Applicability: shipowners, ship operators and ship masters.
The Shanghai Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) of the People's Republic of China recently announced, via its WeChat official account, an Enhanced Survey Port State Control (PSC) Campaign of Ship Machinery Safety Inspections in the Shanghai territory.
The PSC Campaign, which began on 15 March and runs until 15 June 2021, focuses on ship-manoeuvring equipment, main and auxiliary engines, emergency power source equipment failures, maintenance and compliance.
Shanghai MSA safety notice
The PSC Campaign follows a Shanghai MSA safety notice (from 25 December 2020) calling for proactive safety checks for ship propulsion, manoeuvring and navigational equipment to ensure they are in good order before entering the heavy traffic waterway of the Yangtze River around Changjiangkou near Shanghai.
The Shanghai MSA notice also refers to a collision of two vessels that caused the deaths of four seafarers and the disappearance of four others.
Click here to find the full safety notice.
Pre-checks and testing required
Ship operators are reminded that they must ensure the maintenance of the ship's machinery is carried out and recorded properly. Propulsion, steering and navigational systems must be pre-checked and tested before entering the congested waterway of the Yangtze River.
Report problems immediately
Adequate time must be arranged to enable crews to change over to low sulphur fuel before entering an Emission Control Area. Any repeating alarms and/or low insulation resistance issues should be investigated thoroughly. Any malfunction should be reported immediately to local authorities, flag Administrations and Class Societies.
Detaining ships
According to the Tokyo MOU website in the period from 01/01/2020 to 24/03/2021 there have been 20 detentions recorded in Shanghai. 15 of those detentions recorded a total of 23 deficiencies related to propulsion or auxiliary machinery of which 7 were identified as being detainable.
Find out more about China's Domestic ECA from the China MSA website click here
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