This is the third of a series of articles describing the four main areas of risk in the DryBMS: – performance, people, plant, and process. In this article I will take a closer look at the third area: – plant, which is about ensuring the vessel, and its equipment and systems are fit for purpose throughout the life cycle of the vessel.
Within this section, there are five subject areas: –
- 14 Maintenance
- 15 Dry dock and surveys
- 16 Critical equipment
- 17 Engineroom operations & bunkering
- 18 Inspection planning, review and close out
Three of these subject areas, numbers 14, 16 and 17, are designated as priority areas. These priority areas are intended to be a starting point for companies with limited resources, to start the self-assessment process, before including the remaining subject areas.
Subject area 14 maintenance is meant to ensure the company has a programme to inspect and maintain plant and assets to prevent injury to people, damage to the environment and achieve effective performance. It contains topics, such as, the planned maintenance system, reporting machinery defects, maintenance deferrals and monitoring of maintenance effectiveness.
Subject area 15 dry dock and surveys is designed to ensure the company has a programme to manage dry docks, repair periods and maintaining class status. It covers topics such as dry dock specifications, conditions of class and class recommendations, class surveys and certification, and dry dock procedures.
Subject area 16 critical equipment is supposed to ensure the company maintains an inspection programme to determine the condition of critical equipment & systems to verify and document they are fit for service. It has topics such as identification, maintenance and testing of critical equipment as well as reporting of critical equipment defects.
Subject area 17 engineroom operations and bunkering ensures the company operates engineroom and plant facilities effectively to prevent injury to people and damage to the environment. It contains topics like machinery operating procedures, bunkering procedures, and engineering standards.
Finally, in this section, subject area 18 covers Inspection planning, review and close out. These inspections are separate from other vessel visits mentioned in other subject areas, these visits are carried out by suitably qualified shore-based personnel who carry out inspections to monitor the condition of the vessel and it’s equipment. The subject area contains topics including inspection planning, execution and reporting and the inspection checklists.
