CS ZEPHYR

14607 - Pollution Prevention - While ships are operating within an emission control area (ECA), the sulfur content used on board ships shall not exceed 0.1%. Vessel completed the proper ECA changeover procedure prior to entering ECA zone near Houston, TX on 01NOV19. Vessel then transited to New Orleans area while continuing to operate on MGO. On 14NOV19, while at SW pass, Vessel depleted all stores of MGO and commenced burning HSFO while en route to Magnolia Anchorage. On 14NOV19, while at Magnolia Anchorage, vessel bunkered 484.22 MT of MGO and completed changeover procedures to MGO. PSCO attended and verified MARPOL compliance. MARPOL Annex VI/14.4 10c

The condition of the ship and its equipment shall be maintained to conform with the provisions of the present regulations to ensure that the ship in all respects will remain fit to proceed to sea without danger to the ship or persons on board. During PSC exam, PSCOs observed fuel oil leaking out of the main propulsion engine’s #6 high pressure fuel line at the cylinder head while the engine was not running. Under normal conditions none should be seen leaking. SOLAS 74 (14 Cons) I/11(a) 30 A/C

The condition of the ship and its equipment shall be maintained to conform with the provisions of the present regulations to ensure that the ship in all respects will remain fit to proceed to sea without danger to the ship or persons on board. During PSC exam, PSCOs observed excessive amounts of jacket water pouring out from the ship’s main propulsion engine’s #1 and #6 cylinder seals. SOLAS 74 (14 Cons) I/11(a) 30 A/C

Cables and wiring shall be installed and supported in such a manner as to avoid chaffing or other damage. During PSC exam, PSCOs observed numerous electrical hazards including but not limited to chaffed and cut electrical cable insulation on the middle SSDG exhaust temperature RTD, purifier room motor controller cabling, multiple purifier room electrical valve controller wires were pulled out of the packing, sludge tank remote level indicator wires in the purifier room were pulled out of the packing, the oxygen analyzer transmitter box cables were pulled out of the packing, the emergency alarm annunciator's electrical wires were pulled out of the packing, wires to the ventilation damper motor controller were twisted and pulled out of the electrical box, a fire detector in the engine room was found with a cut cable going into the packing, exposed wiring was found near the steam heater for the fuel oil booster skid in the purifier room, and all three SSDG main electrical distribution lines at the generator boxes appeared to be cracked and deteriorated. SOLAS 74 (04 Cons) II-1/40.2 30 A/C

All electrical apparatus shall be constructed and installed as not to cause injury when handled or touched in the normal manner. PSCOs observed that the means to secure power to the motor controllers for the #1 and #2 HFO purifiers and fuel oil supply and circulation pumps were broken, which would expose the crew to live electrical hazards in order to secure power at the motor controllers locally. SOLAS 74 (04 Cons) II-1/45.1.3 30 A/C

Where cables which are installed in hazardous areas introduce risk of fire or explosion in the event of an electrical fault, special precautions against such risk shall be taken. During PSC exam, PSCOs observed fuel oil on and inside the motor controllers for the fuel oil pump motors. SOLAS 74 (04 Cons) II-1/45.5.4 30 A/C

Purpose of this regulation is to prevent the ignition of combustible materials. Ignition sources shall be separated from combustible materials. PSCO observed main engine cylinder #6 was leaking fuel oil from the high-pressure fuel injector. Evidence of excessive leaking was found in the engine room. Diesel-soaked rags were found around the cylinders, unapproved plastic collection buckets full of oil mixtures were located in two separate areas in the engine room, creating a fire hazard. The oil purifier room was found in disrepair with extensive oil accumulation. SOLAS 74 (14 Cons) II-2/4.1.5 30 A/C

When a defect is discovered, which affects the safety of the ship or the efficiency or completeness of its equipment, the master or vessel's representative shall report at the earliest opportunity to the Administration or the RO responsible for issuing the relevant certificate as well as the authorities of the port State in which the vessel is in. PSCOs conducted Port State Control Exam and observed numerous conditions which affected the safety of the ship and the completeness of its equipment and were not made aware to the USCG by the vessel's master nor the RO responsible for issuing the relevant certificates. SOLAS 74 (14 Cons) I/11(c) 30 A/C

