Recently, the Nanjing Maritime Authority intensified its efforts to address prominent issues in shipping company and vessel management, focusing on the core responsibility of production safety. It conducted a comprehensive review of shipping companies in its jurisdiction.
In response to persistent problems among some companies, such as prioritizing operations over safety, ineffective system implementation, and lack of shore-based management, the authority took decisive action. It legally revoked the Document of Compliance (DOC) certificates for four shipping companies, using firm measures to enforce corporate responsibility for safety production.
Typical Case Analysis
What critical flaws can lead to the loss of the certificate? Here are several typical cases:
Case 1: System Failure, Certificate Revoked
A shipping company was found during an annual audit to have a completely ineffective safety management system, with multiple major issues:
1. The company's main responsible person failed to perform hazard inspection duties. A review of the company's safety risk and hazard inspection records showed that the general manager only conducted one onboard inspection in February, failing to meet the company's system requirement of the main responsible person leading at least one monthly risk self-inspection. Senior management's safety duties were merely formal.
2. Vessel dynamic monitoring was interrupted. The company's shore-based management failed to implement full-voyage tracking and supervision, losing control of vessel dynamics and navigation risks. This violated the company's system requirements for shore-based management of voyage risks, with vessel dynamic monitoring completely broken.
3. Key safety management positions were vacant. After the company's technical manager resigned, no new full-time technical manager was hired. Vessel technical maintenance and equipment safety management were left unattended, violating legal requirements for having sufficient full-time nautical and technical management personnel.
Outcome: The safety management system is designed to ensure personnel effectively implement safety and environmental protection policies. Since the company's system had lost its ability to ensure safety and pollution prevention, the Nanjing Maritime Authority legally revoked the company's safety management system DOC certificate.
Case 2: Key Positions Vacant, Certificate Revoked for Non-Compliance
During the special rectification, the Nanjing Maritime Authority discovered through unannounced inspections that two companies had not appointed full-time nautical and technical management personnel, a direct violation of regulations. Enforcement officers issued a deadline for rectification. When the deadline passed, the companies still had not complied.
Outcome: The authority legally revoked the administrative permit and recalled the DOC certificate.
Case 3: Proactive Change, Compliance is Key
Another company in the area, recognizing difficulties in shore-based duty and system operation, proactively sought help from the maritime authority. The Nanjing Maritime Authority provided "law-on-site" guidance, helping the company optimize its structure. Ultimately, by integrating group resources, the company voluntarily applied to cancel its Nanjing branch's DOC certificate, transferring its fleet to unified group management. This solved the problem while addressing weaknesses.
Key Points: Regulations and Policies
1. Ship management business operators must have sufficient full-time nautical and technical management personnel, with qualifications and experience appropriate to their business scope.
2. Section 46 of the regulations: For companies or vessels that have obtained DOC or safety management certificates, if the issuing authority finds they no longer meet requirements, it must order rectification within a deadline. If they fail to rectify or still don't meet requirements after rectification, the corresponding administrative permit should be revoked.
Section 47: If major non-conformities are found during audits, the issuing authority should revoke the DOC or safety management certificate. If the company or vessel refuses to cooperate, the authority should cancel the certificate.
Safety Management Tips for Shipping Companies
1. Conduct self-audits immediately. Focus on four core modules: company leader duties, shore-based duty, personnel allocation, and voyage assessment. Establish a list of issues and resolve them dynamically.
2. Enforce responsibilities. Company leaders should not just focus on profits. They must lead hazard inspections and invest in safety, as safety is the biggest profit.
3. Ensure full-process control. Strictly comply with regulations, staff shore-based duty teams, and improve vessel dynamic monitoring, weather warnings, and voyage assessment. Achieve full control of the voyage from departure to arrival.
Conclusion
Shipping company safety management is crucial for water traffic safety. The Nanjing Maritime Authority will continue to deepen the special rectification, advancing strict supervision, enhanced legal education, and quality services. It will maintain a "zero tolerance" stance against violations.
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