Manual for Port State Control in Iranian Ports

Introduction

Port State Control is one of the established methods of monitoring the technical and safety
conditions of vessels, as well as identifying and preventing the navigation of sub-standard
vessels. States are hereby able to implement the international conventions, regulations and
standards related to safety of navigation and marine environment protection for the flagged
and foreign vessels operating within their jurisdictions. States are authorized to inspect the
fulfillment of the requirements specified in maritime conventions such as SOLAS, MARPOL,
Load Line, etc. and take restrictive and remedial actions for vessels in evident non-
compliance with these conventions.

In order to achieve the above objectives and establish a unified inspection system, States in
different regions conclude memoranda of understanding in order to strictly and uniformly
monitor navigation of vessels, get the information on safety and technical conditions of
vessels entering the regional ports with the use of special information software, and therefore
minimize the entrance of sub-standard vessel to the regional waters and ports. The Indian
Ocean Memorandum of Understanding (IOMOU) is one of such memoranda concluded by
Australia, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Eritrea, India, Iran, Kenya, Maldives, Mauritius,
Mozambique, Myanmar, Oman, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, and
Yemen, and Iran is regarded as one of the major and most active member States.

Using its experienced and skillful officers, the Ports and Shipping Organization as the
National Maritime Administration has accepted the sensitive responsibility for conducting
inspections on foreign vessels (PSC), Iranian flagged vessels (FSC) and traditional and non-
convention size vessels (GT<500).











Analyses of the available statistics show that deficiencies on vessels belong to the following
categories:
Safety (survival at sea and fire fighting)
Marine environment protection
Machinery

The Ports and Shipping Organization has therefore decided to provide the ship owners and
shipping companies with information on the stages of inspection and a list of the items to be
checked in order to avoid detention of vessels and creation of undue delays. It must be noted
that what follows is a summary of inspections, and technical and safety inspections (PSC &
FSC) are not limited to these items.



Port State Control Procedures

Inspection of the vessel's conditions would start with the
following:
Observing the general conditions of the vessel, equipment,
operation and performance of the crew;
Controlling the vessel's documents and certificates;
Inspecting areas with the most reported deficiencies.



Bear in mind that observing the following when boarding
the vessel may negatively influence the PSCO's
impression about the condition of the vessel:

Dirty or oily gangways;
No monitoring on entrances and exits;
Daydreaming watchmen;
Messy decks and accommodations;
Crew in doubt of their duties.



Inspection of Documents and Certificates in the Master's Office

The first stage of the inspection starts with checking the statutory certificates of the vessel and
the crew. The PSCO wants to make sure that the statutory certificates required by national and
international regulations, as well as other documents of the vessel and the crew are present
and valid.

Some certificates, such as IOPP attachments or Safety Equipment Certificate will tell the
PSCO what equipment is on board, and what related procedures are required. The Master
must make sure of the existence of the original version of these certificates before the PSCO
boards the vessel.
The main certificates and documents to be inspected at this stage are:

Registration Certificate
Safe Manning Certificate
Personnel Qualification Certificate and its endorsement
Safety Equipment Certificate
Radio Equipment Certificate
Certificates of annual and periodical surveys of the hull
and machinery
ISM Certificate
Damage Insurance documents
GMDSS Logbook and Bridge Logbook
Reports of lifeboat and fire fighting drills
Oil Record Book
Receipt of sludge and garbage delivered to the port



On the Bridge
Bridge inspections generally focus on:
Operational and navigation equipment
Equipment such as radar(s), echo sounder, magnetic and electronic
compass, GPS, radio and communication equipment including
GMDSS and AIS, and distress equipment like EPIRB and radar
transponder are the most
important navigation
equipment, any problem in the
proper functioning of which
may seriously endanger safety of lives and navigation.
The PSCO will examine their performance, and if any
of the equipment need periodical servicing, the date of
such servicing will be considered.

Nautical publications, charts and posted information
The latest versions of IMO publications and other guidelines required for ready reference
must be available on board. Charts and tide tables must be up-to-date, and their latest
corrections must be made based on the Notice to Mariners.

