- The results from a vetting inspection will give the oil major information needed to decide if the vessel is accepted for use.
- The best people to do this would be the Master, Chief Officer, 2nd Officer (Navigation Officer), Chief Engineer and the 1st Engineer (Second Engineer).
- Minor observations that have been rectified in front of the inspector should be requested to be removed from the list provided to the Master.
Only if the tanker has been prepared for the inspection may an onboard inspection be successful as reported by Skuld.
Onboard inspection
For this reason, some companies perform pre-vetting inspections by internal resources prior to the vetting inspections by the oil majors.
These inspections normally take place during discharge.
Most of the vetting inspectors are former seafarers with long experience in various types of tanker vessels.
Make sure that the inspection is scheduled at a convenient time for the vessel, so it does not conflict with other inspections.
Apart from the required operation of the vessel, the inspection should be given the highest priority.
This should be incorporated into the normal routine guidelines.
Preparation
Prior to the inspection, a copy of the below documents should, as a minimum, be made ready for the inspector:
- Classification documents
- Certificate of registry
- Cargo ship safety construction certificate
- Cargo ship safety equipment certificate
- Safety radiotelegraphy certificate
- Load line certificate
- IMO certificate of fitness
- IOPP certificate & supplement
- Certificate of financial responsibility
- Crew list
- Drawing of the vessel’s cargo tank arrangement
- Vessel’s safe manning document
Masters should lay out the certificates in the same order as they appear in the VPQ/VIQ (Vessel Particular Questionnaire/Vessel Inspection Questionnaire) This saves time and creates a good impression of a systematic preparation, and the following documentation should also be presented:
- The officer’s qualification matrix
- Officer’s licenses
- Health certificates
- P&A manual
- Approved crude oil washing manual
- Approved ballast manual
- Oil/Cargo record book
- Oil transfer procedures
- Garbage log for compliance with MARPOL Annex V
- Proof of cargo hose/pipe pressure testing
- Proof of fixed and portable firefighting equipment servicing
- Proof of professional servicing of breathing apparatus
- Proof of life raft servicing
- Settings for vessel’s pressure/vacuum valves
- Shipping document and cargo manifest
- Certificate of inhabitation or stabilization of cargo
- Declaration of Inspection if transferring bunkers
- Cargo Information cards for the cargo on board
- Inert gas manual
- Vessel response plan
- Safety manual
- Vessel operation manual
- Company’s policy for upgrading and training
Be prepared to calibrate and/or demonstrate the proper operation of:
- Combustible gas detectors or fixed gas detection systems
- Oxygen analyser
- Toxic gas detector
- Overboard discharge monitor
- Cargo pump emergency shutdown and bearing alarms
- High-level alarms
- Overfill alarms
- Quick closing valves
Be prepared to demonstrate the proper operation of the following systems/alarms:
- Inert gas system alarms
- Oily water separator
- Firefighting systems
- Steering gear
- Emergency generator
- Engine room ventilation shutdowns
- Fuel oil quick-closing valves valve
In addition, the following items may be checked and should be ready:
- Firemen’s outfits
- International shore connection
- Navigation equipment
- ECDIS includes the latest corrections
- Publication including corrections
- EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon), pyrotechnics and hydrostatic releases
- Flame screens, bunker tanks
- Suitable paint locker
- Marine sanitation device
Reference should also be made to the requirements of the oil major inspecting the vessel. The following items are of vital importance as these provide an overall impression of the vessel and will play an essential part in how the inspection will be conducted.
- Gangway: Correctly arranged – is the gangway net rigged? Is there a life ring nearby?
- Deck Watch: Is a deck watch present at the gangway?
- Ask the inspector about his identity (which should be verified by ID) and who he wants to see
- Confirm with the Duty Officer that this is OK
- One crew member should guide the inspector to the Master’s office
- All applicable warning signs must be posted
- All crew should wear the required PPE
- Fire equipment at the manifold must be in place and correctly rigged
- Deck clean and free of oil/water and obstructions
- Scuppers blocked and emergency pump in position and discharge connected
- Cargo information: Make sure that all personnel involved in the cargo operations are briefed regarding what cargoes are being loaded/discharged, particularly the deck watch. All MSDS to be posted and easily readable.
