MEMBER ALERT Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., Manager One Battery Park Plaza 31 st Fl., New York, NY 10004 USA Tel: +1 212 847 4500 Fax: +1 212 847 4599 https://www.american-club.com American Club Member Alert – April 1 1 , 202 4 1 APRIL 11, 2024 THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA (PRC): MARITIME SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (MSA) NATIONWIDE CAMPAIGN ON THE PREVENTION OF MECHANICAL AND ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN CHINESE WATERS As of April 7, 2024, the PRC MSA has implemented a nationwide campaign that focuses on the prevention of mechanical and electrical failures for vessels calling PRC ports (including berthing, load or discharging in the PRC) and navigating within port areas. The campaign is expected to run through October 31, 2024. In case of a mechanical or electrical failure, vessels are to voluntarily report to the local MSA and accept any special safety checks the MSA will request if required. The MSA will not focus its attention on vessels transiting through waters that may not cause danger to navigation safety unless incident occurs due to a vessel’s mechanical or electrical failures. The MSA may conduct detailed checks on vessels mechanical and electrical systems during routine safety checks. If a vessel has had two or more mechanical or electrical failures within the prior 12 months, the shipowner or ship operator will be requested to perform a joint inspection with the MSA that will require the submission of a prevention plan for mechanical and electrical failures. If a mechanical or electrical failure occurs, crew members shall immediately report to the local MSA or vessel traffic service via VHF or other possible means the following information: 1. the vessel’s name, 2. the vessel’s position; 3. if they are in need of rescue; and 4. any other emergency situation that may require action. Furthermore, the MSA will likely detain the vessel for an investigation. The Master should prepare a Statement of Fact to submit to the MSA that includes: 1. the cause of the failure; 2. specify the actions taken to rectify the deficiencies; and 3. actions taken to prevent similar failures in the future. The MSA may also request that tugboats are employed to escort the vessel to ensure navigational safety and any associated fees to be settled prior to the vessel being allowed to sail. Any vessels found to have not reported mechanical or electrical failures may be subject to penalties by the MSA. MEMBER ALERT Shipowners Claims Bureau, Inc., Manager One Battery Park Plaza 31 st Fl., New York, NY 10004 USA Tel: +1 212 847 4500 Fax: +1 212 847 4599 https://www.american-club.com American Club Member Alert – April 1 1 , 202 4 2 Recommendations 1. Shipowners and operators are recommended to enhance the maintenance of vessels’ mechanical and electrical equipment and formulate a checklist of key items to check based upon the MSA Guide on Special Self-Check to Prevent Vessel Mechanical and Electrical Failures found here in English and Mandarin. 2. Vessels should perform self-checks of mechanical and electrical systems prior to sailing to identify and rectify any problems. 3. Crew members should be aware of potential mechanical and electrical failures and have emergency plans in place that they may reasonably encounter in different scenarios (e.g., narrow waterways, at anchorage, in port areas and at open sea in close proximity of other vessels). Crew members should be properly trained and drill in the emergency plan. The American Club thanks correspondent Oasis P&I