Almost all ocean going merchant ships are periodically inspected by flag state and/or their recognised

organisation under provisions of conventions such as SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Lines, MLC etc. to ensure
that they comply with respective Convention requirements. Deficiencies, when observed, are corrected
prior to endorsement of certificate issued under such Conventions. This enables ships to trade safely.

Such deficiencies are caused by permitting the status of ship’s hull, machinery, crew, life saving, fire fighting
or pollution prevention equipment to fall below the standards required by International Conventions. Often
these are due to long term neglect or mismanagement. However, more often it has been observed that
such deficiencies are found with items that are not used or examined by ships staff on regular basis e.g. fire
fighting and safety equipment (emergency fire pump, blower flaps etc.), emergency generator, structural
wastage, pollution prevention system etc. This type of problem is common due to the ship’s continual
operation and as a result ship staff’s priorities often lie with the cargo and main propulsion systems.

With the above in view the ship maintenance checklist was developed by IR Class (Indian Register of
Shipping to encourage ship staff for continued maintenance of such items. The Ship Maintenance Checklist
has now been revised and the enclosed Ship Maintenance Checklist includes latest amendments to
provisions under various Conventions such as GMDSS, Safety Management System under ISM Code,
guidelines received from various Port State Control Authorities etc.

The checklist has been compiled based on a computer database of various port state control detention
reports of Indian Ships. The database is created and being maintained by IR Class. Thus the checklist
reflects the types of deficiencies generally being found on Indian Ships by port state control regimes at
various parts of the globe.

It is anticipated that monthly verification of ship, its equipment and manning as per the checklist would
enable ship’s personnel and its owner to identify problem areas at an early stage and take necessary
corrective actions. The corrective action taken or initiated (such as ordering of spare parts) may be
recorded in brief in ‘Remarks’ column, whereas the ‘Findings’ column may be marked as satisfactory (Y); not
satisfactory (X) or not applicable (-).

The checklist would serve the dual purpose or record as well as identification of section/department
responsible for completing the corrective actions.

IRS believes use of this checklist with conscience would go a long way in maintaining ships at par with
international convention requirements and keeping ships away from port state control detention net and
associated loss of earning, high repair cost, detention cost and above all embarrassment.

The Checklist is a suggested tool for maintenance of ships and is not an IR Class requirement.

Should you have any comment or suggestion regarding this checklist please sent it to following
address:
Indian Register of Shipping
52/A, Adi Shankaracharya Marg,
Opp. Powai Lake, Powai, Mumbai
400 072. (INDIA)

Phone: 91-22-30519400
Fax No.: 91-22-25703611
e-mail: ho@irclass.org
website: www.irclass.org

While utmost care has been taken in the compilation of this booklet, neither Indian Register of Shipping nor any of
its officers, employees or agents shall be responsible or liable for any negligence or otherwise howsoever in
respect of any inaccuracy contained herein or omissions herefrom.

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