The main challenge for Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM) maintenance is establishing effective systems in the supply chain, says Yuvraj Thakur, IHM General Manager, Verifavia Shipping
[ds_preview]Many voiced concerns over IHM preparation/certification capacities. How did it turn out towards the deadline?
Yuvraj Thakur: Few providers of IHM services, have previously reported that only 30–40 % of the world market had completed and prepared its IHM certification by the end of 2020. At Verifavia, we’ve worked with almost 90 shipowners to ensure that they were preparing an IHM for all vessels throughout 2020. Compared to activity in 2020, numbers for IHM preparation have certainly reduced and we are experiencing a far bigger drive to organise the ongoing IHM maintenance aspect of the regulation, with the majority of the regulated industry already having completed or are in process of completing the initial IHM.
In October 2020, the European Commission extended the deadline for IHM preparation for six months after the 31 December 2020 deadline (i.e. until 30 June 2021) in relation to specific Covid-19-related scenarios. However, the owner still needs to provide evidence that all possible measures were taken to undertake the work and achieve the required certification.
What are the most common issues around certification and maintenance?
Thakur: In 2020, the main challenge for IHM preparation and certification was getting an inspector onboard vessels during the pandemic. An experienced IHM surveyor is needed to ensure the preparation process is accurate and effective; this is not a task for the crew. Due to Covid-19, travel restrictions impacted the necessary surveys. However, having local Hazmat experts around the world ensured our 800+ vessel surveys were all completed onboard by highly-qualified professionals with seafaring experience.
The main challenge for IHM maintenance is establishing effective systems in the supply chain. A lot of organisations do not have accurate procurement systems. We have seen a significant digital push over the last year which has helped ensure IHM maintenance is a smooth and efficient process. Shipowners and managers have also had to make decisions on whether IHM maintenance should be outsourced or maintained in-house.
At Verifavia, we use a digital real-time platform which can be connected to any system. There are real risks of vessel detention if the IHM is not maintained accurately, so outsourcing this ensures you have access to experienced and reliable teams to support compliance and guarantee confidence in shipping operations.
However, a digital solution for IHM alone can never replace the need for marine knowledge and a genuine understanding of vessel operations and safety. When it comes to IHM, all hazmat experts are not equal – a maritime background that starts with education and training, developed by spending years onboard a vessel is essential to the delivery of a service that ship owners and operators can identify with and trust.
How does IHM maintenance actually work, could you describe the process?
Thakur: It is a detailed and time consuming process, involving a multitude of organisations. IHM certificates must be constantly up-to-date, requiring input from equipment suppliers, shipowners and class societies. A simple and reliable digital solution ensures efficiency and accuracy, and also helps to facilitate the renewal survey which is required every five years.
The process itself involves suppliers listing all materials in their own and sub-supplier’s products, and providing a Supplier’s Declaration of Conformity and Material Declaration along with purchase orders. The ship owner is responsible for keeping this up to date with any repair or conversion, painting or hull coating, or any machinery replaced, removed or added to.
456 maintenance dashboard, is one of the industry’s first online platforms providing shipowners, superintendents, vessels, and even Port State Control (PSC) and class with live access to the IHM maintenance status of the vessel. The dashboard can be connected to any procurement system, as well as the suppliers‘ data portal, and can function on IHM Part 1 prepared by any service provider across the globe. The system can automatically generate monthly or ad-hoc IHM maintenance reports to demonstrate implementation and compliance with regulations, and ensures vessels are prepared for PSC inspections.
What is the experience so far regarding IHM and port state control?
Answered by Alexander Schepers (SMS Bereederung), Verifavia’s Commercial Partner in Germany: Due to Covid-19, the total number of PSC inspections has come down by about 25–30 % on average. However, the industry is seeing that the quota of detentions has remained stable. They seem to be targeting specific vessels.
We are certainly seeing that PSC is starting to ask questions about IHM, and we only expect this to increase. Normally, when new regulation comes into force, PSC make a concentrated inspection campaign. Given the European Commission’s extension to June 2021, we expect to see – particularly for European PSC – a concentrated effort to target IHM later this year.
We are seeing that all relevant parties such as class and flag are encouraging owners to ensure the IHM certificates are in order, so that evidence and documentation is clear in case of inspection. Interview: Felix Selzer
