There is no doubt that regular marine inspections help keep ships of all types and sizes in good working order. This is particularly important for vessels carrying passengers or cargo, such as cruise ships, tugs, and barges.
However, a recent study found that the Coast Guard needs help hiring and training a workforce capable of inspecting U.S.-flagged passenger and cargo ships, offshore drilling units, towing vessels, and barges under the new Subchapter M inspection program.
Inspections
Marine inspection services play an essential role in vessel safety. A thorough inspection is necessary to identify potential risks, whether for a potential charterer to ensure the vessel is suitable for his requirements or an international standardization body confirming compliance with a particular standard.
The Marine Safety and Security branch runs full inspection campaigns in Canada to ensure our shipping sector complies with regulations made under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and international conventions. We also inspect all commercial vessels using a risk-based approach regardless of whether they carry an inspection certificate.
In addition, Canada’s Port State Control inspections examine the air emissions from ships to ensure they meet the sulfur and nitrogen oxide limits set out in the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) Annex VI. These inspections result in detentions if issues are found, so they are essential to watch.
Preventative Maintenance
Regularly scheduled inspections of your systems and equipment can keep them working at optimal efficiency and reliability. Failures detected and corrected before they can save you money in the long run.
It can also help to protect your business from responsibility litigation. If your company is responsible for a piece of equipment that has failed during a voyage, you may pay for repairs and replacements, which can be costly.
The best preventative maintenance plans consider several variables, including historical asset performance and budgets. The team responsible for creating a plan must include leadership.
Safety Measures
A vessel’s safety measures are critical to protecting life and property at sea. Without them, accidents, injuries, and even death can occur.
Vessel inspections are crucial to identifying hazards. They are also important for preventing damage to ship structures and equipment.
During an inspection, surveyors examine the entire vessel’s structure and gear to identify defects. They can then recommend remedial actions to the owner or flag state.
Classification surveyors inspect commercial ships to ensure that they meet requirements set by the government or classification agencies. They also check cargo gear to ensure it complies with regulations.
Remediation
The marine industry is a challenging place to work and can be hazardous for both crew and the environment. Accidents, mishaps and faulty procedures can lead to disastrous consequences.
In the most severe cases, marine accidents can result in the loss of life and total vessel loss. This can be due to structural, explosions, equipment, or machinery failures.
Ship inspections are an essential part of the maritime safety process. They help ensure the structural integrity of ships and offshore structures.
Underwater visual inspections are a cost-effective way to confirm the structural integrity of vessels. They can also assist operators with determining maintenance schedules and workloads best suited to each ship. This helps to avoid dry-docking and minimize downtime costs.
