“The current trend to remove these records has the potential to impact on the new owner’s ability to operate the vessel effectively on takeover,” said Helle Hammer, Chairman of IUMI’s political forum. “Without continuity of information, it could be some months before the new crew and management are fully familiar with the vessel and machinery plant. During this time, there is an increased risk of machinery breakdown leading to inability or impairment to navigate, fire and explosion, or personal injury from component failure. This, of course, affects the risk profile of the vessel.”
A position paper, released by IUMI, said that non-transfer and destruction of records is commonplace and the organisation questions why this practice is seemingly accepted by new owners. Failing to handover these important documents puts the incoming vessel managers, owners and underwriters at a serious disadvantage.
The paper cites a number of reported incidents. IUMI believed that insurers are being exposed to claims that could be avoided if adequate maintenance records had been provided. It said that a significant improvement to the vessel’s risk profile would be achieved by requiring the maintenance records, operating reports, and spares inventory to be part of the permanent service history of the ship and covered by the regulatory regime, possibly through additional clauses in the sale and purchase agreement.
However, IUMI said that it was not hopeful of achieving an early resolution to this ongoing issue despite having petitioned IACS, jointly with the Joint Hull Committee with a suggested rule change to require the maintenance of ship records as a condition of class.