ABS GCD Provides Training for Lianyungang MSA Port State Control Officer

To further strengthen the mutual trust and cooperation with China Provincial and local Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) offices, ABS recently implemented a Port State Control (PSC) Action Plan. As part of the Action Plan, the ABS Greater China Division (GCD) provided a two-week in-office and practical training session for a Lianyungang MSA Port State Control Officer (PSCO). This training heightened the improvement of Lianyungang’s PSC and also laid a solid foundation of cooperation between Lianyungang MSA and ABS.

The primary objective of the training was to provide the new Lianyungang PSC inspectors a better understanding of the ABS surveyors’ roles and explain how they perform their routine surveys and inspections. In order to increase the effectiveness of the training, part of it was held in the ABS Shanghai Engineering department and part of it took place in the field.

During the office training, the Engineering department provided the MSA inspector with an overview of engineering processes and workflows, plan approval, familiarization with review of offshore structures and stability, application of Rules and process instructions to machinery and piping systems and an introduction to project management.

The field training was divided between new construction (NC) and surveys after construction (SAC). The NC training was conducted in a major shipyard and provided an introduction to ABS Rules, application of process instructions and guidance to statutory, pre-erection inspection and patrolling at block fabrications area. The SAC training was conducted in the field with visits to four vessels which were undergoing class and statutory surveys. The MSA inspector accompanied the ABS Principal Surveyor and observed fuel oil and ballast tank inspections, machinery surveys, hull and load line surveys and modifications.

The above noted training enabled the PSCO to become more familiar with survey procedures, methods of quality control, technical standards of new construction ship survey in shipyards and endorsement requirements of statutory certificates.

According to the Action Plan, ABS will enhance the communication with China MSA offices to establish and reinforce a closer working relationship, carrying out in-depth collaboration in personnel training, communication mechanisms and technical exchanges. These positive actions will be an effective way to encourage ABS-classed vessels to meet the safety and environmental requirements of maritime conventions, to minimize costly delays or even detentions due to non-compliance.

With the implementation of the Action Plan, ABS GCD will build upon its strengths in ship survey to provide positive technical support and training for more inspectors from MSA, and will work closely with authorities to promote the safety and operating conditions of ABS-classed vessels.