Maritime Administration requests strict control and reduction of ships detained abroad

The Vietnam Maritime Administration has just issued a document requesting maritime port authorities to increase inspections and limit the number of Vietnamese ships detained abroad.

According to the Vietnam Maritime Administration, the Tokyo - MOU Secretariat (the Asia - Pacific Port State Inspection Cooperation Organization) has just announced the implementation of the Focused Inspection Campaign (FIC) with the theme "Fire Safety - the lowest position of the Emergency Exit".

Maritime port authorities are required to strengthen PSC inspections and deploy FIC campaigns with Vietnamese ships operating on international routes and foreign ships operating in Vietnam (Illustration photo).

In particular, when inspecting Vietnamese ships operating on international routes, inspection officers need to disseminate questions about the FIC Inspection Campaign and instruct crew members on how to implement it.

For foreign vessels operating in Vietnam, FIC inspections will be conducted in parallel with regular Port State Control (PSC) inspections. Each vessel will only undergo FIC inspection once during the campaign period (from January 2 to January 29).

The Vietnam Maritime Administration also requested maritime port authorities to continue to seriously implement instructions on inspection and supervision of public ethics with ship inspection officers, promptly detect and prevent negative and harassing behaviors in the performance of public duties. Strictly handle violations (if any).

To implement this campaign, the Quang Ninh Maritime Port Authority said that it has just issued a document requesting ship owners and ship management companies to take measures to maintain the technical safety conditions of ships as well as the quality of crew members in accordance with the provisions of Vietnamese law and the International Convention on Maritime Safety, ensuring maritime safety, maritime security, maritime labor, preventing environmental pollution and strictly implementing the company's safety management system approved by the Vietnam Register.

For vessels operating on international routes, the FIC survey will be carried out at the same time as the PSC survey.

For the topic "Fire Safety - lowest position of Emergency Exits", the Port Authority noted that self-closing fire doors of ships must always be properly closed and latched, and the doors must not be left open by tying a rope or latching.

Fire doors fitted in boundary bulkheads of machinery spaces of Category A shall be gas tight and self closing. Fire doors having a fire resistance rating shall be compatible with the bulkhead in which they are fitted.

For emergency escape routes, the emergency escape system must be easily accessible, with directional signs and emergency lighting. The escape route area must have a clear width, such that a passageway of 800mm diameter is maintained throughout the route, unobstructed by the ship's structure, insulation or equipment (if any). Where this escape route includes stairs, the clear width from the stair step to the wall must not be less than 600mm…

During operation, maintenance and practice, officers and crew members must have a firm grasp of the operating methods, systems and fire prevention equipment installed on board.

At the same time, maintain good maintenance to ensure the readiness of the fire prevention system, including fire doors, fire alarm systems, ventilation, fire pumps, fire water pipes, and safety conditions of emergency exits. Ships must periodically organize fire drills on board in accordance with the company's safety management system.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/cuc-hang-hai-yeu-cau-kiem-soat-chat-giam-thieu-tau-bi-luu-giu-tai-nuoc-ngoai-192250105153604564.htm