VALLE AZZURRA

Failure of master, owner, operator, agent, or person in charge of a vessel to employ one of the ballast water management methods provided for in this subpart. While vessel was in the port of Corpus Christi, PSCO determined that the vessel did not conduct a Ballast Water Exchange in accordance with 151.2025(a)(3) between Pajaritos, Mexico and Corpus Christi, TX. 151.2025(a)(3) requires vessels remaining subject to Ballast Water Exchange, with a BWTS extension, to conduct and exchange 200 NM from shore. 151.205 does not require the vessel to deviate from its intended voyage to conduct an exchange, yet still requires an exchange to be conducted in accordance with 151.2025(a)(3). According to the vessel's ballast water report, the vessel discharged approximately 3284 cubic meters of ballast water without conducting an exchange between Pajaritos, Mexico and Corpus Christi, TX.

Each cargo tank of a tank ship must be equipped with an intrinsically safe high level alarm and a tank overfill alarm. PSCO's obsesrved failure of high-level alarm panel preventing operation of all cargo tank high levels. Prior to conducting cargo operations, vessel needs to submit class approval for repair of high-level alarms.

In tankers, electrical equipment, cables and wiring shall not be installed in hazardous locations unless it conforms with standards not inferior to those acceptable to the Organization. PSCO observed electrical connection glands of 04 lights installed in hazardous area on cargo deck sealed with caulking due to deterioration of exterior coating. These lights no longer conform to IEC 60092-502:1999. Secure circuits of these lights until repairs are made and classification society attests to the repairs.

Compressed air breathing apparatus shall be fitted with an audible alarm and a visual or other device which will alert the user before the volume of the air in the cylinder has been reduced to no less than 200 L. PSCO observed 02 chemical suit SCBAs and 02 fire suit SCBAs audible alarms were inoperable.

Sufficient foam concentrate shall be supplied to ensure at least 30 min of foam generation. Fixed deck foam gauge indicates 7.2 cubic meters (28 minutes) of foam concentrate within deck foam tank. As per fixed deck foam technical manual, 7.6 cubic meters (30 minutes) is required.

Such monitoring equipment (cargo tank pressure alarms) shall also provide an alarm facility which is activated by detection of over pressure and under pressure conditions within a tank. When overheating or overcooling could result in a dangerous condition, an alarm system which monitors the cargo temperature shall be provided. Pressure/temperature monitoring equipment alarm facility did not produce a sufficient audible alarm when pressure/temperature limits were exceeded.

The company should establish procedures, plans and instructions, including checklists as appropriate, for key shipboard operations concerning the safety of the personnel, ship and protection of the environment. Above listed deficiencies, checklist provided for the crew do not stipulate appropriate testing or inspection intervals for critical firefighting systems. In particular, the fixed deck foam firefighting system is required to be visually inspected weekly as per technical manual, yet company policy states 3 months for inspection. Actual logs used onboard do not have level checks listed. The testing of SCBA alarms is different between company policy and checklist; no testing of SCBA alarms could be found. Regarding deficiency #4, the pressure alarms are required to be tested monthly. Last check was 06OCT2019. No non-conformity reports were filled out for inadequate audible alarms. An internal safety audit and corrective action is required within three months.