English speaking ability of the communication officer or any other person in
charge of communication
Officers' familiarity with the equipment and publications, procedures and
requirements in respect of log and record keeping

Deck and accommodations

The PSCO will inspect the deck and accommodations carefully to examine the following
conditions:
Excessive cracking, rusting and corrosion of the hull and the deck surface;

Watertightness of hatch covers and any other entrance that must be watertight;
Air pipes and ventilators to make sure of proper functioning of closing devices;
Suitable and hygienic accommodations including quarters, bathing facilities, etc.
Clean galleys and cooking equipment have especial importance.











Safety equipment

In general, the PSCO at this stage initially inspects the
availability of mandatory equipment and their
conditions on board, and then proceeds to inspect the
personnel and crew's familiarity with maintenance and
operation of the safety equipment, and the duties of
each of the personnel in relation with the assigned responsibilities.


The inspections cover the following two categories:

1. Fire Fighting Appliances
Main and Emergency Fire Pumps
These pumps must be in proper working condition, and be capable of taking sea
suction and maintaining the proper line pressure in accordance with the provisions
of maritime conventions. All gauges must be operational and the guide for
working with the pumps must be posted in a suitable place.

Fire Dampers and Doors
The fire dampers must be in good working (opening-closing) condition and
recently examined internally and externally. The external ventilation trunk must be
marked to show damper flap position OPEN or CLOSE. The location of fire
dampers must be locatable on the Fire Control Plan.

Fire Fighting Equipment
The fire/smoke/heat detectors must have been
tested for proper operation. Fire stations must be
in good working condition without any corrosion
or leakage. Fixed and portable fire extinguishing
systems must have been periodically serviced by
approved companies, with the date of servicing
mentioned on their documents.

Fire Control Plan
Fire Control Plan must be up-to-date with appropriate IMO markings. Emergency
control stations must be clean and equipped with applicable safety equipment.
Remote and quick closing devices must be in good operating order.

2. Lifesaving Appliances
Lifeboats
The lifeboat structure (hull integrity,
seats/thwarts, flooring releasing hook connections
to the boat, releasing gear, tiller/gudgeons) will be
checked for proper maintenance and operation.
The engine must be in good working condition,
and the operational drills carried out must be
recorded. The lifeboat equipment will be checked
for proper quantity, expiration date and condition, and release and launch
mechanisms will be tested if required.
Lifeboat and Liferaft Davits


Davits must be in good working condition,
and be operationally tested. Davits should
be checked for wastage, proper
hoisting/lowering and braking function.
Sheaves and loose gear must not be worn.
Wires have been serviced and changed out
as necessary. Limit switches and winches
must have been tested.


Emergency Power
The emergency generator and power batteries will be
operationally tested. The generator must be capable of
coming online within 45 seconds.



Liferafts
Liferafts must have been services by approved companies and proper servicing
certificates must be kept onboard for reference. Liferafts must be properly secured,
and launching arrangements must be in good condition (as applicable) with no
obstructions for float free operation.
















Lifesaving Equipment
The proper number of lifejackets with lights, whistles and
lines, light and smoke markers must be available in
accordance with maritime conventions.
The equipment with expiry dates must be up-to-date and
valid.








Machinery Spaces

Inspections of the machinery spaces are carried out with the
aim promoting safety and identifying the potential causes of
fire, personnel injury and electric hazards. In other words, the
PSCO inspects the machinery spaces in order to ensure their
compliance with ISM and the crew's familiarity with the
operation of equipment like oily water separator, emergency
fire pumps, and emergency steering gear. The inspections cover the following categories:


Cleanliness
Any kind and amount of oil leakage from main engines, FO/LO processors and other
equipment must be eliminated. Negligence in this regard and existence of oily instruments
and spaces can lead to detentions.


Oily Water Separator
The oily water separator equipment and accessories like 15ppm alarm, automatic stopping
devices, alarms, piping systems and gauges will be operationally checked. No
unauthorized piping or electrical modifications must have been made, and the Oil Record
Book must be correctly filled out and signed by the Chief Engineer.















Main and Auxiliary Engines
Engines will be inspected on the performance of all equipment and accessories including
gauges, emergency shut downs, automatic changeovers and quick closing valves, as well
as operationality of emergency arrangements.



High Pressure Fuel Lines
High pressure fuel lines must be jacketed and spray
shields must be in place as required.



Steering Gear
The main and emergency steering gear will be tested to ensure the proper functioning of
hydraulic pumps and electric parts.