The Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding on port State control (IOMOU) held its eighteenth Committee meeting in Mauritius from the 25th – 28th of August, 2015. This meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Ocean Economy, Marine Resources, Fisheries, Shipping and Outer Islands.
IMOU announced that they will carry out CIC for Cargo securing in 2016. Though no further details are available at the moment, which shall be known in due course of time.
Similar CIC was conducted by different MOUs between March-May 2001. Lashing equipment was verified for compliance with SOLAS VI/5.6 and/or VII/6.6. Result from Paris MOU highlighted very important facts during that CIC.
The results highlighted the poor quality of the lashing material in use; lashings not carried out in accordance with the lashing plan, or the lashing plan not conforming to the Cargo Securing Manual. In addition to the usual PSC inspection, checks were carried out on specific items such as the Cargo Securing Manual (CSM), the lashing plan, the cargo deck area (deck fittings), cargo stowage and security, and the quality of the lashing materials in use. A total of 1072 inspections were made, with 16 detentions re cargo securing.
The results indicated the following:
31% of vessels had moderate to poor quality lashing materials, particularly twistlocks.
10% of vessels had lashing plans either not in accordance with the CSM and/or the cargo was not lashed as per lashing plan/CSM.
2% of vessels were not carrying an approved CSM. Authorities (Classification Societies) approving the CSM not always control if all cargoes that can be carried are included in the CSM.
The upcoming CIC will also be important as the container mandatory weighing will come in force from 01st July 2016.
