and general alarm system.

SURVEY OF THE FIRE APPLIANCES.

The survey should consist of ascertaining whether or not any fire has occurred on board necessitating the operation of the fixed fire extinguishing systems, or the portable fire extinguishers since the last survey.

Confirming that fire control plans are properly posted examination as far as possible end  testing, where feasible, of the fire and/or smoke detection system(s). an examination of the fire main system and confirming that each fire pump including the emergency fire pump can be operated separately so that the two required jets of water can be produced simultaneously from different hydrants.

Confirming that fire hoses, nozzles and applicators are in good working condition and situated at their respective locations. an examination of fixed fire-fighting system controls, piping, instructions and marking; checking for evidence of proper maintenance and servicing, including date of last systems tests.

Confirming that all non-portable and portable fire extinguishers are in their correct positions; checking for evidence of proper maintenance and servicing; conducting random check for evidence of discharged containers. confirming, as far as practicable, that the remote controls for stopping fans and machinery and for shutting off fuel supplies in machinery spaces are in working order.

 An examination of the closing arrangements for ventilators, funnel annular spaces, skylights, doorways and tunnel, where applicable.    

Confirming that the fireman’s outfits are complete and in good condition and that the cylinders of any required self contained breathing apparatus are charged.   

SURVEY OF THE NAVIGATIONAL EQUIPMENT.

The survey should consist of:

a) checking that navigation lights, shapes, sound signaling equipment and daylight signaling lamp are in order.    

b) checking that the compass deviation record book is properly maintained. 

c) checking that the radar, echo-sounder, gyro-compass and direction finder installation are in working order. 

d) checking that pilot ladders, associated equipment and mechanical pilot hoists are in good condition and operational

e) checking that the nautical publications and charts are adequate for the ship's intended trading programme and that they comply with the requirements of the Merchant Shipping (Carriage of Nautical Publications) Rules 1975, SI 1975/700.       

ADDITIONAL SURVEY FOR TANKERS.

The survey should consist of:                       

a) An external examination of the piping of the cargo pump room fixed fire-fighting system.   

b) Confirming that the deck foam system and deck sprinkler system are in satisfactory operating condition.

c) Survey of the inert gas system (if fitted) as follows;

An external examination of the condition of all piping and components for signs of corrosion or gas leakage/effluent leakage.

Confirming of the proper operation of both, inert gas blowers.

Observing the operation of the scrubber room ventilation system.

Checking as far as practicable the deck water seal for automatic filling and draining and checking for presence of water carry-over and checking the condition-of the non-return Valve.

Checking as far as practicable the operation of all remotely operated or automatically
controlled valves and, in particular, the flue gas isolating valve(s).

• testing the interlocking feature of soot blowers.

• observing that the gas pressure regulating valve automatically closes when the inert gas blowers are stopped.                            

• checking as far as practicable the following alarms and safety devices of the inert gas system

using simulated conditions where necessary.  

(i) High oxygen content of gas in the inert gas main.  

(ii) Low gas pressure in the inert gas main.

(iii) Low pressure in the supply to the dock water seal.

(iv) High temperature of gas in the inert gas main.

(v) Low water pressure to the scrubber.

(vi) Accuracy of portable and fixed oxygen measuring equipment by means of calibration gas.

7.1.      The engine is to be completely opened up and a careful examination made of all cylinders, liners, covers, valves, valve gear, pistons, piston rings, top and bottom end bearings, gudgeon pins, crankcase door
fastenings and explosion relief devices.

7.2.    The top halves of all main bearings are to be removed and at least two bottom halves turned out for inspection. If these are found in good condition the remaining bottom halves need not be disturbed.

7.3.A very careful examination is to be made of all crankpns and journals for cracks especially at the fillets and in the vicinity of oil holes.

7.4.The crankweb deflections are to be measured and recorded.

N.B.   Care must be taken to ensure that the journals are resting on the main bearings when the readings are  taken.

7.5.The cylinder liners are to be gauged and the wear recorded.

7.6.The lubricating oil cooler is to be opened, examined and tested.

7.7.        Any direct driven lubricating oil pumps, cooling pumps, air compressors, etc, are to be opened up and examined.

7.8.    It is to be verified that all safety devices are in efficient working condition.

8.      A Confirmatory Survey is to be carried out by the Society's Surveyor as follows:—

8.1    At least one main bearing and one bottom end bearing to be selected, opened up and inspected together with the journal and crankpin engines having more than four cylinders at least two main journals, crank-pins and their bearings are to be examined.

   8.2.    The deflections of the crankwebs are to be measured and compared with these recorded by the Chief Engineer.      

8.3.The engine is to be examined running under load and the governor and circuit breaker tested.

8.4.All safety devices, remote controls, and automatic alarms to be tested.

Parts of machinery which may be examined

1.   Main engine cylinder covers. 

2.   Main engine valves and valve gear.

3.   Main engine cylinder liners.

4.   Main engine pistons and piston rods.

5.   Main engine connecting rods, crossheads, top end bearings and guides.   

6.   Main engine fuel injection pumps and fuel booster pumps.                     

7.   M.E. Scavenge pumps and blowers except where only one unit is fitted.

8.   Main engine detuners,

9.   Main engine driven pumps, e.g. bilge, lubricating oil, cooling water.

10. Independently driven-pumps, e.g. bilge, ballast, fire, fresh wator cooling, sea water cooling, lubricating oil, oil fuel transfer.

11. Main engine fresh water and lubricating oil coolers except where there Is only one cooler for each service.
1 2.     Low pressure heaters used in H.V.F. fuel systems of diesei engines.

13. Air compressors.

14. Windlass.

15. Forced or induced draught fans and engines.

Auxiliary oil and steam ongines including their coolers and pumps (providing the number of generator sets is
such that all services essential tc the propulsion and safety of the ship, also the preservation of refrigerated cargo, can be supplied when any two sets are not working. One of these sets can then be overhauled while the other remains as 'stand-by')