AMSA Pre PSC Audit

ATTENTION : WE ARE EXPERIENCING AN INCREASED PORT STATE ACTIVITY IN AUSTRALIA.

While in an Australian port, your ship may be subject to inspection. If your ship is found to have deficiencies, it may be detained until the issue is resolved.

The AMSA is looking for pre-existing deficiencies that are not reported prior to a vessels arrival or at the time of initial port State boarding.  The increased scrutiny is resulting in a significant increase in AMSA detentions.  The AMSA inspector will ask if there are any deficiencies and if the inspector finds pre-existing deficiencies, and appropriate corrective action has not been initiated, they will assume the owner/Master intends to sail with the deficiencies un-addressed and will issue a detention.

To prevent a vessel detentions and avoid costly delays owners, operators, DPA’s should require Master’s and crew to report any inoperable equipment, system, etc., and ensure corrective action has been initiated, in accordance with the company’s Safety Management System.

The following are examples of pre-existing deficiencies that resulted in detentions and could have been avoided had they been reported in advance and corrective action initiated:

• Failure to report Sewage treatment plant as defective
• Failure to report cargo holds ventilators cover and gooseneck ventilators unable to close watertight.
• Failure to report fire dampers, fore peak vent heads, fire detection repeater, defective.
• Failure to report lifeboats, rescue boats and  on load release arrangement defective.
• Failure to report problems related to Emergency generator.
• Failure to report Radio and communication equipment defective.
• Bridge officers are using unapproved ECDIS for navigation

For your information AMSA has and will detain a vessel if:

1.  It does not have up to date charts, and navigational publications, repeated use of scanned charts from previous voyages and
2. The crew cannot successfully demonstrate the operation of the:
   1. OWS,
   2. ECDIS, and
   3. Emergency fire pump.