As Port State Control (PSC) Inspections begin to affect superyachts cruising in the Mediterranean news is reaching us that several yachts have been detained because of non-conformities.
Yacht managers have been hastily briefing Captains on correct procedures and the Professional Yachtsman’s Association (PYA) has seen fit to issue a warning note to all members alerting them to the pitfalls of detention.
In the document the PYA reported on the recent detention of three yachts at Genoa in Italy.
The deficiencies found by PSC Officers on one superyacht of 418gt were:-
- Entry missing from Oil Record Book Oil drums improperly stowed in bilge well Flag State Endorsement of Ch. Engineer’s CoC missing
- SOPEP – List of national contacts missing
- Self closing valve on sludge tank tied open
- Bilge well dirty
- Bilge high level sensor disconnected
- Quick-closing valve on fuel day tank not operative
- 15ppm sensor not operative
- Oily Water Separator not operative
On a larger yacht of 692gt Inspectors found:
- ISM not operating correctly
- Charts not corrected
- Two Emergency Escape Breathing Apparatus had pressure gauges showing red
- Some ship’s papers incorrectly amended with new name by Class, not Flag Original
- CoC for Master & Mate not on board, only copies.
- No passage plan for voyage just completed
- Some nautical publications out of date
On another large yacht this one of 613gt the list included:
- Charts not corrected
- Gyrocompass not operative
- SOPEP – List of national contacts not up to date
- Nautical publications not up to date Crew less then required by Safe Manning Document Annual test of Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon not carried out Ship’s papers – Long Range Identification & Tracking system not recorded on Form E
- Oily Water Separator not operative
- ISM not operating correctly
- Emergency fire pump not operative
The PYA concludes that for various reasons, Flag and Class surveyors have traditionally been tolerant of minor deficiencies in superyacht documentation and compliance with the various Conventions.
They have taken the pragmatic view that the end result is more important that precise adherence to the rules.
Those days say the PYA are, over and they warn members to prepare themselves and the superyachts they work on for inspection by PSC Officers who know little about yachting and who see no reason to “cut a little slack” when inspecting them.
The PYA concludes with the words, “As may be seen from the three examples above, it’s going to be very difficult to get through a More Detailed Inspection without collecting any deficiencies and even a few deficiencies will have long term consequences.”
Useful pre-inspection checklists from Lloyds Register and AMSA may be downloaded from the PYA’s website.