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Periodic surveys and inspections of ships are carried out to ensure the safety and
seaworthiness of vessels. With maritime laws becoming more stringent with each passing year,
sea-going vessels have to go through a series of inspections in order to meet minimum
requirements to continue sailing.

Annual surveys by classification society are a vital part of ship’s trading eligibility. Thus for a
vessel to continue trading various periodical surveys and certifications by classification society
are mandatory to ensure its continual compliance with International regulations and
endorsement of the same. Various certificates require annual endorsement after the class
surveyor verifies that the conditions, functioning and operational and maintenance requirements
of the vessel are complied with.

After the class surveyor verifies the same he endorses the certificates for annual survey. Annual
surveys are namely Safety equipment survey, International oil pollution prevention certificate
survey, International air pollution prevention certificate survey, and Safety Radio Survey.

Before all these surveys, the companies appoint independent servicing agencies which are
approved to conduct annual servicing and maintenance of equipment such as fire extinguishers,
fixed fire extinguishing installations, annual foam compound analysis for fixed foam fire fighting
installation, annual servicing and maintenance of lifeboat equipment and launching appliances.

Annual servicing and inspection of equipment systems can be performed by various institutions
such as accredited laboratory, service company, maker or manufacturer trained personnel,
shore based maintenance provider, class approved service applier, and service personnel
authorised by the flag.

The criteria for inspection are being laid by classification societies acting as recognised
organisations on behalf of flag states so that requisite certificates are revalidated or issued in
line with international regulations. Every flag has streamlined its requirements and thus
accordingly the classification society develops a checklists of inspection program to harmonise
the same.

An additional survey can be carried out after a condition of class has been imposed on a
vessel or major failure in critical equipment has been detected which can endanger
seaworthiness and safety of the vessel. Some examples are hull breach, propulsion or steering
gear failure where vessel has to salvaged, after major steel renewal, systematic failure of safety
measures leading to a major accident, malfunctioning of Oily Water Separator (or oil discharge
monitoring and control system), or any condition under which a certificate issued by a
classification society becomes invalid. Thus, after repair or remedial measure the classification
society carries a thorough inspection/survey and thes reissues or re-endorses the certificate.
Dry dock surveys or intermediate surveys/ inspections are more extensive form of annual
surveys in which several other functional, operational aspects and maintenance routines of
shipboard equipment are verified.

A safety construction survey will be focused on structural strength of the vessel. It will be

assessed for any excessive corrosion of deck or hull, along with condition of watertight doors,
bilge pumping and drainage systems, fire protection equipment and fixed and portable fire
fighting equipment. Condition of steam lines on deck, anchors chain and cables, and means of
emergency escape are also checked.

Prior assignment of load line to the vessel, a load line survey is carried out, during which, a
vessel’s structural strength is checked for cracks or deformations in hull identified,
various openings such as hatches, machinery space openings or any other openings on deck
are watertight. Deck lines, load lines and draft marks are also painted.

A cargo ship safety equipment survey pertains to conditions and management of safety

system onboard. Muster lists, lifejacket donning instructions, survival craft launching
instructions, and muster stations are to be updated and posted in required locations, arrow
markings for emergency muster stations, condition of lifeboats, its equipment and launching
appliances.

Fire control plans are checked for their locations, fire detection systems, fire pumps main and
emergency are checked for condition and operation, fire hoses, nozzles, hose
boxes, international shore connections, fixed fire fighting equipment for their condition and
operational readiness. Portable fire extinguishers also checked for their condition along with
maintenance records and inspection routines, emergency lights and alarms, fire main system for
pressure testing, isolation valves and foam turrets for easy operation. Fireman’s outfit and
breathing apparatus is also inspected for readiness and use.

Classification societies often appointed as recognised organisations by flag states conduct

these surveys and inspections, based on which flag authorises them to issue various certificates
required as per SOLAS, MARPOL, Tonnage, MLC and various other international conventions.

