Ship Departure Checklist Template
Comply with regulations and keep your crew and vessel safe by performing pre-departure inspections with a checklist.
SIRE Inspection Report Programme Template
Follow the VIQ questionnaire from the OCIMF's SIRE Program to promote your ship's safety.
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What is a Ship Checklist?
A ship checklist is a tool that mariners use to ensure the safety of a vessel and that its safety equipment is in place before leaving port. Such a ship checklist will guide you on how to prepare well pre-departure, as it lists actions still to be performed before departure, while at sea, and before the arrival to a new port.
But a ship checklist is not merely a preparatory tool: It can also be employed in order to conduct risk assessments, establish preventive measures or investigate when accidents do happen after all. With a checklist in place, ship safety officers can find out what issues are, where a problem started, and if there are safety measures that have perhaps been overlooked.
As a third component, aside from identifying risk hazards onboard, the checklist also includes how cleanliness should be maintained in every part of the vessel.
In short, a ship checklist is a versatile and necessary document that ensures the health and safety of all crew members and the success of operations, by encompassing three main sections:
- Preparation
- Risk Assessment
- Maintenance
In this article, you will learn:
1. Which Elements Your Ship Checklist Should Include
2. How Arrival And Departure Checklists Should Be Structured
3. Why Ship Checklists Are Important
4. How A Digital Checklist Maker Can Support Your Voyages
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Three Main Elements To Include In a Ship Pre-Departure Checklist?
Before leaving for a voyage, review the things that you will need and the actions that still need to be performed before leaving port. Depending on the purpose of your journey, the components of the list will vary, however, there are three main elements that should be paid attention to and ticked off the checklist before every sea voyage, regardless of the journey’s purpose.
- Check the weather forecast
In order to know what you can expect during your time out at sea, it is important to check the weather forecast. Of course, the weather is often unpredictable and subject to change, but being prepared for rough conditions if they have been forecast will facilitate your travels, preparations and calculations. - Check the boat condition
Before every journey you should inspect your vessel to ensure its seaworthiness. In regular intervals you should also perform SIRE inspections to ensure maximum maritime safety. Some of the critical things to pay attention to at every inspection are the hulls, electrical system and lights, steering and throttle controls, as well as the propulsion and cooling systems.
Tanks, carburetors, and fuel lines should also be double-checked for any leaks. Further, it is necessary to ensure that the oil and fuel levels are adequate and that the filters and spark plugs have been changed. - Check the safety equipment
In order to ensure the health and safety of your crewmates. There should be enough life jackets, flotation devices, and lifeboats available which need to be in good condition, be of the correct size and equipped with all the necessary safety and emergency items.However, only having safety equipment on board is not enough. The crew and everyone on board should be aware of where to find them in case of an emergency. Other safety checks to look out for are:
- All safety paraphernalia are in good condition and accessible
- You have a first aid kit, basic tools, spare parts, plugs for all through-hull fittings
- You have official nautical charts
- The engine shut off line is in good order
- You must have one anchor attached to an anchor line
- Have two fenders for docking
- The dock line and anchor must be in good condition
- Let passengers know proper docking procedures
- General preparations
- Keep the weight low and balance the weight of people and gear
- There must be proof of competency onboard
- Know the location of local hazards and expected water level tides
- Leave a float plan
- Run blowers for at least four minutes before you start the engine. There should be no smell of fume
- Check the airflow
- Bring flashlight
- Navigation lights are in correct positions and working properly
The Contents of Arrival & Departure Checklists
In order to not only make sure everything that is necessary is aboard and that the safety of crew and passengers is provided for, it is also imperative that you comply with both local and international regulations in all ports. This is specifically what departure and arrival are for:
DEPARTURE CHECKLIST
There are multiple areas that need to be covered by a departure checklist relating to topics such as navigation/communication, documentation or general safety. Questions you should ask yourself include but are not limited to:
- Are all crew members oriented on their duties aboard the vessel?
- Is the crew list complete?
- Do you have permission to depart?
- Is the inter-ship communication working?
- Are radars and other equipment working?
- Is vessel’s draft recorded in logbook?
- Is steering gear tested?
- Are emergency lights working properly?
- Are watertight doors and hatches secured?
- Has proper PPE been ensured for staff operating mooring lines?
ARRIVAL CHECKLIST
Just as a departure has to be prepared for, the arrival checklist is as vital to ensure proper procedures when landing at a seaport. Ask yourself the following questions when approaching a port:
- Has the receiving port been informed of arrival 3 days in advance?
- Is all information gathered that port authorities require?
- Is inter-ship communication working?
- Have wind changes been anticipated?
- Have mooring lines, cables and straps been secured?
- Has the crew been briefed on mooring duties?
