The U.S. Coast Guard issued Marine Safety Alert (Alert01-11) because the PSC Officers had been discovering Fuel Oil Quick-Closing Valves (QCVs) intentionally blocked, modified, and poorly maintained preventing them from operating as designed during an emergency.

The U.S. Coast Guard strongly recommends that owners/operators, vessel engineers, PSCOs, Class society and other machinery space inspection personnel ensure:
a) The QCV operating system is capable of remotely closing all valves as designed; some systems close valves sequentially and others simultaneously.
b) There is maintenance plan in place including technical manuals containing diagrams and information that describe the system components, required spare parts, operation, maintenance and repair.
c) That all engine department personnel can identify the location of each valve, the respective remote closure and how to close them locally and remotely in an emergency.

Note: During Coast Guard PSC Exams, vessel engineers should be able to explain maintenance requirements of the system, and provide operational test and maintenance records. Engineers should be able to describe how test the valves, reset them after closure, and understand their operational importance.


For any questions about the above, please contact:

NIPPON KAIJI KYOKAI (ClassNK)
Survey Department, Administration Center, Head Office
Address: 4-7 Kioi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8567, Japan
Tel.: +81-3-5226-2027 / 2028
Fax: +81-3-5226-2029
E-mail: svd@classnk.or.jp

Attachment:
1. MARINE SAFETY ALERT (Alert01-11)