©
2001 The Independent Fact Group
SAFETY INSPECTION
REPORT: Investigation of M/V Isabella 2001.05.27, Viking Line
| Name of ship: | M/V Isabella |
| IMO No. | 8700723 |
| Call Sign: | OIZD |
| Captain: | - |
| Flag: | Finland |
| Length: | 169,4 m |
| Breadth: | 27,6 m |
| Draught: | 6,35 m |
| Gross tonnage: | 34.937 |
| Engines: | 24.000 kW (Wärtsilä Pielstick) |
| Speed: | 21,5 knot |
| Built: | 1989, Brodosplit, Croatia |
| Ice class: | 1A -AL |
| Total capacity: | 2480 persons (including crew?) |
| Car deck loading: | 364 cars, alternatively 30 trailers |
| Rescue boat No.1: | 1 marked for 10 persons, in total 10 persons |
| MOB boat No.2: | 1 marked for 20 persons, in total 20 persons |
| Lifeboats No.3-8: | 6 marked for 150 persons, in total 900 persons |
| Liferafts with davit: | 68, marked for 25 persons, in total 1700 persons |
| Marine evacuation system (MES): | 2, each with 8 liferafts for 50 persons, in total 800 persons |
| Total capacity liferafts, boats and MES: | 3430 persons |
General opinion of the ship:
The ship gave an impression of being normally maintained, not counting some of the lifesaving appliances as described in this report. The public areas that could be inspected were generally clean and tidy except for the outer decks where there was a lot of litter on deck.
The crew at the information that we spoke with regarding some of the life saving appliances gave the impression of being very unsecure and not familiar with these appliances. Although the question was simple:
"Why are there no clear instructions regarding donning of lifejackets at the muster stations?"
The answer was, "I don't know so much of that, but the crew will come and assist the passengers in case of an emergency."
Our reply was, "According to international regulations there shall be clear instructions for the passengers, and of course also is in the case there will be no crew for assistance."
The final reply from the crew was, "Well, here is an information folder of the safety onboard, read it and if you have any further questions you can come back." The crew disappeared into the room behind the information obviously not wanting to discuss this matter any further.
As can be seen in this folder "General alarm" there is no information regarding donning of lifejackets.
You can also see an excerpt of a "safety information folder" received on board
Certificates and survey:
Certificate 1:
Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, PSSC.
Issued 30 May 2000, Expires 31 May 2001
Mariehamn Gross ton 34937
Operation limitations SOLAS-74 Ch V Reg. 23
See Appendix 30.5.2000 (appendix not posted)
Certificate 2:
Safety Management Certificate.
Issued 16 December 1998, Expires 2003.
Certificate 3:
Document of compliance
Issued 7 December 1998, Expires 2003.
Certificate 4:
DNV Environmental management system certificate
Cert.No. 970-2001-HEL FINAS
SFS-EN ISO 14001 ed 1996
Issued 20 April 2001, Expires 30 April 2004
Relevant instruments for this survey:
Safety of Life at Sea 1974, consolidated edition 2001 (SOLAS)
International Lifesaving Appliance Code (LSA)
The International Regulations for Avoiding Collisions at Sea (COLREG)
DEFICIENCIES:
Watertight doors:
- Watertight doors in accommodation area on deck 2 open during
entire voyage. All watertight doors shall be closed at sea, unless
certain doors that may be permitted to remain open if considered
absolutely necessary; that is, being open is determined essential
to the safe and effective operation of the ship's machinery or
to permit passengers normally unrestricted access throughout
the passenger area. According to SOLAS a careful consideration
shall be made by the Administration (i.e. the National Maritime
Administration) to determine exactly which doors may be kept
open at sea. In this case all the watertight doors in the passenger
area on deck 2 was open in spite of the fact that the deck could
be entered through 6 staircases. We can not find it "absolutely
necessary" that all doors on deck 2 must remain open at
sea to admit "passengers normally unrestricted access throughout
the passenger area".
SOLAS CII-1, Reg. 15, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3
Escape routes:
- Heavy claypots with flowers standing loose on various places
on different decks. Heavy furnishings in public spaces and along
escape routes shall be secured in place.
SOLAS C II-2, Reg. 28-1, 1.3
Picture 1: Loose claypots on deck 7
Muster plans and other postings:
- "Mimic" plans should show direction of escape routes,
posted in public spaces. Only one such mimic plan could be found
close to the information on deck 7, but it did not show the direction
of escape routes or the "here are you" sign. (Nor did
it show the donning of lifejackets, see further on in the report.)
