©
1999 The Independent Fact Group
SAFETY INSPECTION
REPORT 1999.10.24
| Name of ship: | M/S Prince of Scandinavia |
| IMO No. | 7361312 |
| Call Sign: | OVRY2 |
| Captain: | Larsen |
| Flag: | Denmark |
| Length: | 184,36 m |
| Breadth: | 24,40 m |
| Draught: | 6,44 m |
| Gross tonnage: | 22.528 |
| Engines: | 46.600 BHP |
| Built: | 1975, Lübeck |
| Rebuilt: | 1990 / 1991 |
| Total capacity: | 1692 persons |
| Car deck loading, length: | 1820 m (379 cars) |
| MOB-boats: | 2, no marking of number of persons (25 ?) |
| Lifeboats: | 10, marked for 94 persons |
| Liferafts with davit: | 10, marked for 25 persons |
| Liferafts without davit launching: | 30, marked for 25 persons |
General opinion of the ship
The ship gave an impression of being normally maintained, not counted the life-saving appliances, described in this report. The public areas that could be inspected were generally clean and tidy. Areas on deck 9 and upper deck 10 around the funnel were rusty on deck platings. Those decks were not normally open for passengers. During the night areas with both lifeboats and liferafts were closed by unlocked gates. The emergency lighting for muster stations at deck 8 aft were not satisfactory.
The manning of the ship was not satisfactory. When visiting the bridge the (second?) mate was not familiar with the "mimic" panel for the watertight doors, in fact he did not understand what it was until explained by us. And even after he was unsure how it worked. On the question what channels they listened to, he replied after a while, yes, we are listening. We asked if it was normal that only one officer was at the bridge, and the mate said that it was the case, even during the night, but then it also were a seaman there for lookout.
The Captain entered and we asked him the same question regarding the "mimic" panel for the watertight doors. He did not understand the question but started to describe all doors on different decks. Finally he answered our question, and he said that all the watertight doors were open always at sea. We asked in detail if the green lights on the "mimic" panel showed that the doors were open or closed. He answered that the green lights indicate that the doors are open, this is the way it should be, he said.
CERTIFICATES AND SURVEYS:
Certificate 1:
Permit for carriage of passenger.
Capacity 1692 . (unclear if including crew)
Expire 19.03.2000.
Certified by Danish Sjöfartsstyrelsen
Certificate 2:
Safety Management Certificate.
Gross ton: 22.528
Company: DFDS
Certified by Danish Sjöfartsstyrelsen
DEFICIENCIES:
Certificates:
- All certificates or certified copies thereof issued under the present regulation shall be posted up...
SOLAS C-1, Reg 16
- The following certificates are not posted:
1. ITC (International Tonnage Certificate)
2. LL (International Load Line Certificate)
3. Certificate for Masters, officers or ratings.
4. PSCC (Passenger Ship Safety Certificate)
5. Exemption certificates (all watertight doors to be permanently open)SOLAS Annex 3
CONSTRUCTION
(Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations)Watertight doors:
- Watertight doors open during entire voyage on all decks. All watertight doors shall be closed at sea, unless those that after consideration has to be open because of passenger situation. According to the captain and seen on the mimic panel for the watertight doors, all doors are open at sea, all the time. The captain said that this is the way it should be, with all doors open.
SOLAS CII-1, Reg 15, 7.1.2.3
SOLAS CII-1, Reg 15, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3
- Watertight doors can be opened from the bridge, this is prohibited.
SOLAS CII-1, Reg 15, 8.3
- Mimic panel for watertight doors does not fulfil requirements. Open doors show "Green Light", and closed doors "Red Light". Should be opposite.
SOLAS CII-1, Reg 15, 8.2
- Hatch to car deck on port side deck 5 aft open.
SOLAS C II-1, Reg 20-3
- Door hatch / cover on door opening mechanism deck 4 starboard bow is missing. This is to prevent persons unauthorised entering the car deck. Car deck can be entered at any time. (Door must be closed unless emergency).
SOLAS C II-1, Reg 20-2, 2.2
SOLAS C II-1, Reg 20-3
- Watertight door from the car deck to the casing, starboard bow, completely dismounted after the ship left port. Repairs on the door at car deck during the voyage, leaving car deck permanently open for hours during the voyage.
SOLAS C II-1, Reg 20-2, 2.2
C0NSTRUCTION
(Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction)Escape routes:
- Escape route to aft deck 5 ends up with no lifejackets, liferafts or signs of Muster station. No signs leading to muster or embarkation station. On "mimic plan" inside ship it is shown that there is a muster station at deck 5 aft. This is not the fact. Muster station is required to be in vicinity of embarkation stations.
