My Perspective Changed While Preparing for Vessel Inspections
When I first started studying vessel inspections, I assumed that surveyors were mainly looking for physical deficiencies.
Corrosion.
Oil leakage.
Structural damage.
Defective equipment.
As a marine engineer, that seemed logical.
After all, ships are built from steel, machinery, and systems.
However, the more inspection reports I reviewed and the more I studied modern inspection frameworks such as RightShip RISQ and SIRE 2.0, the more I realized that experienced inspectors are often evaluating something else entirely.
They are evaluating people.
Before Opening the CSR, Surveyors Are Already Observing
Many junior officers assume the inspection starts when the surveyor begins reviewing certificates.
In reality, the assessment often starts much earlier.
The moment an inspector steps onto the gangway, several questions are already forming:
- Does the vessel appear professionally managed?
- Is housekeeping maintained?
- Are safety arrangements properly rigged?
- Do crew members seem familiar with their duties?
- Does the vessel demonstrate pride in maintenance?
These observations are not written directly in a checklist.
Yet experienced inspectors often develop an initial impression within minutes.
The Engine Room Usually Tells a Story
As an engineer, I naturally pay close attention to machinery spaces.
One thing I learned over the years is that machinery condition rarely exists in isolation.
A surveyor can often identify management standards simply by observing:
Tank Top Condition
Is oil leakage being cleaned and investigated?
Or has it become part of everyday operations?
Temporary Repairs
Are they genuinely temporary?
Or have they become permanent solutions?
Housekeeping Standards
Are tools, spare parts, and work areas properly organized?
Equipment Integrity
Does the actual condition match the maintenance records?
The objective is not to find a single defect.
The objective is to understand the vessel’s maintenance culture.
Conversations Often Reveal More Than Certificates
One of the most valuable parts of any inspection is speaking with the people responsible for operating the vessel.
Particularly:
- Chief Engineer
- First Engineer
- Master
- Chief Officer
- Cargo Engineer
A well-managed vessel usually has officers who understand their systems without needing to search through manuals for every answer.
When discussing PMS implementation, maintenance history, or operational procedures, experienced officers can normally explain:
- Why maintenance was performed
- What challenges currently exist
- What corrective actions have been taken
The discussion feels natural because they understand the systems they operate.
A Real Lesson From a BWTS Inspection Case
One example that stayed with me involved a Ballast Water Treatment System.
The vessel itself had no major equipment failure.
The system was functioning normally.
During the inspection, however, an inspector reviewed the BWTS alarm history and identified a recurring alarm.
Technically, the alarm was not abnormal.
It appeared during a specific ballast transfer operation whenever certain valves were opened and closed under particular operating conditions.
The system was behaving exactly as designed.
The problem appeared when the inspector asked questions.
The responsible officers could not clearly explain:
- Why the alarm occurred
- Under what circumstances it appeared
- Whether it represented a risk
- Why the crew considered it acceptable
At that point, the discussion was no longer about the equipment.
It became a discussion about competence.
The inspector was not concerned because the alarm existed.
The inspector was concerned because the people operating the system did not fully understand it.
Why Modern Inspections Are Changing
Historically, inspections focused heavily on physical defects.
Today, many vessels are equipped with highly advanced technology:
- Ballast Water Treatment Systems
- Scrubbers
- Relic
- High Voltage Networks
- Energy Efficiency Systems
- Integrated Automation Platforms
In many cases, the technology itself is extremely reliable.
The larger risk is often human interaction with that technology.
This is one reason why modern inspection programs increasingly assess:
- Crew Familiarity
- Operational Knowledge
- Decision Making
- Safety Culture
- System Understanding
rather than focusing exclusively on equipment condition.
The Shift Toward Human Factors
One trend I continue to observe is that the industry is gradually moving from equipment-centered inspections toward human-centered risk assessment.
A defective pump can be repaired.
A leaking valve can be replaced.
Corroded steel can be renewed.
However, a lack of understanding among key personnel can affect every system onboard.
For this reason, inspectors increasingly ask questions such as:
- Can the officer explain the system?
- Can the officer explain recent alarms?
- Can the officer describe emergency procedures?
- Can the officer explain why a particular operation is performed?
The answers often reveal far more than the equipment itself.
What Surveyors Are Really Trying to Determine
In my opinion, experienced surveyors are ultimately trying to answer one simple question:
Is this vessel being professionally managed?
The certificates provide part of the answer.
The machinery provides another part.
But the crew often provides the most important part.
A vessel may have excellent equipment and valid certificates.
Yet if key personnel cannot demonstrate familiarity with the systems they operate, concerns naturally arise.
That reality is becoming increasingly visible in modern inspection programs.
Final Thoughts
When I first began studying vessel inspections, I believed technical deficiencies would be the primary focus.
Today, I see things differently.
Equipment condition remains important.
But many modern inspections are increasingly focused on the people behind the equipment.
The vessel’s maintenance culture, crew familiarity, operational knowledge, and management standards often determine the overall outcome of an inspection.
In many cases, the first ten minutes onboard reveal far more than the first ten certificates.
