Focused inspection campaign (FIC) summary
Purpose: To ensure domestic commercial vessel (DCV) owners, operators and crew have considered the risks associated with hazardous gases in their safety management system (SMS).
Location: NSW
Timeframe: 16 September until 31 December 2024
Target:
- Class 1 passenger vessels
- Class 4 hire and drive vessels
Expect to be inspected.
Why we're inspecting vessels
In August 2023, a new version of Marine Order 504 (MO504) came into effect. The revised marine order requires DCV owners to:
- include potential risks of hazardous gases from sewage systems and other sources in their vessel’s SMS risk assessment
- strengthen training and drill requirements related to emergency procedures.
Inspectors will check compliance with these new operational safety requirements.
Focus areas
If we inspect your vessel, we will look for:
- evidence of a risk assessment to identify the potential risks of hazardous gases
- written procedures for managing hazardous gases and maintaining sullage tanks and plumbing
- instructions on how to identify and respond to hazardous gas incidents
- proof that you are providing hazardous gases information to hirers of class 4 vessels.
How to prepare
Guidance
Read guidance about how to reduce risks of hazardous gases.
Do a risk assessment and include controls for hazardous gases in your vessel’s SMS.
Checklist
Review the inspection checklist.
Take any action needed to ensure your compliance with Marine Order 504 requirements.
| FIC Checklist | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name of Vessel: | UVI: | Class of Vessel: | ||||
| Date of inspection: | Port inspected: | |||||
| No. | Question | Yes | No | NA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All answers need to satisfy current operations, otherwise the answer is N | ||||
| 1 | Does the vessel risk assessment identify and control the risk of hazardous gases? MO504 Sch 1 subpara 2(3)(b)(iii) | |||
| 2 | Does the SMS identify regular programmed inspections and maintenance of sullage tanks and plumbing? MO504 Sch 1 subclause 10(2) | |||
| 3 | Have new crew undertaken any induction, on-board familiarisation or training for identifying and responding to hazardous gases? MO504 Sch 1 para 6D(1)(c) | |||
| 4 | Does the SMS include clear and relevant procedures for the pumping out of blackwater, greywater, or bilgewater tanks? MO504 Sch 1 Sec7(2)(a) | |||
| 5 | Do the toilet areas have sufficient mechanical or natural ventilation to open air? USL Code 5E.7 & 612.5 & NSCV C1, s4.15.4 | |||
| 6 | Is the vessel fitted with, or do the crew have access to hazardous gas monitoring devices? | |||
| 7 | Class 4 only: Is information provided to hirers about the risks of hazardous gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide? | |||
| 8 | Class 4 only: Is signage or labelling in place warning of the dangers of carbon monoxide or hydrogen sulphide in confined areas? | |||
| 9 | Were any deficiencies recorded related to a question or questions in this FIC? | |||
| 10 | Were any National Law notices issued related to a question or questions in this FIC? | |||
Inspection process
Our inspectors will undertake this FIC at the same time as regular DCV inspections of class 1 and 4 vessels.
If an inspector finds a deficiency, they'll talk to the person in charge of your vessel about how to make it compliant.