Recently, marine accidents occurred successively to large-size bulk carriers engaged in international voyages, meanwhile, considering that many old bulk carriers were found with structural deficiencies, in order to ensure that large-size old bulk carriers are in compliance with requirements of relevant international conventions and their rules, reduce the risk of occurrence of accidents to vessels caused by structural corrosion, structural damage and metal fatigue, etc, and perform duties and obligations of PSC inspection, China MSA decided to carry out special inspection on old large-size bulk carriers.

I.  Duration of special inspection

From June 15, 2017 to December 31, 2017.

II. Target of special inspection

(I) Bulk carriers over 10000 gross tonnage with age over 15 years engaged in international voyage shall be targeted ships for inspection with priority;

(II) Bulk carriers that were converted from oil tankers and have not undergone special inspection shall not be limited by the window period of inspection. Unless under exceptional circumstances, after commencement of the duration of special inspection, any bulk carrier converted from oil tanker (list of names of such carriers will be updated on PSC data center website) must undergo PSC inspection upon her first arrival at port, thereafter, she shall be inspected pursuant to the window period under the NIR of TOKYO-MOU.

III.  Form of inspection

This time of special inspection will be carried out in combination with the work of FSC and PSC.

IV.  Subject of inspection

Structure of bulk carriers shall be the key aspect to be inspected for this special inspection, specifically, the following inspection subjects and factors shall be included:

1. loading and unloading plan jointly confirmed by the ship and terminal operator ( IMO ResA.862(20));

2. the approved operational manual of ship for goods and ballasting;

3. bulk carrier enhanced inspection files onboard (IMO Res. A744(18));

4. thickness test report;

5. weather tight of hatch covers;

6. hatch corners and hatch coamings;

7. frames/plates of cargo holds;

8. structure of bulkheads of cargo holds;

9. structure of ballast tank.

Source: China PSC