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FOUR FOREIGN SHIPS UNDER DETENTION IN THE UK DURING SEPTEMBER

News Release issued by the COI News Distribution Service on 16 October 2009

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The Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced today that four foreign flagged ships were under detention in UK ports during September 2009 after failing Port State Control (PSC) inspection.

Latest monthly figures show that there were four new detentions of foreign flagged ships in UK ports during September 2009. The overall rate of detentions compared with inspections carried out over the last twelve months was 3.05% this is slightly down from August’s 12 month rate.

During the month of September, 179 Port State Control inspections were carried out in the UK. A total of 39 vessels had no deficiencies raised against them, 104 had between one and five deficiencies, 29 had between six and 10 deficiencies, seven had between 11 and 20 deficiencies. There were no vessels inspected that had more than 20 deficiencies.

Of the detained vessels, three were registered with flag states listed on the Paris MOU white list, and one was registered with flag state on the black list.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors

1. In response to one of the recommendations of Lord Donaldson's Inquiry into the prevention of pollution from merchant shipping and in compliance with the EU Directive on Port State Control (95/21/EC as amended), the Maritime and Coastguard agency (MCA) publishes full details of the foreign flagged vessels detained in UK ports each month.

2. Inspections of foreign flagged ships in UK ports are undertaken by surveyors from the MCA. Where a ship is found to be deficient or lacks the required documentation, MCA surveyors can take a range of actions leading to detention in serious cases. The UK is part of a regional agreement on port state control known as the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Paris MOU) and information on all ships that are inspected is held centrally in an electronic database known as SIReNaC. This allows the ships of flags with poor detention records to be targeted for future inspection.

3. Detained ships have to satisfy surveyors that remedial work has been carried out before they are allowed to leave port.

4. When applicable the list includes those passenger craft prevented from operating under the provisions of the EU Directive on Mandatory Surveys for the safe operation of regular Ro-Ro ferry and high speed passenger craft services (1999/35/EU).

Notes on the list of detentions

• Full details of the ship

• The accompanying detention list shows ship’s name, the flag state and the ship’s International Maritime Organization (IMO) number which is unchanging throughout the ship’s life and uniquely identifies it.

• Company

• The company shown in the vessel’s Safety Management Certificate or the party otherwise believed to be responsible for the safety of the ship at the time of inspection.

• Classification Society

• The list shows the Classification Society responsible for classing the ship and not necessarily the party issuing and/or carrying out surveys for certificates relevant to the defect found.

• Recognised Organisation

• The “organisation” - responsible for conducting the statutory surveys: and issuing statutory certificates, (on behalf of the Flag State).

• Defects

• The list gives a summary of the main grounds for detention and includes information where the ship has been released to sail to another port for repairs.

Vessels detained in September included:

A 23,536 Gt. Bulk Carrier was detained in Southampton as the MF/HF radio installation was inoperative; the abandon ship drill was slow and uncoordinated, also the Safety Management System on board had not been applied satisfactorily, with respect to the maintenance; training and inspections.

SHIPS DETAINED IN SEPTEMBER 2009

Date & Place of detention: 02/09/2009 – Leith

Vessel Name: MURMANSK (Bulk Carrier)
GT: 18,964
IMO No: 8118140
Flag: Malta
Company: Koma Shipping Services
Classification Society: Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS)
Recognised Organisation: Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS)
Recognised Organisation for ISM: Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RMRS)
Summary: three deficiencies, one ground for detention

The vessel was detained in Leith for three days because the forward end of the port lifeboat had heavy wastage in the keel plates. Other deficiencies identified were two bunker air pipe covers were holed and the port lifeboat grab lines were badly perished.
The vessel was released on 04/09/2009.

Date & Place of detention 21/09/2009 –- Southampton

Vessel Name: BULK PACIFIC (Bulk Carrier)
GT: 23,536
IMO No:8009519
Flag: Malta
Company: Portunato C & Srl
Classification Society: Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
Recognised Organisation: Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
Recognised Organisation for ISM: Registro Italiano Navale (RINA)
Summary: 19 deficiencies, eight grounds for detention

The vessel was detained in Southampton for four days because the MF/HF radio was not transmitting or receiving DSC or voice signals; port and starboard embarkation ladders were severely corroded and wasted and the lowest step of the port embarkation ladder was chained and padlocked to the ships’ railing; in addition the abandon ship drill was very slow and uncoordinated and the officer in charge was unable to assert his command and take control. Other deficiencies identified were; several lifejackets were found with improperly attached lights; the propeller shaft of the starboard lifeboat was bent; two floor plates were missing in the starboard forward engine room and most fire hoses were found to be incorrectly connected to the couplings using jubilee clips A major non conformity was identified in respect of the maintenance of ship and equipment, which was not according to SMS.
The vessel was released from detention on 24/09/2009.

Date & Place of detention: 23/09/2009 – Bristol (Avonmouth)

Vessel Name: EMS (General Cargo)
GT: 3,766
IMO No: 9373199
Flag: Antigua & Barbuda
Company: Werse Bereederungs Gmbh & Co Kg
Classification Society: Germanischer Lloyd (GL)
Recognised Organisation: Germanischer Lloyd (GL)
Recognised Organisation for ISM: Germanischer Lloyd (GL)
Summary: 9 deficiencies 2 grounds for detention

The vessel was detained in Avonmouth for eight days because various items of the ships’ equipment had been out of order for a substantial period of time and there had been no action taken to resolve these problems. Reports to the company regarding the malfunctioning of the equipment had not been dealt with or the problems resolved. A major non conformity was identified in respect of the maintenance of the ship and equipment and with regard to the resources and personnel which was not according to SMS. Other deficiencies identified included: the fuel tank of the rescue boat was found to be empty; there was accumulated oil and water mixture on the engine room tank top and the fire alarm was inoperative.
The vessel was released on 30/09/2009

Date & Place of detention: 24/09/2009 – Hull

Vessel Name: CHEMSTAR KING (Chemical Tanker)
GT: 11,951
IMO No: 9161871
Flag: Panama
Company: Dongkuk Marine Co Ltd.
Classification Society: Class NK (NKK)
Recognised Organisation: Class NK (NKK)
Recognised Organisation for ISM: American Bureau of Shipping (ABS)
Summary: 16 deficiencies 1 ground for detention

The vessel was detained in Hull for three days because the crew were found to be insufficiently trained and unfamiliar with the free fall lifeboat and davit, therefore they were unable to conduct safely, a simulated launch, abandon ship and lifeboat recovery drills. Other deficiencies identified included: the fire doors in the galley, the officers mess, and the crew laundry were held open with hooks compromising the use of the self closing devices. The embarkation ladder for the port side lifeboat had rotten seizings and there was no evidence regarding the identifying of hazards in respect of the launching and recovery of the freefall lifeboat. In addition the bilge pump had a broken handle and the gangway had a damaged stanchion socket – all safety stanchions could not be rigged.

The vessel was released from detention on 26/09/2009.

• The MCA is a partner in the Sea Vision UK campaign to raise awareness and understanding of the sea and maritime activities. Sea Vision promotes the importance and economic value of the sector and works to highlight the exciting range of activities and career opportunities available to young people within the UK growing maritime sector. www.seavisionuk.org

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Contacts:

Maritime and Coastguard Agency Press Office
Phone: 023 8032 9401
NDS.MCGA@coi.gsi.gov.uk

Maggie Hill.
Phone: 02380 329395
Mobile: 07827 873034
maggie.hill@mcga.gov.uk