Safer navigation reduces ship detentions

According to the latest information from classification society ClassNK, fewer ships were detained for navigation-related deficiencies in 2019 than in the two previous years.

It published a report with statistical analysis of ships registered with ClassNK detained by port state control (PSC) in July 2020. In that report, ClassNK analysed the reasons for ship detentions and deficiencies, including issues with electronic navigation systems.

From January to December 2019, 394 PSC detentions were reported relating to 371 ships from the 8,501 ships classed by ClassNK. This was higher than 384 detentions in 2018, but lower than 426 in 2017.

This information comes from publications related to detained ships issued by the US Coast Guard, and the groups of PSCs under the Paris MoU, and the Tokyo MOU.

In that data, ClassNK identified 71 detainable deficiencies on its classed ships in 2019 due to navigation issues. This was down from 125 in 2017 and 87 in 2018.

Navigation safety was the fifth highest category for deficiencies, with fire safety the highest reason, followed by issues with the ISM Code, life saving appliances and emergency systems.

Of the 71 deficiencies discovered by PSC inspectors in 2019, 16 were due to navigation charts not being updated, or ships not having the correct navigation charts for an intended voyage.

Another 10 were for ships not having updated nautical publications, including tide tables, list of lights and list of radio signals. Another 10 had defective voyage data recorders or the alarm panel was showing ’system error’. Another six ships were detained because ENCs were not updated and six had a malfunctioning echo sounder.

Regulatory issues, technical challenges and PSC ship requirements are part of the discussions in Riviera’s Webinar Week series in Q3 2020, for more information follow this link