sire inspection deficiencies replies

Inspection Report Replies

REPLIES TO

SIRE

(and other) INSPECTION OBSERVATIONS

Revised: 31 January 2003


Note:The following presentation

represents the policies of Koch Shipping only, and may not reflect the procedures or opinions of any other SIRE user or OCIMF member.


Assumption: The quality of the replies to SIRE inspection comments or deficiencies is a measure of owner management quality.


When the SIRE inspector leaves the gangway, the vessel inspection is finished; NOW the vetting of the vessel’s management begins …………….


How is the owner going to be vetted for “fitness”?By the vetting manager’s subjective assessment of the quality of the owner’s replies to comments about his ship’s latest inspection.


“Fitness”:The vessel, crew and her owners are part of a team of resources that must “fit” together to maximize the profit of the trader’s oil trade (the “deal”).


The players on the team that carries the oil trader’s deal are:

cargo scheduler (operations assistant of the trader) charterer’s vessel operations coordinator cargo insurance broker and underwriter charterer’s P&I Club independent petroleum inspectors measurement field agents - cargo auditors port agents charterer’s chartering manager vessel, master, officers and crew vessel owner and technical managers vetting manager vessel class society


We are all servants of the cargo trader .. His deals pay for all of our activities.

What does he want …….. ?


The trader’s #2 objective: Competitive cost ……. A charter rate that is better than market.What is the trader’s #1 objective ……..?


OPTIONALITY!The ability to deliver the cargo

anywhere the ship can safely go.


So the ships that make the most money for us are not necessarily the cheapest … but the ones that are universally accepted. They offer the greatest optionality to the trader.


The amount of money Koch makes on every vessel rejected during vetting is:

Absolutely nothing!The added-value product of every vetting system is a pool of approved vessels.


Many otherwise acceptable vessels do not pass vetting because the owner’s replies to the SIRE report do not provide “closure” of the indicated conditions.Approval is delayed or denied.


So …. please help me help you get your ship accepted!Send the inspecting company, SIRE (and/or me), report responses that show us:

acceptance & respect for the system.


Help me help you get accepted!Send responses that show:

acceptance & respect for the system.

a living Safety Management System that takes every deficiency seriously.


Send responses that show: acceptance & respect for the system. an active Safety Management System that takes every Report seriously. a reply that:

identifies the root cause of the deficiency fixes the existing cause of the deficiency

identifies changes to operating procedures to reduce the chance of the deficiency occurring

again.


Some replies which are not accepted:“Rectified.” ….. (trust me!?) ….


Some replies which are not acepted:“Rectified.” “when convenient”… (spending

money is never convenient!)


Some replies which are not accepted:“Rectified.” “when convenient”“at the earliest opportunity”


Some replies which are certified D.O.A.:

“Rectified.” “when convenient”“at the earliest opportunity”“We have reminded the Master/Chief

...”


Some replies which are not accepted:“Rectified.” “when convenient”“at the earliest opportunity”“We have reminded the

Master/Chief ...”“The parts have been delivered on

board.”


Some replies which are not accepted:“Rectified.” “when convenient”“at the earliest opportunity”“We have reminded the Master/Chief ...”“The parts have been delivered on board.”“He has been cautioned and instructed ...”


A world-class response includes: The Report (SIRE), number and text repeated.


A world-class response includes: The Report (SIRE), number and text repeated. A convincing statement that the root cause has been sought and found - (see: Analytic Trouble Shooting).


A world-class response includes: The Report (SIRE), number and text repeated. A convincing statement that the root cause has been sought and found - (see: Analytic Trouble Shooting). A statement that corrective action has been completed, (or will be completed by a stated date).


A world-class response includes: The Report (SIRE), number and text repeated. A convincing statement that the root cause has been sought and found - (see: Analytic Trouble Shooting). A statement that managers possess, “objective evidence”, sufficient to prove that the Report is closed (or will be completed by a stated date). A statement of action taken to avoid a repetition of the observation in the future (SMS change, etc.).


“Objective evidence”A document, report, message, completed checklist copy, note, or certificate in your files, that you can show me when I come to visit your offices.

Something that “closes the loop” on the deficiency!


The corrective action (ISM), cycle:Identify & record the non-confomity.Find the root cause(s).Develop effective corrective action.Implement the corrective action.Revise procedures.Complete the closure process.


Helpful hint:Refer to specific parts of your Safety Management System whenever possible when writing your SIRE report replies … is shows that you really believe in the ISM system.


Bad example #1Report: “The vessel does not have a vapor release response plan.”

