Monthly RoRo/RoPax Bulletin

November 2013

Photograph from Stena Mediabank taken by Aged Des

I know there are other issues at play but it is your responsibility

to take care of the detail and not let inspectors find any issues
on board the ships.
Senior Stena Executive.
Gothenburg, Sweden. October 2013

RoRo/RoPax Monthly Bulletin

FAO Senior Management Teams,
This is the first monthly RoRo/RoPax bulletin. The intention is to share relevant information on a
monthly basis to help improve the standards on board. Significant findings and trends from Port
State Control, Host State, Flag State, Class and Port Health will be highlighted and analysed in order
to prevent recurrence. Relevant accidents, incidents and industry information will also be
highlighted for the purpose of continual improvement.

Current NMM Fleet Profile

There is some room for improvement in the current Port State Control and Host State inspection
performance within the fleet. We understand that some factors are beyond the control of the
Shipboard Management Team, but it is vital that we do not get picked up on deficiencies that are
within our control. The results of inspections for each vessel will be shared so that we can all learn,
avoid repeat deficiencies and improve our Company PSC/Host State risk rating, but most
importantly, we need to ensure the vessels are operating at the highest level of safety.

Paris & Med MOU Results Last 12 Months

Name
STENA ALEGRA
STENA SCOTIA
NORMAN ASTURIAS
ARK FORWARDER
STRAIT OF DOVER
STENA FERONIA
STENA FREIGHTER
STRAIT OF GIBRALTAR
STENA FORECASTER
MONT VENTOUX
STENA CARRIER
STENA FLAVIA
STENA FORERUNNER
STENA FORETELLER
STRAIT OF MESSINA
WATLING STREET
STENA HIBERNIA

Number of
Deficiencies

No. of
Inspections

12Mth Ave.
No. of
Deficiencies

41
6
25
17
3
9
2
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

4
2
2
3
1
3
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
2
2
1
1

10.3
3.0
12.5
5.7
3.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.5
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0

Detention or
Prevention of
Operation
YES x 1
YES x 1

AVERAGE
3.50
Source: Paris and Med MOU databases

The table above shows the results of Port State Control inspections and RoPax inspections from the
Paris MOU and Mediterranean MOU databases (very recent inspections may not have been
entered yet by the inspector).
You can see that 47% of the RoRo/RoPax fleet have achieved zero deficiencies throughout the last
12 months. This is a good result and shows that keeping a clear record is achievable. At the other
end of the scale we have 2 vessels that have been detained. The Company Detention Index is
currently in the Average range, while our Deficiency Index is in the Good range. This means that
our overall Company Performance, according to the Paris MOU calculator, is Medium. When the
Company has a Medium rating, it means that no ship can be classed as a Low Risk Ship, which in
turn means more inspections and more findings.
It is essential that we do everything we can to keep the ships at a standard where they are not
detainable. The diagram below shows how a Companys risk profile can degrade.

Every inspection counts!

We need to ensure we do not fall into this trap. Better inspections, means less inspections in
future.
The standard required on board for a Port State or Host State Inspection is the minimum standard
we should maintain at all times. These inspectors are looking for the minimum acceptable level on
board nothing more. If we are struggling to achieve that, then we are not performing as we
should be.
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November Inspection Update

Name

Flag

Type

Age

STENA
FLAVIA
STENA
HIBERNIA
STENA
BALTICA

United
Kingdom
United
Kingdom
United
Kingdom

RoPax

Date of
Inspection
30/11/2013

RoRo

17

29/11/2013

RoPax

25/11/2013

STENA
BALTICA

United
Kingdom

RoPax

22/11/2013

NORMAN
ASTURIAS

Italy

RoPax

05/11/2013

Type of
inspection
Expanded
Inspection
Targeted

Port of
inspection
Travemunde/
At Sea
Belfast - UK

Number of
Deficiencies

More
detailed
inspection
More
detailed
inspection
More
detailed
inspection

Sweden Karlskrona

Poland - Nowy
Port/Gdansk

United
Kingdom Poole

23

0
0

The first inspection in November took place in Poole on Norman Asturias. The vessel had just
arrived in the UK to start a new run from Poole to Santander when the MCA attended for an
inspection. Despite the high number of deficiencies, the vessel was not detained. However, as
there were ISM deficiencies noted, it means that the vessel will require an additional internal audit
within 3 months. Some of the more serious deficiencies are noted below:

Inadequate position fixing frequency on

arrival
Incomplete passage plan from berth to
berth

Emergency escapes padlocked shut

Flammable items stowed underneath

stairwell

Inaccurate bridge checklist entry

Inadequate fire drill

Partially blocked scuppers

Inaccurate Hours of Rest

Hand spanners missing from fire hydrants

When vessels change run, there is an increased level of scrutiny by inspectors, especially where
competing flag states are involved. It is also true that the wording of deficiencies can often seem
much worse than the real situation. The vessel had experienced heavy weather on passage to
Poole and everyone was busy preparing for the new run. However, many of these deficiencies
should not be present. We need to ensure that the standards on board in all areas are maintained,
so that we are running ships at the highest level of safety. Port and Host State inspectors should
not be finding items that the Senior Management Team is not already aware of and doing
something about.
4