Picture 2: Mimic plan "General alarm" close to information on deck 7
- All other "mimic plans" posted on different decks
did only show the general arrangement on that deck, they were
just normal deck plans. No information of escape routes, marking
by arrows or the "here are you" sign could be found
on those plans. We were unable to check the mimic plans in the
cabins, but the safety leaflet handed out in the information
was identical with the mimic plan in picture 2.
SOLAS CII-2, Reg. 28-1
Escape routes on ro-ro passenger ships
1.7 Simple "mimic" plans showing the "here are you" position and escape routes marked by arrows, shall be prominently displayed on the inside of each cabin door and in public spaces. The plan shall show the direction of escape, and shall be oriented in relation to its position on the ship.
Picture 3: Mimic plan on deck 9
- Muster lists missing at muster stations.
SOLAS CIII, Reg. 8
Muster lists and emergency instructions
1 This regulation applies to all ships.
2 Clear instructions to be followed in the event of an emergency shall be provided for every person on board. In the case of passenger ships these instructions shall be drawn up in the language or languages required by the ship's flag State and in the English language.
3 Muster lists and emergency instructions complying with regulation 37 shall be exhibited in conspicuous places throughout the ship including the navigation bridge, engine-room and crew accommodation spaces.
4 Illustrations and instructions in appropriate languages shall be posted in passenger cabins and be conspicuously displayed at muster stations and other passenger spaces to inform passengers of:
.1 their muster station;
.2 the essential actions they must take in an emergency; and
.3 the method of donning lifejackets.
- No plans showing the donning of lifejackets were posted at
muster station or where lifejackets were stored or in other public
spaces. We were not able to check inside cabins.
SOLAS CIII, Reg. 8, 4.3
Picture 4: Rescue station on deck 9
- "Numbers / marking" at Rescue Stations and Muster
Stations does not correspond with "numbers / marking"
on the mimic plan or muster list. There is a mix up between Rescue
Stations and Muster Stations in regard to marking. For example,
on the plan Muster Stations are marked from "A" to
"F", but on deck "A" and "B" can
be found on some Rescue Stations. On deck each Rescue Station
is generally marked with a number, for example "9".
The marking is not consistently done and the difference between
a Rescue Station and a Muster Station is not explained in the
mimic plan or muster list. This is very confusing and could result
in chaos in a real emergency situation. Compare picture 4 and
12 with picture 5. The Rescue Station "A" and "B"
here on deck 9 are on the plan shown as Muster Station "C"
and "D".
Picture 5: Close up of Mimic plan
Fire safety:
- We did not check the fire safety on this inspection and we
did not find anything alarming except for a fire door release
button that only had English written text. All information's
and signs should be in appropriate languages, i.e. Finnish (flag
state) English (and Swedish).
SOLAS CIII, Reg. 8
Picture 6: Fire door release button
Lifebuoys:
- 14 found, 4 are missing. This ship should carry a minimum
of 18 life buoys. At least 1 lifebuoy on each side of the ship
shall be fitted with a buoyant lifeline. Only one could be found.
Should be: 9 with light (found 9)
2 of those with light should also be with smoke (found 2)
2 with buoyant lifeline (found 1)
8 additional life buoys (found 5)
SOLAS C III, Reg. 22, 1.1
SOLAS C III, Reg. 7, 1.1 - 1.4
LSA C II, 2.1.4.1
Lifejackets:
- We did not check the lifejackets individually as they were kept in sealed boxes. However we found a large number of boxes that could not be reached. Lifejackets shall be so placed as to be readily accessible and their position shall be plainly indicated.
SOLAS C III, Reg. 7, 2.2.2
Picture 7: Lifejackets stored inaccessible high position, donning instructions missing, number of lifejackets missing
Rescue Boats:
- Operating instructions for the rescue boat number 1 missing.
SOLAS CIII, Reg. 9
Operating instructions
1 This regulation applies to all ships.
2 Posters or signs shall be provided on or in the vicinity of survival craft and their launching controls and shall:
.1 illustrate the purpose of controls and the procedures for operating the appliance and give relevant instructions or warnings;
.2 be easily seen under emergency lighting conditions; and
.3 use symbols in accordance with the recommendations of the Organization.
