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Is it mandatory to have Manufacturer Certified person to service Life Boats and launching Applinces
As of December 2006, SOLAS Reg III/20.11 and MSC.1/Circ. 1206 now supersede MSC/Circ.1093. Circ. 1206 has been sent by MSC to the DE S/C where it will review the entire Circular with the view to resolving issues so that it can then be considered by MSC in 2010 for mandatory application. As it stands now, Circ. 1206 remains non-mandatory. These Guidelines recommend that all servicing and maintenance, other than weekly and monthly inspections, and routine maintenance as defined by the manufacturer, be carried out by persons appropriately trained and certified by the manufacturer, which should be in accordance with an established system for training and authorization. If the manufacturer wishes to have such certified persons published on the ABS web site, they may address their request directly to ABS Programs at Houston.
Do all life saving and fire fighting specialists need to be approved by ABS
Surveyors may accept services provided by companies that are not ABS recognized, only under the following conditions:
- Survey is a statutory survey performed on behalf of the Flag Administration, and
- Flag Administration has specifically authorized, accepted, certified or otherwise recognized the Company as acceptable to provide the services.
- Company has been approved by duly authorized organizations acting on behalf of the flag Administration, or
- Other organizations that are acceptable to the flag Administration (e.g., other governments, etc.)
May a gauging company hold more than two certificates
ESP Hull Gauging Firms. Recognition as an ESP Hull Gauging Firm, would also automatically comply with the requirements as a Hull Gauging Firm. Our database lists them as separate entities. Therefore, if a company that is recognized to do ESP gaugings also wants to be listed as a Hull Gauging Firm, then two certificates must be issued.
Which gauging companies must be recognized
Enhanced Survey Procedure Hull Thickness Measurement Companies are to be approved. ESP Hull Gauging Firms also qualify as Hull Gauging Firm). However, thickness Measurement companies utilized on vessels classed for Great Lakes Service and Non ESP vessels less than 90M in length or fishing vessels need not be recognized as an External Specialist. Recognition as a Hull Gauging firm is voluntary.
What is an external specialist
External Specialist: A person or company not employed by ABS who acts at the request of an equipment manufacturer, shipyard, vessel’s owner or other client in connection with supporting classification or statutory survey work. External Specialists include all who provide supporting information upon which ABS Surveyors may make a judgment related to classification or statutory services.
Which Specialists are considered to provide statutory services
- Fire Extinguishing Equipment Service Companies (SOLAS Service of Fire Extinguishing Equipment)
- Inflatable Liferaft, Inflatable Lifejacket, Inflatable Rescue Boat, & Hydrostatic Release Service Stations (SOLAS Service of Inflatable Liferafts, Inflatable Lifejacket, Inflatable Rescue Boat, & Hydrostatic Release) (as applicable)
- Radio Technicians (SOLAS Surveys of Radio Installations)
- Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Service Companies
- Companies performing testing and measuring of low-location lighting
- Companies engaged in annual performance testing of Voyage Data Recorder (VDR).
- Companies engaged in sound pressure level measurements of public address or general alarm systems on board ship
- Companies engaged in Shore-Based Maintenance (SBM) of satellite Emergency Position Radio Beacons (EPIRB) with standardized procedures and minimum levels of service for the testing and maintenance of EPIRBs to ensure maximum reliability whilst minimizing the risk of false distress alerts
- Individuals authorized for periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching appliances and on load release gear
Which Specialists provide services necessary for classification and must be recognized
- ESP Hull Gauging Firms. Recognition as an ESP Hull Gauging Firm, would also automatically comply with the requirements as a Hull Gauging Firm.
- In-water Survey Companies
- Condition Monitoring Companies
- Ultrasonic Tightness Testing Companies (Testing of Hatch Covers)
- Companies engaged in Ambient Environmental Measurements and Certification
- Hull Gauging Firms (voluntary)
- Firms engaged in the examination of Ro-Ro ships bow, stern, side and inner doors
May a Company request recognition of its subsidiaries or agents to be included in its recognition
A Company requesting inclusion of its agents or subsidiaries must be certified in accordance with ISO 9000 series. In addition, ABS must audit each individual subsidiary or agent, and each individual subsidiary or agent must satisfactorily demonstrate the service
Expiration or cancellation of the headquarters’ recognition automatically invalidates the recognition of all agents or subsidiaries. Cancellation of a single agent’s or subsidiary’s recognition, does not automatically invalidate either the headquarters’ recognition or the recognition of any of the remaining agents or subsidiaries.
A Company with one location, that provides material and labor to perform services worldwide, need only be recognized once by the ABS office in that location. All ABS offices will recognize the Company’s recognition. It is not necessary for the Company’s team performing the service to be separately recognized again by the ABS office in each location where they work.
What are the basic requirements to be recognized
While not required a documented Quality Assurance system complying with the ISO 9001 standard or equivalent may be considered acceptable to ABS and expedite the approval process. The following general requirements and documents are to be submitted for review:
a) Outline of the company’s organization and management structure, including subsidiaries to be included in the approval
b) A list of nominated agents
c) The experience of the company in the specialty for which approval is sought
d) A list of operators, technicians, and inspectors documenting training and experience within the relevant specialty, which includes their qualifications according to recognized national, international, or industry standards, as applicable
e) A description of equipment to be used for the particular specialty for which approval is sought
f) A guide for operators of such equipment
g) Check lists and means for recording results of the specialties
h) A Quality Manual and/or documented procedures covering minimum requirements as follows:
i) Code of conduct for the relevant activity
ii) Maintenance and calibration of equipment
iii) Training programs for operators, technicians and inspectors
iv) Supervision and verification of operations to ensure compliance with the approved operational procedures
v) Recording and reporting of information
vi) Quality management of subsidiaries and agents
vii) Job preparation
viii) Periodic review of work process procedures, complaints, and corrective actions
ix) Maintenance and control of documents
i) Any evidence of approval or acceptance by other bodies
j) Information on the other activities that may present a conflict of interest
k) Record of customer claims and of corrective actions requested by certification bodies
l) List and documentation of licenses granted by equipment’s manufacturer, as applicable
In general, the External Specialist shall demonstrate competence and the control needed to perform the specialties for which approval is sought. The External Specialist is responsible for the qualification and training of its personnel to a recognized national, international, or industry standard, as applicable. Where such standards do not exist, the External Specialist is to define standards for the training and qualification of its personnel relevant to the functions each is authorized to perform. Personnel shall also have adequate experience and be familiar with the operation of any necessary equipment. Operators, technicians, and inspectors shall have had a minimum of one-year tutored, on-the-job training
Can a Recognized specialist use the ABS logo.
An External Specialist is a person or company not employed by ABS who acts at the request of an equipment manufacturer, shipyard, vessel’s owner or other client in connection with supporting classification or statutory survey work. External Specialists include all who provide supporting information upon which ABS Surveyors may make a judgment related to classification or statutory services. External Specialists are not employees of ABS, therefore ABS does not allow External Specialists to display an ABS logo. Both ABS and the ABS Eagle are registered trademarks of ABS. These logos are widely used in official ABS documentation and marketing materials, including ABS Certificates, ABS advertisements, ABS brochures and the ABS website. An External Specialist's unauthorized use of the logo is an infringement of ABS's Copyright under 17 U.S.C. § Section 101 et seq.
May I have Individual recognition
Generally speaking, we do not recognize individuals, we recognize companies and their processes, including training and certification. Any technician presenting himself to do work, must also have some form of identification and certification issued by the company.