- Emergency equipment working, present and clearly marked
- Moorings in good order with no lines on the winch ends
- Accommodation clean and tidy, all doors closed, and a positive pressure maintained
The Inspection
Remember, you do not pass or fail a vetting inspection!
The results from a vetting inspection will give the oil major information needed to decide if the vessel is accepted for use.
However, you shall be well prepared and make sure that the inspector is accompanied by the vessel during the inspection. The best people to do this would be the Master, Chief Officer, 2nd Officer (Navigation Officer), Chief Engineer and the 1st Engineer (Second Engineer).
Normally, the inspector will start by checking all certificates and documentation with the Master followed by a tour of the bridge, deck, accommodation, provision room and engine/steering gear room. However, it must be remembered that the order and schedule of the inspection can be changed to achieve less disturbance to the normal operations onboard. With the OCIMF VPQ (Vessel Particular Questionnaire), much of the data referring to the tanker will have been completed in advance. Make sure that you have a completed and up to date copy available for the inspector as this will save much time.
Some of the most common deficiencies are found in the following areas:
Bridge and radio room
- Passage plan only pilots to pilot. Ensure that the filed passage plan covers berth to berth navigation.
- Missing publications or old editions onboard when new publications have been issued
- No emergency anchorage marked
- No-go areas not marked
- No point of no return marked
- Master’s standing orders and night order book missing or not completed
- No logs for gyro error
- No entry of position on the ECDIS chart during transit of pilotage to berth
- ECDIS
Cargo control room and tank deck
- No cargo/ballast plan available
- Hydraulic leaks on deck
- Officers and ratings not wearing proper PPE on deck
- ODM (Oil Discharge Monitor) not tested
- The manifold valves of the opposite side to the discharging side are not closed and the/or pressure gauge has defects or missing
- No screens inside the vents for the ballast tanks
- No calibration gas for gas detection instruments
- No policy for tank entry
Engine room and steering gear
- No procedures or instructions are posted for foam system
- Chief Engineer’s standing orders and night order book are missing or not completed
- Emergency steering procedures are not posted properly in the steering gear room
- Hot work procedures not used or not present in the manuals
- No safety guidelines available for engine room/workshop welding equipment
- No eye protection warning notices are posted for engine workshop machinery
- No clean goggles by grinders and lathes
Accommodation/Galley
- Untidy
- Overhead ventilation is greasy which is a fire hazard
- Accommodation ventilators with no identification labels
- The required temperature of the meat/fish room was not maintained correctly
The closing meeting
The inspector should sit down and discuss observations and comments after the inspection is completed. If not, the Master should record a written objection that this has not taken place and inform his company immediately.
If the Master’s opinion is that some of the observations are not correct or it has been raised due to a misunderstanding, this is the time to bring this up with the inspector. Minor observations that have been rectified in front of the inspector should be requested to be removed from the list provided to the Master.
The inspector gives the Master a written list of the observations found:
- Correct all observations as soon as possible
- Send the report to the head office or department in charge
- Complete the Inspector Feedback Form and send it together with the report
Owner’s comments (one of the most important aspects)
When the vetting inspector leaves the gangway, the vessel inspection is finalized.
Many otherwise acceptable vessels do not pass this part of the vetting process because the owner’s replies to the vetting inspection do not provide “closure” of the indicated conditions, and this results in the “approval” either being delayed or denied.
The owner’s replies should make it possible to identify the root cause of the deficiency and it must address the real cause of the deficiency.
In order to indicate that you have an effective system in place, it is necessary to address the deficiency within the ISM system, for example by identifying the non-conformity, establishing the root cause and implementing an effective corrective action as well necessary changes to existing procedures.
The deficiency then becomes effectively closed out.
The screening process
Even after going over all of the previously specified components, the procedure is not yet complete. It’s also crucial that any comments provided are consistent with past inspections’ comments on similar observations.
The charterer will also assess and review many other aspects of your operation, such as:
- Other vessels in your fleet
- The vessel’s incident history
- Feedback from the charterer’s terminals
- The quality of the owner’s detention history
- Any previous problems with clearance of the vessel
- Inspection history of the vessel
- The age of the vessel, crew quality and the management system in place
- CAP (Condition Assessment Programme)) rating, fatigue analyses (if appropriate)
- The vessels flag, classification society, PSC blacklisting
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Source: Skuld
