Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU CIC on Stability in General
Several serious incidents have initiated CICs from the major port states. The CIC on Stability in General by the Paris and Tokyo MoUs will be carried out from 1 September to 30 November 2021. The Black Sea, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, Riyadh and Vina del Mar MoUs will join this initiative, whereby the Caribbean MoU, US Coast Guard and AMSA have their own CIC or local inspection campaigns. Paris MoU and Tokyo MoU CIC on Stability in General
The common CIC on Stability in General was developed by the Paris and Tokyo MoUs and scheduled for 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was postponed for one year. The motivation for the CIC on Stability in General is several serious incidents due to incorrect ship loading conditions or missing intact stability documentation on board.
There was a similar Paris MoU CIC on Tanker Damage Stability in 2010, where the main focus was on the IMO stability requirements for tankers. Therefore, for the upcoming CIC, the focus will be set on the stability booklet and loading computer. It should be assumed that the attending Port State Control Officer (PSCO) will evaluate whether the Master and responsible officers are well trained and familiarized with the systems provided on board.
The CIC will be included in the routine PSC inspections in the period from September to November 2021. The focus on the special topic is carried out on a common additional checklist for every PSCO.
Any deficiencies found during the CIC on Stability in General will be reported in the PSC inspection report with the related PSC Code. we assume the questionnaire (expected to be published at the beginning of August) items used by the PSCO will mainly relate to operational issues and the familiarization of these by the Master and officers. During the inspection, PSCOs might ask to show and explain the stability calculation for the current voyage and if approved conditions of stability are available.
Finally, all stability-related deficiencies mostly affect the Safety Management System (SMS) and can trigger an ISM related deficiency, especially if they are numerous or reoccurring. Therefore, for deficiencies found during this CIC, a specific ISM-related item might be part of the final checklist for the CIC.