Implementation of a Computerized Compliance Management System
By Hector V. In recent years, the emphasis in Maintenance Management has grown for various reasons, all very much related to the financial benefits that the owner of vessels and/or offshore installations will capture by paying much closer attention to Preventive maintenance than was normally contemplated in previous decades. The offshore oil field industry and ship owners/operators need to pay close attention to the development of international conventions containing regulations and classification society requirements regarding maintenance. Classification societies requirements to periodical surveys make possible to establish a survey arrangement for retention of class based on Planned Maintenance System (PMS) on board.
The Increasing Importance of Preventative Maintenance
The U.S. Coast Guard is adapting their compliance procedures to suit the recent IMO requirements. It is modifying their inspection requirements by implementing a USCG streamlined vessel inspection (SIP) scheme allowing vessel owner/operator inspections to replace certain regular inspections by the USCG, on the basis of an approved Maintenance Program. Likewise, Classification Societies (ABS, DNV and Lloyds) are accepting approved Preventive Maintenance Programs to replace special Continuous Machinery Surveys with only random inspections of such machinery. Additionally the format of the Preventive Maintenance Program is suitable to be used in conjunction with ISO 9000 certification.
