Russia’s Transport Ministry releases approval of service rules in merchant shipping
The Russian Ministry of Justice has registered the Order No. 224 of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation dated 06.04.2018 "On Approval of the Regulations of Service on Russian Federation Merchant Fleet", Rosmorrechflot said.
The standard of service on merchant vessel regulates the rights and duties of ship crew members, taking into account the shipowner's safety management system, and applies to vessels subject to provisions of SOLAS and STCW, 1978.
The document does not cover the fishing vessels, small-size vessels that are not engaged in commercial activities, to sport sailing and pleasure crafts. The provisions of the Regulations concern the following: the general duties of the ship's crew; organization of service on board; ship management; watchkeeping service (duties of a watchman, etc.); services on vessel (operation service, communication service, medical and sanitary service, etc.); ensuring of the vessel survivability (training of ship crews), inspection and maintenance of emergency and rescue equipment, etc.); daily routine service (ensuring vessel sanitary, daily routine, the order of food intake, etc.); rules for displaying Russian Federation flag, flags and pennants.
In addition, in accordance with the requirements of the Regulations, the shipowner should develop a list of procedures that establishes the order (vessel plan) of ship crew actions in emergency situations, which the shipowner considers the most dangerous. The procedures can be used as checklists.
Such procedures may include: dealing a collision incident; in case of stranding; in case of loss of controllability; fire / explosion procedure; in MOB situations; abandonment procedure; SaR procedure; etc.
A book containing such procedures should be available on the ship's bridge.