SOLAS C III, Reg 24
- Traverse handrails missing on all landings in stairways, a firm handhold is not possible every step of the way. Particular attention shall be paid to the need to be able to cross lobbies, atriums and other large open spaces along the escape routes.
SOLAS C II-2, Reg 28-1, 1.2
- Heavy loose concrete pots for cigarettes / ashes on various
places on outside decks.
Picture: 1 and 2 - Central hall deck 7, lose stuff, 2 heavy claypots with flowers standing loose.
- Stairway deck 7, lose stuff, 6 heavy claypots with flowers standing loose.
- Aft hall deck 7, lose stuff, 2 heavy claypots with flowers standing loose.
SOLAS C II-2, Reg 28-1, 1.3
- Floor covering not secured on outside decks (only secured
on deck 8 forward starboard and port side).
Picture: 1 and 2
SOLAS C II-2, Reg 28-1, 1.3
Picture 1. Loose heavy ash-pot in concrete standing on plastic floor covering. Floor covering secured here on forward upper deck 8.
Picture 2. Loose heavy ash-pot in concrete standing on plastic floor covering. Floor covering not secured on deck 7 or other decks.
- Deck 5 entrance hall, 2 heavy refrigerators for Coca-Cola standing lose.
- High refrigerator for tobacco in tax-free shop standing loose.
SOLAS C II-2, Reg 28-1, 1.3
- Forward stairway deck 8 and 9, deck numbering missing
SOLAS C II-2, Reg 28-1, 1.6
Muster plans and other postings:
- "Mimic" plans should show direction of escape routes,
posted in public spaces. Unclear and most of them did only show
vertical direction.
Picture: 3 - "Mimic" plan deck 5 aft missing.
SOLAS CII-2, Reg 28-1, 1.7
Picture 3. "Mimic" plan / Muster list, format approx. 35 x 50 cm. Only vertical escape route shown.
- Muster lists does not show donning of lifejackets and are
unclear regarding the illustrations of escape routes and muster
stations. The posted muster list heading is "m/s Prince
of Scandinavia" in the same way as the large deck plans
posted on every deck. Proper heading should be "Emergency
plan" in appropriate languages. The muster lists are in
small format and not easily seen as the large deck plan are seen
first, however they do not show any muster station or escape
route what so ever.
Picture: 3 and 4
SOLAS CIII, Reg 8
Picture 4. Deck plan, format approx. 70 x 100 cm. No muster stations shown, no escape routes shown. Note also that picture 3 and 4 are from the same place, aft hall on deck 7 with "you are here" indicated with a red dot at the same place. However the small muster list show the ship correctly seen from port side, while the deck plan show the ship from starboard side. Confusing.
- Donning of lifejackets posted separately from muster list
both inside and outside the ship, (and not even close to muster
lists). The postings are marked "MERMAN XII INSTRUCTION",
probably the product name of the lifejackets. This information
should be posted together with the muster list and be with proper
heading, signs and in appropriate languages.
Picture: 5
SOLAS CIII, Reg 8
Picture 5. Donning of lifejackets. This information should be posted together with the muster list and be with proper heading.
- Muster lists not showing donning of lifejackets and not posted in cabins. Shall be posted in every cabin and in conspicuous places throughout the ship.
SOLAS CIII, Reg 18, 3.3
SOLAS CIII, Reg 8.2, Reg 8.4
Fire safety:
- Fire post door blocked in tax-free shop by fridge standing in front of it.
- Fire extinguishers in corners behind large flowers / plants, difficult to see.
- Covers / doors in clear plastic in front of fire extinguishers not easily understood that they are to be lifted off. (Picture 4)
SOLAS CII-2, Reg 21
- Fire doors / smoke tight doors in corridors not possible to close from both sides of door.
SOLAS C II-2, Reg 30, 3
LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES AND ARRANGEMENTS:
Lifebuoys:
- 17 found, 7 are missing (1 at pilot door not included). This
ship should carry 24 lifebuoys. Buoyant lifelines does not fulfil
requirement of non-kinking type, have to be changed.
Picture: 6 and 7
Should be:
12 with light (is 13)
2 with buoyant lifeline (is 4, however lifelines does not fulfil requirement of non-kinking type).
2 with light should also be with smoke (is 2)SOLAS C III, Reg 21, 1.1
SOLAS C III, Reg 31, 4.1
LSA C II, 2.1.4.1
Picture 6. Buoyant lifelines of should be of non-kinking type.
Picture 7. Detail kinking lifeline.
