Qingdao & Shanghai PSC focus on ships with mechanical and electrical failures

Overview

Local authorities in Qingdao and Shanghai ports have recently announced tighter control on ships with mechanical and electrical failures, resulting in some ships being detained consecutively following PSC inspections.

 

Qingdao Port

Qingdao Port local authorities issued a notice to ships via local agents informing ships to focus more on safety management, particularly on main engine, steering engine and boiler etc., which need to be properly tested and checked before entering or leaving the port, to avoid delay to ships’ schedule due to PSC inspection resulting from mechanical and electrical failures. A “Self-checklist for Ships Intending to Enter Qingdao Port” (Appendix A) suggests 9 items- falling into three categories: M/E & A/E, Main and Emergency Power and Steering Gear – to be checked in advance.

It is noted that Qingdao MSA plans to establish a “list” of ships which are continuously found with mechanical and electrical failure or main engine failure. Enhanced supervision may apply to ships owners or managers on the “list”. Meanwhile, they may also strengthen on-site supervision and inspection to ships’ mechanical and electrical equipment in the future.

 

Shanghai Port

Ships will be detained by PSCOs if found with mechanical and electrical failures or main engine malfunction, and will not be permitted to depart until rectification is made. Wusong MSA also issued a similar notice announcing enhanced safety inspection to ships entering Shanghai section of Yangtze River. Ships are required to test main engine, steering system and emergency equipment etc. to ensure they are in good working condition.

Starting from 01 April, 2023, the following procedures need to be followed:

• Ships with mechanical and electrical failures or accident records within one year in Shanghai port are requested to conduct testing and inspection of critical equipment such as main engine, steering system and emergency equipment, strictly in accordance with the requirement, 4 hours in advance before entering Yangtze River Shanghai section on each voyage.
• Documentation of self-testing and inspection such as forms, logs, pictures or video records (pictures and videos must be with marks of date & time) should be well kept, and failure in providing such supporting evidence during Wusong VTS’ random check may lead to delay in entering into the port.
• A “Self-checklist for Ships Intending to Enter the Yangtze River Shanghai Section” is also attached to the notice, listing 10 items (almost identical with Qingdao port’s list) to be checked in advance.

New regulations on prevention and control of ship pollution in Shanghai and ports on Yangtze River came into force on 01 March, 2023, which leads to strengthened supervision on ships’ discharge of domestic sewage, domestic waste and oily sewage, etc..

 

Actions required

Ship managers should thoroughly prepare their managed fleet prior entering areas of Qingdao port and Shanghai port authorities responsibility.

 

How we may help

SQEMARINE can provide guidance on PSC preparation through RiSK4SEA platform (risk4sea.com).

 

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Appendix A: Self-checklist for Ships Intending to Enter Qingdao Port

(Download original)

The safety self-inspection before entering Qingdao Port is not limited to the items in this list, and does not relieve the safety management responsibility of the ship and its company.

No.	Checking items	Results
	M/E & A/E
1.	The starting systems of the main engine and generator, such as compressed air, air compressors, etc., are in good condition.	Y	N	N/A
2.	The fuel system of the main engine and generator, such as high-pressure pipes, high-pressure fuel pumps, fuel filters, nozzles, etc., are in good condition.	Y	N	N/A
3.	The cooling system of the main engine and generator, such as sea inlets, cooling pipelines, etc., are in good condition.	Y	N	N/A
4.	The body parts of the main engine and generator, such as exhaust valves, water jackets, governors, piston rings, seal rings, etc. are in good condition.	Y	N	N/A
5.	The alarm system of the main engine and generator in the engine control room for high-pressure fuel leakage, lubricating oil failure, and high temperature of cooling water is working properly.	Y	N	N/A
6.	There is obvious leakage in the cooling, fuel, lubricating oil pipes or other piping systems of the main engine and generators.	Y	N	N/A
7.	There are abnormal alarms, abnormal speed reduction, abnormal high temperature or black smoke happened to the main engine and generator.	Y	N	N/A
8.	The crew has maintained the main engine and generators in the light of the SMS document.	Y	N	N/A
	MAIN AND EMERGENCY POWER
1.	The main generator can reach the rated speed and keep stable.	Y	N	N/A
2.	Multiple main generators can run in parallel and keep stable.	Y	N	N/A
3.	The emergency generator can power the emergency switch board properly.	Y	N	N/A
4.	The emergency generator can be started by a second means of starting set or manually.	Y	N	N/A
5.	The emergency generator can be automatically started within 45 seconds after the loss of main power.	Y	N	N/A
	STEERING GEAR
1.	There is obvious leakage at the joints, valves or oil cylinder packing in the steering gear piping system.	Y	N	N/A
2.	The refilling system of the hydraulic steering gear is in good condition.	Y	N	N/A
3.	There is enough spare hydraulic oil in the hydraulic steering gear storage cabinet.	Y	N	N/A
4.	In the event of a power failure to any one of the steering gear power units, an audible and visual alarm can be given on the navigation bridge.	Y	N	N/A
5.	If any power supply line of the three-phase motor is disconnected, the main engine control room and engine room can send out audible and visual alarms.	Y	N	N/A
6.	There is obvious noise and vibration of the rudder steering gear.	Y	N	N/A
7.	The rudder angle limiter is working properly.	Y	N	N/A
8.	The steering gear is working properly.	Y	N	N/A
9.	The crew conducts emergency steering drills every three months.	Y	N	N/A