The Company should ensure that inspections are held at appropriate intervals, any non-conformity is reported, and appropriate corrective action is taken. The vessel's safety management system required weekly, monthly, and annual inspection of the marine sanitation device. Records show that the weekly, monthly, and annual inspections were not conducted as often as required by the ship's safety management system. PSCOs identified a crack on the marine sanitation tank as well as human feces covering the tank, both of which were not reported by the vessel, nor was there evidence of any corrective action being taken except for a bucket placed beneath the tank to collect the leaking contents. SOLAS 74 (14 Cons) IX/3.1 ISM Code 10.2 30 A/C

Every company should develop, implement and maintain a safety management system which include instructions and procedures to ensure safe operation of ships and protection of the environment in compliance with relevant international and flag State legislation. During the expanded ISM exam PSCOs received verbal statements from the crew that the vessel had not prioritized the implementation of ISM procedures prior to entry into US water. The lack of implementation became further evident during the examination of records for parts requisition by the crew to the company. It was found that the vessel had requested parts for various systems including vital equipment as early as January of 2019 which weren’t received until September of 2019. The crew informed PSCOs that this was when the vessel was scheduled to operate in US waters after a 4 year gap from the previous US port state control exam. Records showed a total of 106 parts were request for the vessel since January and 44 of these parts were received on September 14, two weeks prior to the vessel arrival in US waters. 146 maintenance items were discovered to be overdue across systems which encompass machinery, lifesaving, firefighting, accommodations, cargo, ballast, and navigation. Evidence indicated that some of these items were overdue as a result of the need for parts which were not readily provided to the vessel. SOLAS 74 (14 Cons) IX/3.1 ISM Code 1.4.2 30 A/C

Objective evidence discovered during an expanded ISM examination revealed the following major non-conformity; the vessel failed to fully implement the requirements of the SMS as evident by deficiency #1-9. An external audit is required. SOLAS 74 (14 Cons) IX/3.1 ISM Code 9 30 A/C

Vessel’s load lines shall be painted in white or yellow on a dark ground or in black on a light ground. Vessel’s load line on both the port and starboard sides was severely faded and illegible. ILLC (88 Prot.) Reg. 8 17 A/C

The condition of the ship and its equipment shall be maintained to conform with the provisions of the present regulations to ensure that the ship in all respects will remain fit to proceed to sea without danger to the ship or persons on board. PSCOs observed an excessive amount of cooling water leaking from the plate-type heat exchanger serving the vessel's main engine. SOLAS 74 (14 Cons) I/11(a) 40 A

The vessel lost propulsion enroute from [name withheld] Anchorage to Del City. Cause of failure, still undetermined.

The vessel experienced a power loss while in the Mississippi River.

The vessel experienced a grounding while in the Mississippi River.

1410-Propulsion main engine-The condition of the ship and its equipment shall be maintained to conform with the provisions of the present regulations to ensure the ship in all respects will remain fit to proceed to sea. PSCO observed the #6 cylinder liner was leaking jacket water excessively through the lower sealing O ring-SOLAS 74a, Reg. I/11

1850-Fire protection cargo deck area-The arrangements for the venting of vapors displaced during loading and ballasting shall prevent the passage of flame into the tank. PSCO observed numerous ballast tanks had 1/4" mesh rather than flame screens. Provide clarification from certificate issuing authority attesting to acceptability of installed mesh vice flame screens-SOLAS 74a, Reg. II-2/4.5.3

1840-Instrumentation-Tankers shall be equipped with at least one portable instrument for measuring flammable vapor concentrations, together with a sufficient set of spares. Vessels crew could not turn on second flammable vapor meter. Vessels crew placed meter on charger for one hour, and still could not turn on meter to demonstrate proper operation-SOLAS 74a, Reg. II-2/4.5.7.1

1430-Auxiliary engines-A 2nd source of energy shall be provided for an additional 3 starts of the EDG within 30 mins unless manual starting can be demonstrated to be effective. Vsl had 1 battery bank for EDG, but was unable to start EDG using the manual start. Reservoir for the hydraulic system was empty, and crew could achieve 6 mpa when 21 mpa was necessary per instruction-SOLAS 74a, Reg II-1/44

Vessel has notified a problem with the vessel's main engine control system while the vessel was attempted to get underway from the dock. Prior to departure, the Classification Society is to submit a report attesting to the nature fo the problem, corrective action taken and proper operation of the propulsion system.