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5 Reasons Why Arrival and Departure Checklists Are Important
Safety at sea and preparation is very important and one must not be complacent when it comes to boat safety. Always refer to your ship checklist and make sure you have everything. The arrival and departure checklists are especially crucial whenever you set out to sea, for reasons such as:
1. SECURITY AND SAFETY
A ship checklist helps your crew ensure a safe departure and arrival of the vessel. Serving as a guide, the checklist includes what steps the crew must take to keep the ship, its crew, and passengers safe at all times.
Having a checklist is essential for preparedness to leave. Both the deck and engine departments must prepare everything for a safe journey. The crew must be aware how to berth the ship and move the cargo which can prevent confusion and facilitate proper unloading of cargoes.
Failure to complete the arrival checklist can cause problems. You will meet difficulties in sailing and maneuvering into the receiving port.
2. PREVENT DAMAGES
A checklist contains instructions on what to do before departures and includes steps for checking for the smell of fume or an insufficient amount of fuel as both can cause accidents.
3. TIMELY DEPARTURE AND ARRIVAL
Performing a pre-departure or arrival check will prevent delays. Discovery of an engine problem, for example, would require fixing it first before leaving, which could seriously delay your journey.
Inspect the ship hours before departure. This will guarantee that you depart on time and arrive at your destination at the expected arrival time.
4. INCREASES EFFICIENCY
Prepare in advance for the ship’s arrival. This will result in hassle-free unloading of cargoes. Passengers can disembark smoothly and all operations can come to a close for the time being.
5. AVOID EXTRA COSTS
Delays in the arrival of a ship can result in extra costs since a ship that arrives late has to wait for space where it can maneuver into. Such a delay means that the vessel consumes more fuel than it should.
In other cases, the use of a charter boat has a time limit that should be adhered to. A delay of only a couple of hours could mean extra costs as you will likely have to pay the corresponding fees for the extra hours.
With an arrival or departure ship checklist, you can ensure a safe and prompt trip so that your ship, crew and services can earn and maintain a good reputation with customers and clients.
Smooth Sailing With A Digital Checklist Software
With Lumiform’s audit app you can easily perform a multitude of safety and quality inspections on the go from your smartphone or tablet – online or offline, onboard or offboard. Create checklists for your ship’s arrival and departure and perform safety inspections in order to reduce errors and threats and ensure your vessel’s seaworthiness.
- Lumiform offers youmore than 10,000 ready-made templates to choose from, so that you can take your ship checklists digital in the blink of an eye.
- If you prefer to create your own checklists, Lumiform’s unique form builder helps you convert any paper based checklists into a digital format within minutes.
- With Lumiform’s easy-to-use mobile app you and your crew can perform all kinds of inspections with ease and save time and money.
- Comprehensive and automated analyses help you uncover any threats to crew, processes and passengers so that you can rectify errors fast, comply with regulations and concentrate on captaining your ship.
Robyn Neath
Robyn started her writing career after receiving her screenwriting diploma from InFocus Film School in Vancouver, BC. She has since worked for esteemed sports, casting, and news organizations. When she isn’t concentrating on generating content with Lumiform, she enjoys working on her sitcom scripts and entering them into writing competitions. She has a strong interest in the arts, and can usually be found re-watching Frasier or stumbling her way through The New York Times daily crossword.
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FAQs
What are the safety requirements for a ship? ›
Personal protective equipment includes safety helmets, shoes, goggles, ear-muffs, safety harness, life-jackets, life rafts, etc., which is used to safeguard the individual seafarer from any harm. This equipment is mandatory for ships to ensure that there are no fatalities due to lack of life-saving appliances.
What is ship checklist? ›Also called pre-arrival and pre-departure checklists, these are tools used by mariners before, during, and after arrival or departure at ports. They help mariners, especially those in the bridge and engineering team, ensure that a ship is ready to dock at ports or is seaworthy before departure for the next destination.
What safety equipment is required on your boat and must appear as an item on your pre departure checklist? ›Check your vessel and equipment.
Know where important equipment is located, such as life jackets or throwable flotation devices, a horn or sound-producing device, fire extinguishers, a carbon monoxide detector, and flares or other visual distress signals.
- Always wear your seatbelt when in a vehicle or heavy equipment. ...
- Always inspect equipment and tools. ...
- Always use fall protection when working at heights. ...
- Stay of out the blind spots of heavy equipment. ...
- Never put yourself in the line of fire.
Ship shore safety checklist is join list provided by the terminal and which is signed by a ship and a terminal representative; Appropriate personal notified that the cargo operation are about to commence.
What is code 30 in port State control? ›CODE 30. Definition: Ground for detention. Application: this code is used to indicate the deficiency which is the ground for detention of a ship.
