IMCA has released its latest eCMID Vessel Inspection Findings and Quality Assurance Report, providing a detailed analysis of vessel inspection outcomes and key risk areas identified, reports Safety4sea.
According to IMCA, then looking at the 896 electronic Condition Monitoring and Inspection Database (eCMID) Vessel Inspection reports, it was found that 8% (73) of vessels had high risk findings. This is very concerning and must be an area of focus for all accredited vessel inspectors carrying out these vessel inspections.
Conditions of class and certification
From 896 eCMID vessel inspections, it is surprising to see that 156 vessels were not clear of Conditions of Class and any safety-related memoranda. Additionally, 84 vessels did not have their statutory and Class certification in date; 20 vessels did not have a valid International Safety Management (ISM) certificate. As part of compliance with the ISM Code 1.2 ‘Objectives’, section 1.2.3 ‘the safety management system should ensure: 1.2.3.1 – ‘Compliance with mandatory rules and regulations’ and 1.2.3.2 – ‘that applicable codes, guidelines and standards recommended by the Organisation, Administrations, classification societies and maritime industry organisations are taken into account’.
Confined space entry
There remains a concerning issue of control for entry into confined spaces. 8% or 75 of the vessels inspected did not adequately control enclosed space entry. This now flags up as a ‘high risk’ finding in the eCMID report. Disappointingly, this figure is only very marginally down from the 2024 report, which was 11% or 98 vessels. The safe management of confined space entry remains a significant issue within the shipping industry.
Other areas of concern identified in the inspection reports are as follows:
Other areas of concern, which are flagged as high-risk, were that 7% (61) of vessels had defects with their lifesaving appliances, and 5% (40) of vessels did not have all their fitted life rafts available for immediate use.
Firefighting appliances, which were identified as high-risk, showed that 7% (63) of vessels had insufficient firefighting equipment available for use and were not free from defects.
Pollution prevention and environmental compliance
Pollution prevention high-risk findings showed that 6% (57) of vessels had no arrangements to prevent spillages from entering the water. Additionally, 5% (44) of vessels had the bilge water separator (OWS) not in good working order. An item that was not identified as high-risk but still needed attention was that 8% (70) of vessels did not hold Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) /or Shipboard Marine Pollution Emergency Plan (SMPEP) drills at regular intervals.
Read the full article here.
