Vetting Inspections

ensure proper inspection of vessels in Spain and the Canary Islands.

The following services are offered:

● Coordination of ship inspection arrangements and scheduling.

● Liaison between oil trading companies and regional shipping companies , or

any other body as designated.

● Follow up with shipping companies regarding the progress of the owner's

response and status of the ship inspection.

● Accommodation arrangements for vetting inspectors arriving for ship inspection.

● Arrangement of transportation for inspectors to the Spanish ports and berths.

● Providing assistance to ship inspectors during audits.

I.S.R. technical personnel monitor the operation, maintenance, performance, and procedures of each vessel.

They work in collaboration with the ship's management team to ensure each nominated vessel meets the principal’s

expectations, and all industrial standards. Timely monitoring and reporting is achieved through strict

implementation of Quality Assurance procedures with regular hands-on inspections, and the incorporation of

innovative marine practices.

The vessel vetting inspectors use the industry-agreed Oil Companies’ Internation(OCIMF) SIRE inspection

format as the main ship inspection criteria. All questions are carefully answered to make the report useful to other

SIRE participants who may wish to access the report at a later date. Inspectors detail both positive and negative

aspects of the ship’s operations during the inspection.

Ships are assessed using international conventions and industry recommendations such as the Inert Gas System

(IGS),

Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), and the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships

(MARPOL).

Guidance provided by the International Safety Guide for Oil Tankers and Terminals (ISGOTT) pertains to all tanker

types and the Society of International Gas Tankers. However, a "high risk” observation list is utilized to identify

items of greater concern.

Inspectors are required to report all vessel or operational deficiencies in their reports. Any deficiencies found to be

serious are assessed as "High Risk”, and identified as such on an Observations List left with the ship’s master at the

end of each inspection. The use of such vessels is precluded until all observations have been satisfactorily closed out,

with special emphasis placed on those items assessed as high risk.

Following the successful close out of an inspection report, the ship owner is advised that further operational

inspection may not be required for a period of time. This does not constitute a blanket approval of the vessel for

business, and the vessels are screened each time they are tendered for business.

Generally, at the beginning of the audit, the ship inspector is accompanied by an I.S.R. representative to meet with

the captain. They discuss the vessel’s schedule and inspect the vessel with care, as to not interference with the

cargo work.

It is recommended that they are accompanied by a senior officer of the relevant department - i.e. the Master or

Chief Engineer.

It is helpful if the vessel has prepared the initial paper work, such as all the trading certificates, crew certificates, etc.

It is a good idea to keep all files, log books and other records ready in the ship’s office prior to the inspector’s

arrival.

In addition to being convenient during the documentation review, it also creates a positive impression regarding

the professionalism and foresight of the vessel’s officers.

The audit team reviews the following, where applicable:

1.The Certificate of Registry

2.The vessel’s trading certificates: Safety Equipment, Load Line, Safety

Radio, IOPP, Safety Construction, International Tonnage, ISM

Document of Compliance (certified copy), ISM Safety Management

Certificate, Certificate of Fitness or Noxious Liquids Certificate

3.Oil Record Books Parts 1 and 2 or Cargo Record Book

4.Certificates of Civil Liability for Oil Pollution

5.The Certificate of Financial Responsibility and the last Tank Vessel

Examination Letter

6.The Class Certificate, Enhanced Survey File with Condition

Assessment Report and Quarterly Class reports

7.Approved manuals: Stability, Damage Stability, Inert Gas, COW,

CBT, and ODME

8.An approved SOPEP and VRP Manual

9.SOLAS Training Manual, SOLAS Maintenance Manual, life saving

appliance and fire fighting equipment maintenance records

10.The Procedures and Arrangements Manual (for chemical and gas

carriers)

11.The Cargo Gear Register

12.Officer and crew national Certificates of Competency, Continued

Proficiency and Dangerous Cargo Endorsements

13.Evidence of Administration acceptance of crew Certificates of

Competency

14.The Manager’s Operating Instructions

15.The Company Drug and Alcohol Policy and records of unannounced

testing

16.The Garbage Record Book and the Garbage Management Plan

17.Records of testing of mooring winch brakes, mooring rope/wire

manufacturer’s certificates, bow stopper certificate

18.The last Port State inspection certificate

19.Hot work and enclosed space entry permits

20.The technical publications listed in the OCIMF Vessel Inspection

Questionnaire as applicable to the vessel.

Once the paper work has been completed, the audit team makes their way around the deck to identify any deficiencies, and may also ask the crew members a few questions. On completion of the deck round, they go down to inspect the engine room.

It should be noted that the Emergency Fire Pump, Emergency Generator, Emergency Steering and the ODME are expected to be operated by the officer or any other representative accompanying the audit team.

It is usually expected that the inspection will take about six to eight hours and be performed in the following order - unless the inspection should be altered to better suit the vessel’s schedule:

● Review of documentation (preparatory for opening meeting).

● Opening meeting with Master, Chief Engineer and Chief

Mate (if available).

● Complete review of the documentation.

● Wheelhouse and navigation.

● Communications (radio room or GMDSS station).

● The exterior of the wheelhouse.

● The exterior of the accommodations to the poop.

● Up the main deck to the forecastle and forecastle spaces.

● Back down the main deck and checking a ballast tank (as

agreed in the opening meeting).

● The pump room to the Cargo Control Room with Chief

Officer.

● Discussion with Chief Engineer and into the engine room

including review of PMS.

● With the Master back through the internal areas of the

accommodations.

● Finally, a period for the inspector to summarize his thoughts.

● A final meeting with the Master and department heads.

Variations in scheduling will be considered if they are necessary to avoid disruption of the ship’s normal operation.

As well, the order of inspection can be varied as necessary. During the final meeting, a list of observations is reviewed with the Master.

This review ensures that all observations are based on the correct information, and no misunderstanding occurs.

The Master is not expected to provide corrective actions or imply agreement with the observations - his signature is only

indication that he has received the observations.

A Company interested in getting a particular vessel being inspected at his own expense, must

submit, well in advance a written formal request by e-mail or fax to:

INTERNATIONAL SHIPS REGISTER, S.L.

Avda. Profesor Peraza Ayala, 11-1º-3

38001-S/C. de Tenerife, Spain

Tel. +34 922 270616 +34 609 930983

Fax +34 922 270616

e-mail: shipsvetting@gmail.com

LINKS

http://www.internationalshipsregister.org

http://www.shipregistry.ucoz.es

http://www.galeon.hispavista.com/internationalships

THE MORE COMPETITIVE SHIP REGISTER IN SPAIN