Often a classification society has a matrix or a survey checklist which specifies checks,
maintenance and inspection records for several shipboard equipment and appliances. The
maintenance or inspection routines are as specified by makers or weekly, monthly, six monthly,
annual or five yearly surveys depending upon the requirements laid down in conventions or
circulars issued by IMO. A few examples of this can be Hydrostatic testing and inspection of
emergency escape breathing devises(EEBD), annual examination of gangways and
embarkation ladders etc.

The 5 yearly dry or dry dock surveys are the toughest of these in which a thorough inspection
and testing as per the guidelines of classification society is being conducted.

Tanker and Gas industry owing to hazardous nature of cargoes they handle are often subjected
to Terminal Safety Inspections. A terminal safety manager or representative visits the ship
and ascertains safe operations as per terminal requirements. This is limited to operational
readiness of safety and navigation equipment of the vessel along with propulsion and steering
gear, and focuses mainly on the fact that the vessel is prepared to deal with an emergency-
before, after and while the cargo transfer operations are conducted. Any deficiency found during
the inspection might lead to rejection of the vessel or even unberthing to rectify the same. If any
adverse remarks are reported the terminal may blacklist the vessel for further calls or
operations.

International Management Code (ISM) for Safe operation of ships and pollution prevention lays
down functional requirement for a Safety Management System to establish procedure for an
Internal audit and management review, according to which an internal audit is being carried out
by the ship managers, operators, bare boat charterers , or owners operating the ship or any
third party authorised to carry out such an audit.

Thus the company carries out internal safety audits to verify whether safety and pollution-
prevention activities comply with the safety management system. The audit verifies maintaining
the condition of the ship and equipment between surveys, documented procedures and
instructions such as following procedures with the help of company specific permits, checklists
and instructions. It also incorporates checks to ensure procedures provided for safe navigation
as well as operation and maintenance of several important and critical shipboard equipment.

Drills, safety familiarisation and training programs followed and documented onboard are
reviewed and checked during internal audit. Procedures and documentation followed onboard
for recording and reporting non conformities, accidents and hazardous occurrences are also
verified against company guidelines issued.

Note: A very important point of concern often found during audits is non conformance
with company procedures or using obsolete or old documents and forms onboard.

Audits have a provision of review through which shipboard management team can convey
changes or review the procedures established by the company.

The External Safety audit or more popularly known as Annual ISM Audit by flag state is carried
out on similar pattern as the internal audit. On basis of qualifying the ability to meet specific
requirements for Safety and pollution prevention, a Safety management certificate is issued
which is subjected to Annual verification, Intermediate Verification or additional verification.
During an audit, designated crew members and officers are also questioned about
familiarisation with shipboard equipment as well as company guidelines and policies regarding
ISM Code.

OCIMF SIRE inspections or more popularly known as vetting inspections are well known in
tanker industry (SIRE is Ship Inspection Report Programme). Its major goal is to expand the
availability of ship inspection information. SIRE members have a prime objective to promote
ship safety. On an average there are more than 600 SIRE inspections conducted per month. Oil
companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) has established a Vessel inspection
Questionnaire (VIQ) for oil tankers and CDI checklist for Chemical tankers based on Chapters,
of which, various areas of shipboard operations, management system and other requirements
laid down are inspected and the results are uploaded on the SIRE website.

Port State Inspection is done by Administrations to verify that the foreign flag ships calling at
their ports comply with mandatory rules and regulations. A Port State may detain a ship from
proceeding to sea, if there are clear grounds of serious deficiencies concerning the operational
requirements of international conventions (e.g. SOLAS, MARPOL).

Often port state enter into MOU, under which, they carry CIC’s or Concentrated Inspection
Programme and set a target of particular number of ships calling the ports within their MOU
regions and inspect them for a specific shipboard operation, procedure or equipment. For e.g.
presently ongoing CIC by Paris and Indian Ocean MOU’s for Enclosed Space Entry procedures
onboard.

A deck officer should thus always bear in mind that most of the inspections and surveys thus
cover in detail regulations and procedures prescribed in various conventions such as SOLAS ,
MARPOL etc. along with further recommendations in codes such as ISM , ISPS , FFA , LSA
code. Thus having an up-to-date knowledge of procedures and maintaining readiness of
equipmens falling directly under his responsibility is the first checkpoint before any survey or
inspection.