Why is tanker Vetting significant?

Why is Tanker Vetting significant?

Vetting Inspection is just an inspection of the ship.  It is a combined effort of all ships staff to show their knowledge, working culture, implementation of international rules, safe operation of the ship, follow company SMS, IMO Publications, Ship’s checklist, comply of SOLAS, MARPOL, ISPS, OCIMF publications as well as the international guide of tankers.

Ship’s staff should be better prepared to undergo vetting inspections on board resulting minimizing the number of observations resulting from the vetting inspections and avoid rejection of the vessel. An inspection carried out on a vessel to gauge the area to which a vessel, its staff and its management’s meet the terms with international legislation and industry standards, in order to facilitate a prospective charterer to conclude the suitability of a vessel to carry their cargoes. Vetting inspections are usually carried out at the request of a ship owner or operator, who wishes to present their vessel for assessment.

Vetting inspections carried by:

1. Qualified SIRE inspectors
2.  Qualified CDI inspectors
3. Individual oil/chemical Company or terminal

Is vetting essential?

In today world charterers can select from the surplus of the vessel, it is particularly significant that commercial teams have available a fleet of vessels with sound vetting records and full vetting acceptance by the oil majors and other customers.

What is significant in Sire Inspections?

1. First impressions, the opening meeting 
2. Overall Safety of the vessel and related parameters
3. Checks with respect to International law
4. Cargo operations and related parameters
5. Vessel’s navigations equipment and related parameters
6. Emergency equipment preparedness by vessel
7. Pollution prevention and related parameters
8. Vessel’s Certificate, Staff’s certificate, checklist use & Documentations
9. Officer’s Matrix
10. The SIRE Check list-used by Inspector
11. Debriefing with the master; dealing with SIRE inspectors; dealing with inspection reports

Brief Checks

1. Important certificates and documentation 
2. ESP documentation 
3. Officers licences, Hours of rest records 
4. Ship’s condition, Engine room condition
5. Wheelhouse, navigation & communication
6. External areas & internal area of Ships,
7. Main deck, forecastle & steering gear
8. Oil spill protection, Cargo and crude oil washing piping 
9. Fire lines and other piping, manifold area, gangways 
10. IG distribution system, Deck water seal, non-return valve 
11. PV breaker, IG branch piping 
12. Cargo tank venting and secondary venting systems 
13. Assessment of tank condition, Ballast water sampling 
14. Mooring systems, Cargo operation 
15. Pump-room, Engine & cargo control room
16.  Passage planning, ECDIS, Publications
17.  PPE, documentation 
18.  The walk round, oily water separator 

Parties involved in vetting inspection:

• Vessel’s owner/operator
• Ship’s staff
• Vetting Inspector
• Local agent

What is the involvement of Ship’s Staff?

1. Ship’s staff can liaise with vessel’s agent and check details about Vetting inspector
2. Prepare the vessel for inspection with their best of knowledge and its conditions

3. Be polite while dealing with Inspector

4·  Be alert and show pro-activeness during the inspection

5· Prepare a good planning for inspection and execute the same during the inspection.

The crew can prepare the vessel for inspection with their best of knowledge:

1. All officers/engineers should prepare with the required section of their topic.
2. Enhanced the knowledge of the requirements of the questionnaire in use
3. Prepare well for the good knowledge of the vessel
4. All officers and crew should well familiar with safety equipment
5. Keep a best effort to create a good first impression
6. Always inspectors should walk along with senior officers. This will give a good impact on inspectors.

Prior inspection begins; ensure all key personnel are present during the opening meeting. The sequence should be discussed clearly to avoid time loss.

Achieve a true goal :

Shipmaster should have sound knowledge of the vessel. He should be fully familiar with the safety management system. Know what areas of the vessel are prone to problems and possible deficiencies. Have the proficient conviction to speak out if the inspector is wrong too. Be aware and make others aware of the requirements of the inspection. Provide information that is required.

Following area are required to keep extra attention to avoid deficiencies:

1. Do a proper planning for Housekeeping
2. Do a regular planning of vessel’s maintenance
3. Trained the crew for information, language
4. Ask all officers/engineers to update their professional knowledge
5. Proper training of Logbook filling, checklist use
6. Prepared the vessel for OCIMF checklist
7. Plan such a way to fulfil the Rest Hours requirements
8. Crew to be properly rested and check their readiness for inspection

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