Paris MoU Releases Results of Safety of Navigation Campaign

The Paris MoU region and the Tokyo MoU performed a joint Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Safety of Navigation, including ECDIS, last year, an the Paris MoU has released its initial findings, saying the results are encouraging.

The campaign was held from September 1 to November 30, 2017. The aim of the CIC was to verify that the minimum standards for navigation equipment, including familiarity with the equipment.

“It is encouraging to see that the overall result of this campaign on safety of navigation is positive. However, continued monitoring of ECDIS compliance will be necessary,” said Secretary General Richard Schiferli.

There were 4,027 questionnaires completed for the CIC during regular inspections. The campaign resulted in 47 detentions (1.2 percent) directly linked to the related safety of navigation requirements.

Positive results were recorded on the familiarity with the procedure of emergency operation of steering gear (99.4 percent), the transmitting of the correct particulars of AIS (99.3 percent) and the recognition of stages of remote audible alarm of BNWAS (98.6 percent). Least compliant were recordings on appropriate up to date electronic charts and back up arrangements (96.2 percent) and complete passage plan for the voyage berth to berth(96.3 percent).

The majority of the inspections performed during the CIC were on general cargo/multi-purpose ships, 1,155 (29 percent) inspections and bulk carriers with 883 (22 percent) inspections. Ships flying the flags of Panama (13 percent), Malta (nine percent) and Marshall Islands (nine percent) were inspected most frequently.

The Paris MoU's previous CIC, from September to November 2016, was on the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC). The aim of the campaign was to verify that the minimum standards for working and living conditions have been implemented on board and to create more awareness of the convention's requirements. Over 3,600 questionnaires were completed during regular inspections. The campaign resulted in 42 detentions (1.1 percent) directly linked to MLC requirements checked by the questionnaire.