Lifeboats:
- Launching instructions only in English. Instructions in Finnish
(and Swedish) were missing. The instructions were generally in
bad shape.
SOLAS CIII, Reg. 9
SOLAS CIII, Reg. 8
Picture 8a: Lifeboat launching instruction
Picture 8b: Close up of lifeboat launching instruction. Note the almost invisible yellow text "LAUNCHING PROCEDURES" in the top
Liferafts:
- Davit station instructions for launching the liferafts only
showed the procedure how to attach the davit lifting hook to
the liferaft and, in general terms, how to embark the liferaft
at the side of the ship. Instructions on how to get the liferaft
from the stowed position in the magazine to the davit was missing.
Liferafts held in magazines shall have instructions for both
the magazine and davit procedures.
SOLAS CIII, Reg. 9
Picture 9: Liferaft magazine procedure instruction and davit instruction missing
- Instructions how to operate the davits were missing on or
in the vicinity of all davit stations.
SOLAS CIII, Reg. 9
Picture 10: Davit instructions missing
- All instructions should be drawn up in the language or languages
required by the ship's flag State and in the English language.
The only found instructions were for the davit hook procedure,
and they were in Finnish and Swedish. English instructions were
missing.
SOLAS CIII, Reg. 8
Picture 11: Davit instruction is only general liferaft embarking instructions
Marine evacuation system (MES):
Two Marine evacuation systems had been installed, one on each side of the ship. The evacuation and muster station for the MES was inside the ship on deck 7 (port side) and deck 5 (starboard side). The 8 liferafts serving each of those stations were stowed on outer deck 9 on each side of the ship.
- The stowage area is marked as "Rescue Station A"
(port side) and "Rescue Station B" (starboard side).
No muster lists or emergency instructions how to operate and
use the appliances were posted. We question the correctness of
those stations "A" and "B" on deck 9 where
the liferafts are provided for the Marine evacuation stations
on deck 7 and 5, also to function as rescue stations from this
open deck 9.
SOLAS CIII, Reg. 8
SOLAS CIII, Reg. 9
Picture 12: Rescue station A and B
- The instructions posted on the MES liferafts are not possible
to read as the liferafts are stowed tight under the roof to the
next deck. A recess in the roof has been made and the liferafts
are stowed all way up in this recess. No other instructions were
posted at the station.
SOLAS CIII, Reg. 9
Picture 13: Recess for liferafts at MES liferaft stowage
Lantern installation:
- The installation of the lanterns to use in case the vessel
is "Not Under Command" or "Restricted in Their
Ability to Maneuver" is faulty. A vessel not under command
shall exhibit two all-round red lights in a vertical line where
they can best be seen. A vessel restricted in her ability to
maneuver shall exhibit three all-round lights in a vertical line
where they can best be seen. The highest and lowest of these
lights shall be red and the middle light shall be white. "All
round light" means a light showing an unbroken light over
an arc of horizon of 360 degrees. "All-round lights"
shall be so located as not to be obscured by masts, topmasts
or structures within angular sectors of more than 6 degrees.
The installation on Isabella was identical with the one on Amorella from which the close up photo in picture 16-17 is. As can be seen in picture 16-17, there are also spare configurations "Red - White - Red" mounted just inside the lanterns on each side of the mast. If any of the ordinary lanterns (the outer ones) are out of order the spare one just inside shall be used. The problem is, that in such case the ordinary lantern will blind the light sector of the spare lantern.
The pictures also show that there are one configuration of lanterns on each side of the mast. This is because the mast blind a large angle of the light sector, see especially the lowest lanterns. When such installation is done each lantern must be configurated so that it's light sector only covers a half horisontal circle (180 degrees). Two lanterns will then together cover the full circle (360 degrees). The photos show that it is likely that all lanterns on this installation are "All round lights" with the consequence that, when they are used in the dark, the ship will appear to be two different vessels from some angles.
COLREG Rule 21
COLREG Rule 27
COLREG Annex 1, 9 (b)
Picture 14: Cover picture from leaflet with M/V Isabella. Marked area indicate the close of the mast shown in picture 15
Picture 15: Close up of the mast with lanterns installed side by side.
Picture 16: Incorrect lantern installation (photo from M/V Amorella)
Picture 17: We have edited this picture to show a correct installation (yellow arrows)