Answer SSEP Question 9

Q9. Explain the principle of port State control and give in detail the verification the Port State Control Officer may carry out with particular reference to the following;

A. Emergency generator;

B. Auxiliary steering gear;

C. Lifeboat engine;

D. Bilge pumps;

E. SOPEP.

Answer: The principle of port State control
In relation to a ship the country in which it is registered is the 'Flag Sate; any other country visited by the ship is a 'Port State' it is the duty of the 'Flag State' to ensure that the ship entitled to fly its flag is safely constructed, equipped and subsequently properly maintained and manned as per regulations based on international conventions developed by IMO.
For this purpose, the flag state carries out surveys and inspection on the vessel under its registry for issuance of various statutory certificates. Administration may delegate this authority to recognized classification societies to carry out such surveys and issue certificates on their behalf.
Ships trade internationally and have to call at various ports for a considerable period and it is possible that during a certain period of time ship's certificate may not call at various ports of the world. Many ships may not call at any of their home ports for a considerable period and it is possible that during a certain period of time ship's certificate may not have been renewed on maintenance in general has suffered due to various reasons.
Therefore, it is imperative that ships must be inspected at various ports to ensure compliance with rule requirements as regards safety, maintenance, manning, etc. This control is termed Port State Control.
Provisions for control comes from the following IMO instruments.
(1) Regulation 19 chapter 1 of SOLAS 1974.
(2) International convention of Load Line 1966.
(3) MARPOL 73/78
(4) STCW 1978
(5) International Regulation for Preventing Collision at sea (COLREG) 1972
(6) International Labor Organization (ILO) convention no.147
In order to implement effective port state control, the following Memorandum of Understanding has been signed between countries:
(1) Paris MOU in 1982
(2) MOU among Latin American Countries 1992.
(3) Tokyo MOU in 1993
(4) Caribbean MOU in 1996.
(5) Indian Ocean MOU.
A. Emergency generator:
- Port State Control Officer will see whether the emergency generator automatically starts upon failure of the main power supply. - The Port State Control Officer may check if all the emergency lightings are working. Method of operation is clearly posted.
- PSC officer may ask to start the emergency generator using all required starting methods.
- Inspection of Complete Operation including load carrying capacity and the functionality of the operation.
B. Auxiliary steering gear:
- PSCO may see the auxiliary steering gear in operation. It should be capable of putting rudder over from 15° on one side to 15° on the other side is not more than 60sec with the ship, at its deepest seagoing draught and running ahead at only half of the maximum ahead service speed on 7 knots, whichever is the greater.
- Automatic restarting after restoration power after failure and arrangement of re-starting from bridge and alarm in case of a power failure may also be checked by the PSCO.
C. Lifeboat engine:
- Life boat engine to be started and shown in running condition. All parameters will be checked. Ahead and astern running of the engine is also to be shown to the officer of PSC.
- The engine after starting should be able to run for at least 5 minutes without water.
D. Bilge pumps:
- The PSCO will ask for the trial of the bilge pump. Bilge suction from different locations particularly from the location farthest from the engine room may have to be shown to the surveyor.
- He may like to see the functioning of the oily water separator and 15ppm overboard discharge alarm. The PSCO will expect to see a functional test of the sensor controlling the solenoid on three-way valve returning the oily water to sludge tank. To make it easier, to demonstrate, it is advisable to make a return pipe from the overboard discharge line emptying into a funnel which leads — back to the sludge tank.
E. SOPEP
- MARPOL 73/78 Annex I Regulation 37 states "Every ship of 450-ton gross tonnage and above and every oil tanker of 150 tons' gross tonnage and above shall carry on board the Oil pollution emergency plan approved by the administration. He will also check the list of oil spill gear as required by the SOPEP (SOPEP locker)
(1) Absorber Roll
(2) Absorbent Pads
(3) Absorber Granules
(4) Absorber Materials (saw dust, etc.)
(5) Brooms, shovels, mops, Scoops
(6) Oil spill dispersant
(7) Empty Receptacles (200 on 20 liter drums)
(8) Portable air-driven pumps.
(9) Oil boom (on specific vessels only) for deployment on board to contain the oil in specific areas on in the water around the vessel. The PSCO, in case of any "clear ground" may check that ship's personnel are conversant with the emergency plan and actions to be taken in case of pollution.

Port state control detailed explanation