Hi All
Just to add to this thread - the UK Marine and Coastguard Agency reported today in a Press Release dealing with detentions of foreign merchant shipping during January 2008:
Date & Place of detention: 07/01/2008 - Newcastle
Vessel Name: PIRGOS (General Cargo)
GT: 10,230
IMO No: 7924839
Flag: St Vincent and Grenadines
Company: Ribex Maritime Ltd
Classification Society: Lloyds Register of Shipping (LR)
Recognised Organisation: Lloyds Register of Shipping (LR)
Summary: 32 deficiencies in total (6 detainable). Detained because there was no effective transmission on the MF radio installation and the RT/DSC antenna was defective on Stbd VHF. The starboard lifeboat took 1 hour to lower and the port lifeboat had still not been able to be lowered by the end of the inspection. In addition the accommodation bulkhead No2 deck was corroded through and repaired with tape and the galley ventilators on Nos 1 & 2 decks were also corroded as were the bulkheads in the provisions and bosuns stores. Other deficiencies included - the fire and abandon ship drill was not according to the Safety Management System (SMS), the galley and the provision store were not hygienic and there was no hot water in the galley. It was also noted that the Master and Chief Engineer did not have their hours of rest recorded. The vessel was still detained at 31/01/2008.
http://www.mcga.gov.uk/c4mca/mcga-press-releases?id=9613723D5E00A79E&m=2&y=2008Regards