USA

International Group Review - Ship Safety Initiative

The International Group of P&I Clubs has implemented the following measures as part of its initiative to address safety concerns about sub-standard shipping:

1. A condition survey database has been established to record surveys conducted by Clubs on entered vessels, which will be updated on a monthly basis. Clubs shall be required to provide the vessel's name, IMO and survey date, while retaining the survey report itself.
2. Condition surveys are to be undertaken for sea-going vessels aged 12 years or more on entry, except for nontankers below 500 gt and non-pooled vessels. (The term 'sea-going' excludes vessels operating only within port limits and inland waterways). Clubs shall have discretion to determine whether or not to undertake condition surveys on vessels aged less than 12 years on entry.
3. The carriage of Heavy Fuel Oil by vessels aged 10 years or more shall trigger a condition survey unless:
   • the vessel had undergone a condition survey during the previous 12 months or
   • the vessel had undergone a Special Survey during the previous 6 months or
   • the vessel had achieved a CAP 1 or CAP 2 status.
Shipowners shall be required to make a declaration at the 2006/07 renewal, in order to determine whether HFO had been carried during the previous 12 months, and to repeat the declaration an annual basis thereafter. Where a ship continues to carry HFO, a further inspection shall take place at least every 3 years after the first inspection. Heavy Fuel Oil is defined as 'a residual fuel with a kinematic viscosity of 380 centipoise or greater when measured at 50 degrees Celsius by Test Method ISO 3104'.
4. Underwriters shall be required to check the condition survey database before quoting terms for entry, to ask for sight of the relevant condition survey report and to take account of its findings in assessing the risk.