Lifeboat Drive Shaft Coupling

Bulk carrier in shoddy condition detained at Cardiff
MCA detains vessel for 'unacceptable state' of lifeboats

 

On Tuesday 3rd July the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) detained a vessel in Cardiff. The Cyprus flag 20,280 GT bulk carrier Nikolaos P had berthed in Cardiff to discharge a cargo of steel rods and plywood and was boarded by surveyors from the MCAs Cardiff Marine Office, who arrived to conduct a Mandatory Expanded Inspection of the vessel as part of their regular Port State Control inspection duties.

The inspection of the Nikolaos P revealed that the vessel was in very poor condition, and it was therefore detained. In total the inspection revealed in excess of 30 deficiencies, the most serious and detainable being;

• Severe wasting to the starboard lifeboat forward keel bracket lifting link
• Severe wasting of the starboard lifeboat aft keel bracket lifting link plate and bolt
• Severe wasting of the port lifeboat forward keel bracket

In addition to the technical detainable deficiencies, three major non-conformities were raised against the vessels ISM - Safety Management System:

• Maintenance of the Ship due to the large number and serious nature of deficiencies.
• Emergency Preparedness due to a substandard fire drill.
• Resources and Personnel due to the crew not having carried out sufficient drills or refresher training.

The Nikolaos P will remain under detention until the deficiencies are rectified.

Pat Dolby, Head of the MCAs Inspection Branch said:

"Operators have a duty to ensure that vessels are equipped and crews are trained to deal with a variety of emergency situations. Both the unacceptable state of the Nikolaos Ps lifeboats and the inadequate response of its crew in a drill are cause for major concern, as a real-life emergency would find the vessel ill prepared for an effective response.

"We will not hesitate to detain vessels such as this one which pose a serious threat to the safety of its crew."