Lifejackets
- Children's lifejackets missing. Should be 10 percent suitable
for children. Only four (4 !) regular approved lifejackets for
children found. A number of lifejackets for adults were stamped
with "BARN" [Swedish for "CHILDREN"] and
with no marking of size or approval. Symbols missing. (All boxes
marked with children's lifejacket symbol were checked).
Picture: 8, 9 and 10
SOLAS C III, Reg 7, 2.1.1 (number of..)
SOLAS C III, Reg 32, 1.6 (marking of..)LSA 1.2.2.9 (marking of..)
LSA 2.2.1.6 (marking of..)
Picture 8. Two of totally four approved lifejackets for children.
Picture 9. "Children" (BARN), Adult, Approved children.
Picture 10. Regular adult lifejackets stamped with "BARN", swedish for children.
- Lifejackets for adults not marked according to regulation.
LSA 1.2.2.9
- Lifejackets whistle missing at some lifejackets.
SOLAS C III, Reg 32, 1.6
LSA 2.2.1.8
- Lifejacket station deck 8 port side bow, lifejackets dirty and oily. Cover hatch hinges broken.
SOLAS C-III, Reg 30, 1.4
Embarkation ladders
- Embarkation ladders not possible to uncover due to tight
rope and knots.
Picture: 11
SOLAS CIII, Reg 19, 2
SOLAS CIII, Reg 30, 2.8
Picture 11. Not possible to uncover due to tight rope and knots.
MOB-Boats
- MOB-boat starboard side is not covered with shelter as required.
SOLAS CIII, Reg 47, 1.4
SOLAS CIII, Reg 20, 2.1
- Boarding ladder does not fulfil requirements of lowest step 0,4 meters below waterline.
LSA 4.4.3.3
- Marking of lifeboat not visible from above.
SOLAS C III, Reg 41, 9.3
Lifeboats
- Boarding ladders does not fulfil requirements of lowest step
0,4 meters below waterline, ladders are rope-ladders that will
float.
Picture: 12
LSA 4.4.3.3
Picture 12. Rope-ladders that will float. Seating positions in lifeboats are not marked.
- Marking of lifeboats not visible from above.
SOLAS C III, Reg 41, 9.3
- Seating positions in lifeboats are not marked. Each seating
position shall be clearly indicated in the lifeboat.
Picture: 12
SOLAS C III, Reg 41, 2.3
LSA 4.4.2.3
- Only one (1 !) winch crank for each side (serving 6 lifeboats)
found. 5 missing on each side, holders for winch crank on those
davits are empty. An efficient hand gear shall be provided for
recovery of each survival craft and rescue boat.
Picture: 13 and 14
SOLAS C III, Reg 48, 2.4
LSA 6.1.2.6
Picture 13. Only one (1 !) winch crank for manual recovery of lifeboats found on each side (serving 6 lifeboats).
Picture 14. Empty winch crank holders on all other lifeboat davits. Handle "A" is release for lifeboat launching.
- Lifeboats propulsion not protected.
SOLAS C III, Reg 41, 6.7
- Instructions for lifeboat launching stations does not correspond
with the actual launching control mechanism.
Picture: 15 and 16 (see also 13)
SOLAS CIII, Reg 9
Picture 15. Launching instruction for lifeboats.
Picture 16. Detail of launching instruction. Illustrations does not correspond with the actual launching control mechanism that is covered behind railing. The release handle "A" is not in correspondence or position as on the ship. See also picture14.
Liferafts
- Davit station instructions for liferafts unclear and very
complicated to understand. Instructions written on white posted
on white bulkhead. No symbols used.
Picture: 17
SOLAS C-III, Reg 9
Picture 17. Davit launching instruction for liferafts. Complicated to understand. Instructions written on white, format approx. 50 x 70 cm. Posted on aluminium plate on the white bulkhead.
- To fulfil the requirements of lifeboats and liferafts for all persons on board, all boats and rafts shall be able to launch by launching appliances. Then 10 lifeboats, 2 MOB-boats and 28 liferafts must be used. Of those 28 liferafts 18 has no launching appliance that is required. This is counted on 25 persons in each MOB-boat.
SOLAS CIII, Reg 20, 1.2.1
- In addition there shall also be an extra number of liferafts
for 25 percent of the persons on board. The remaining 12 liferafts
will accommodate 300 persons. There should be 17 liferafts to
fulfil the requirements of 425 persons. It ends up with5 liferafts
missing. The additional liferafts shall also be launched by launching
appliances. There are no such appliances. At the embarkation
stations aft there are foundations that probably were ment for
launching appliances.
Picture: 18
SOLAS CIII, Reg 20, 1.2.2
Picture 18. Embarkation stations aft. Foundations that probably were ment for launching appliances.