 

Appendix B: Self-checklist for Ships Intending to Enter the Yangtze River in Shanghai Section

(Download original)

The safety self-inspection before entering the Yangtze River in Shanghai section is not limited to the items in this list, and does not relieve the safety management responsibility of the ship and its company.

No.	Checking items	Results
	M/E & A/E
1.	The starting systems of the main engine and generator, such as compressed air, air compressors, etc., are in good condition.	Y	N	N/A
2.	The fuel system of the main engine and generator, such as high-pressure pipes, high-pressure fuel pumps, fuel filters, nozzles, etc., are in good condition.	Y	N	N/A
3.	The cooling system of the main engine and generator, such as sea inlets, cooling pipelines, etc., are in good condition.	Y	N	N/A
4.	The body parts of the main engine and generator, such as exhaust valves, water jackets, governors, piston rings, seal rings, etc. are in good condition.	Y	N	N/A
5.	The alarm system of the main engine and generator in the engine control room for high-pressure fuel leakage, lubricating oil failure, and high temperature of cooling water is working properly.	Y	N	N/A
6.	There is obvious leakage in the cooling, fuel, lubricating oil pipes or other piping systems of the main engine and generators.	Y	N	N/A
7.	There are abnormal alarms, abnormal speed reduction, abnormal high temperature or black smoke happened to the main engine and generator.	Y	N	N/A
8.	The crew has maintained the main engine and generators in the light of the SMS document.	Y	N	N/A
	MAIN AND EMERGENCY POWER
1.	The main generator can reach the rated speed and keep stable.	Y	N	N/A
2.	Multiple main generators can run in parallel and keep stable.	Y	N	N/A
3.	The emergency generator can power the emergency switch board properly.	Y	N	N/A
4.	The emergency generator can be started by a second means of starting set or manually.	Y	N	N/A
5.	The emergency generator can be automatically started within 45 seconds after the loss of main power.	Y	N	N/A
	STEERING GEAR
1.	There is obvious leakage at the joints, valves or oil cylinder packing in the steering gear piping system.	Y	N	N/A
2.	The refilling system of the hydraulic steering gear is in good condition.	Y	N	N/A
3.	There is enough spare hydraulic oil in the hydraulic steering gear storage cabinet.	Y	N	N/A
4.	In the event of a power failure to any one of the steering gear power units, an audible and visual alarm can be given on the navigation bridge.	Y	N	N/A
5.	If any power supply line of the three-phase motor is disconnected, the main engine control room and engine room can send out audible and visual alarms.	Y	N	N/A
6.	There is obvious noise and vibration of the rudder steering gear.	Y	N	N/A
7.	The rudder angle limiter is working properly.	Y	N	N/A
8.	The steering gear is working properly.	Y	N	N/A
9.	The crew conducts emergency steering drills every three months.	Y	N	N/A
10.	In the areas of high traffic density, establish manual control of the ship’s steering, and qualified helms person available on bridge.	Y	N	N/A