Stena Baltica is a new RoPax into management that will run between Gdynia and Karlskrona. This is
why it has had 2 More detailed inspections recorded by the 2 Host States, the first one took place
in Poland and the follow up inspection took place in Sweden. Both inspections identified a few
deficiencies. Some of the deficiencies noted have been identified previously on RoPax vessels, such
as:

Fire detection system issues

Fire doors not closing properly

CSR originals not on board

PA system not overriding TV sets

Lifeboat remote lowering wire not working fully

Rescue boat painter tensioning arrangement not operational

It was encouraging to note that the inspectors were very happy with the drills and the way that the
delivery was being managed. Some of the physical issues have been inherited from previous
managers and are being dealt with now.
The month ended on a very positive note with Stena Hibernia being inspected by Port State Control
in Belfast with zero deficiencies found. Stena Flavia had an expanded inspection on passage
between Ventspils and Travemunde, again with zero deficiencies. Well done to everyone involved!

Accident and Incident Update

You may have heard about recent navigational incidents involving our vessels. These events are still
under investigation, but we can share the following information with you to help prevent similar
incidents.
Event
1. Stena Scotia struck the breakwater foundation on departure Mostaganem, Algeria causing
hull damage.
2. Stena Feronia made contact with the breakwater while the relieving Master was
undergoing familiarisation with the vessel handling during departure Tanger Med
3. Stena Alegra remained at anchor in severe weather conditions, dragged anchor and was
stranded on a lee shore outside Karlskrona, Sweden

These incidents serve as a strong reminder of how a situation can change from the normal day to
day operation to an emergency situation when effective bridge team management, departure
planning and watch-keeping lapses, even momentarily. All 3 incidents are related to Human Error
to some degree and we are conducting detailed investigations into each in order to implement
robust actions to prevent similar occurrences. These will be shared with the fleet when they are
concluded. The next section is specific to the Stena Alegra stranding incident.
Heavy Weather Actions
We have recently had cases where adverse weather has damaged vessels and in most cases this has
been completely avoidable. There are four fundamental points in this respect;
1. In cases of heavy weather at sea you must slow down. It you are even thinking of slowing
down then the decision is made; do it. If required then you must heave to. Especially on
larger vessels, be very wary of increasing speed during hours of darkness. You cannot
properly assess swell conditions at night time.
2. When in port you have to be aware of the forecasted weather. In cases where a severe
weather is predicted to pass close to your vessel, then take early action to avoid it. This will
generally mean leaving the port and getting well away from land.
3. Do not remain at anchor when severe weather is forecast. This is even more crucial where
the anchorage is congested, when you are anchored close to danger or where you are going
to be set onto a lee shore.
4. In all cases of heavy weather, your heavy weather checklist is to be followed; the vessel is to
be secured for the conditions forecast and hatches battened down, with loose gear secured,
with increased inspections of internal spaces and announcements made to warn passengers
and crew.
Dont hesitate when decisions are required. As always NMM are here to assist. Contact any of us
in the office at any time when in doubt. You have the contact list do not hesitate to use it. It is a
team effort and the Company relies upon our senior vessel management to make the necessary
decisions to keep the crew, passengers, vessel and cargo safe.

RoRo/RoPax Senior Officers Seminar

We held a RoRo/RoPax Senior Officer Seminar in the Clydebank Head Office. It was an interesting 2 days
where some of the key issues noted above were discussed at length, with a mixture of presentations,
workshops and Q&A sessions. There was an excellent level of participation and lots of good suggestions as
to how we can all move forward to improve our Safety and inspection performance.
One of the topics discussed was the creation of a new 2nd Officer (Safety) role on board the RoPax vessels.
This is an additional officer who will focus on the vessel safety compliance. They will assist the Senior
Management Team to ensure any areas for improvement are identified and dealt with in order to prevent
recurrence. The creation of this position was welcomed by the RoPax senior officers.
6

The next seminar will be held in January and we aim to take the feedback from the first group to make it an
even more rewarding exchange.

Action Points
All topics in this bulletin are to be discussed and action taken as appropriate by the Master and the other
members of the SMT.
1.

Use the SFOPS 74 as required to find potential deficiencies and take action

2.

Masters to discuss the above incidents and navigational deficiencies with the bridge team

3.

Navigational Advanced Coaching Tool CBT to be completed in Coaching mode for all
Masters and deck officers

Northern Marine Management 4th December 2013