What is code 17 in port State control? ›To be rectified before departure (code 17) Used for a deficiency which: should be rectified before the ship sails but is not serious enough to warrant detention, or/and can reasonably be rectified before the ship sails.
What is the first thing port state inspector should inspect? ›1) PSC Inspector checks the general appearance and cleanliness of the ship. He can randomly check the garbage bins to get an idea weather garbage management plan is being followed onboard or not.
What is a basic checklist? ›A simple checklist template is any kind of process or list of tasks arranged in the form of a checklist; in other words, it's a to-do list where the order of tasks is usually important.
What should a checklist include? ›- Give a name to your checklist. The name of the checklist represents the purpose and use of creating it.
- Date / Date range. ...
- Add tasks in your checklist. ...
- Continue repeating for every task.
What is an example of checklist? ›
A checklist is a type of job aid used in repetitive tasks to reduce failure by compensating for potential limits of human memory and attention. It helps to ensure consistency and completeness in carrying out a task. A basic example is the "to do list".
What is the most important rule of boat safety? ›One of the most important parts of boating safety is to know the rules and to use your common sense. This means operating at a safe speed at all times, especially in crowded areas. Be alert at all times, and steer clear of large vessels and watercraft that can be restricted in their ability to stop or turn.
What tools should be on every boat? ›- Pliers. Make sure you have a good pair of pliers on board that will resist corrosion and rust. ...
- Extra Drain Plugs. ...
- Multi-Tool. ...
- Wrenches and Screwdrivers. ...
- Flashlight or Marine Light. ...
- Extra Flashlight Batteries and Spark Plugs. ...
- Duct Tape. ...
- Tie Wraps.
Boats 16ft to Less Than 26ft
Recreational boats must carry Coast Guard approved Personal Flotation Devices, in good and serviceable condition, and of appropriate size for the intended user.
- 1: Don't talk to Strangers. ...
- 2: Cross the Street with Adult Supervision. ...
- 3: Never Play with Fire. ...
- 4: Be Safety Conscious While Going to School. ...
- 5: Be Safety at Home. ...
- 6: Be Safety Smart While Doing Chores. ...
- 7: Play Safety. ...
- 8: Safety on the Road.
According to workers comp law firm in Clearwater, while workplace safety is complex, Abrams explains the tenets of his approach in what he describes as the four Ps: Positive, Proactive, Preventative, and Predictive.
What are the six golden rules of safety? ›Some Golden Rules for Making Golden Safety Rules:
Consult, Communicate, communicate, communicate, educate and ensure ALL understand. They must be very relevant to the actual workplace. They should cover high risks and situations or behaviours that can cause serious harm. Responsibilities must be clearly defined.
Code R stands for Re-check. These are the items that need to be checked at regular interval. For example, item 1 requires the vessel to check the Gangway and as this is a Code "R" item, the vessel needs to check the gangway at regular interval.
What are the 4 elements of a risk assessment onboard ship? ›- Identification of hazards.
- Assessment of the risks concerned.
- Application of controls to reduce the risks.
- Monitoring of the effectiveness of the controls.
P – in the case of a negative answer, the operation should not be carried out without the permission of the Port Authority. R – indicates items to be re-checked at intervals not exceeding that agreed in the declaration. 1. There is safe access between the ship and shore.
Can flag state detain a ship? ›
In Article 97(3) a limitation is imposed on territorial enforcement, in relation to high seas conduct: “no arrest or detention of the ship, even as a measure of investigation, shall be ordered by any authorities other than those of the flag state”.
What is code 17 PSC inspection? ›Code 17 deficiencies require quick action. The deficiencies need to be closed before departure from the port. But that is not the case with other deficiencies such as code 15 (to be rectified before departure from next port) or code 18 (to be rectified within 3 months).
What is code 15 in PSC inspection? ›To be rectified at next port (code 15)
This action requires that the deficiency is rectified at the next port. It is possible that the repair work or delivery of equipment may take place during the ship's stay in that port.
For example, a braking system may be hydraulic. A safety requirement may be met by a combination of safety functions, and these may be implemented in systems of different technologies – for example, a software-based system along with management procedures, checklists, and validation procedures for using it.
What are Solas requirements for ships? ›Under the regulation, ships should have adequate strength, integrity and stability to minimize the risk of loss of the ship or pollution to the marine environment due to structural failure, including collapse, resulting in flooding or loss of watertight integrity.
What are list of requirements for safe work? ›- Always be aware of your surroundings.
- Ensure you have the correct posture for back and neck protection.
- Make sure you take regular breaks.
- Always operate machines, tools and other equipment properly.
- Always ensure emergency exits are clear and accessible.
- Report hazards to your supervisor.
1 Ship reporting systems contribute to safety of life at sea, safety and efficiency of navigation and/or protection of the marine environment.