Reply: “The vessel’s vapor release response plan is included in section 8.3.2 of the vessel’s ISM Manual.”


Bad example #1Better reply: + Recognizing that the Master was not aware of the location of the vapor release plan within our SMS manual, we sent our superintendent on board 11 Oct 02, and he conducted SMS training with all officers so that they are now fully aware of all contents of our SMS procedures manual.


Bad example #2Report: “The main engine is covered with oil.”

Reply: “The main engine has been cleaned.”


Bad example #2Better reply: During the shipyard period Nov 02, we have arranged for a factory representative to supervise work to eliminate all fuel and lube oil leaks from the main engine, after which the engine will be repainted.


Bad example #3Report: The IGS oxygen sensor bubbler was found without any water in it while the vessel was discharging.

Reply: “The bubbler was filled with water immediately.”


Bad example #3Better reply: The engineers pre-discharge checklist has been amended to include an item to verify that the IG sensor bubbler is filled to correct operating level prior to starting the cargo transfer. SMS section 13.6, revised 11 October 2002.


Bad example #4Report: A June inspection found a C-of-C issued Feb, due in July: “vessel to submit results of stern tube lube oil analysis”.

Reply: “Condition of class will be attended to in due course.”


So,Saying:

“we fixed the deficiency” may no longer be sufficient to close an inspection observation, but …..


Saying: “we fixed the deficiency and we

fixed the reason that the deficiency existed, (giving details).”

is truly impressive and indicates the presence of an active Safety Management System.


Suggested answer format:5.11 - no fire detection test kitroot cause: used but not orderedcorr action: test kit suppliedpreventive action: added “spare test kit on board” to monthly safety equipment inventory PMS


All SIRE report replies are important, but reports with a large number of conditions listed deserve special attention by the owner’s vetting manager.More “conditions” = less chance of approval:


Koch SIRE report grading system - score distribution:vetting number % of number % active

score of ships total approved approved

10 60 5% 40 83%

9 230 18% 185 90%

8 335 26% 235 78%

7 190 15% 115 64%

6 110 8% 40 42%

5 100 8% 35 45%

4 140 11% 0

3 80 6% 0

2 40 3% 0

1 20 2% 0


Summary: Koch uses the owner’s replies to detect the presence (or absence), of an active management system that is necessary to provide a reliable vessel, and a reliable transportation partner, for routine cargo transport AND in the event of an incident.


We also try to detect from the SIRE replies whether or not the owner’s management culture includes a positive, helpful, service-oriented attitude …. always preferring an owner who would rather be helpful than be right.

Because ….


It is apparent from government initiatives, legal cases and post incident comment, that regulators would like to consider the shipowner and the charterer as co-venturers (partners), in the oil transportation voyage, and jointly responsible for its outcome.


Events which demonstrate this point of view include: Erica Cerda Neptune Dorado September 18, 2002 Prestige - November 2002


Events which demonstrate this point of view include: Erica: owner invisible - charterer took the heat. Cerda Neptune Dorado September 18, 2002


Events which demonstrate this point of view include: Erica Cerda: detained in Europe - charterer was named in the press. Neptune Dorado September 18, 2002


Events which demonstrate this point of view include: Erica Cerda Neptune Dorado: detained San Francisco - FBI visited the charterer. September 18, 2002


Events which demonstrate this point of view include: Erica Cerda Neptune Dorado September 18, 2002: the USCG 96 hr Notice of Arrival must now include name & address of the charterer.


Events which demonstrate this point of view include: Prestige - Sank in November 2000; Koch named by Reuters in December as charterer of a similar “black-listed ship.”


To have confidence in a vetting approval, Koch needs to feel that the owner will skillfully and willingly meet all of his obligations and liabilities in the event of an incident or casualty.

The face you show us in your inspection replies is used to judge that.


Koch’s 5-year results:

8000 vetting inquiries

3100 voyage charters

1 billion barrels of oil moved


Koch’s 5-year results: 1 crew fatality 3 medical diversions 7 spills; total < 1 barrel spilled 2 detentions (lifeboat failures) 3 general average claims 4 arbitration cases


Koch’s 5-year results:

Koch executive response to these results:

“Try harder.”


For the oil company vetting manager, every marginal vessel he/she approves can be a career decision.

He/she is not going to bet his career on an owner who sends second-rate replies to what are considered to be serious vessel deficiencies.


So:Help me help you to get your ship accepted …..

Show me you care enough to send your very best response to every inspection comment or Report.


Thank you!

Captain John DudleyManager, Marine Operations

Koch Supply and TradingWichita, Kansas

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