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• Marshall Islands Administration has issued MSA Circular No. 53-17 (copy attached) informing that during Port State Control, inspections of hatch covers not only includes checking the condition of the gaskets, but also the condition of the hatch covers closing devices. 

• Conditions such as seized/damaged/missing cleats, damaged/wastage of cleat crutches, which may result in the hatch covers not being secured closed, will be identified as PSC deficiencies.

• Further, in those cases, where it is judged that the deficiency is identified as a lack of implementation of the ship’s Safety Management System, such deficiency could lead to grounds for a detention.

• Administration has advised Ship owners, Ship Operators/Managers and Masters of vessels with hatch covers to pay close attention to the condition of hatch cover securing devices and conduct regularly scheduled visual inspections and follow-up with appropriate service maintenance as may be required.

Enclosure:

1. Marshall Islands Marine Safety Advisory No. 53-17, dated 27 December 2017.

Disclaimer:

This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.

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