INF-18-019

th
08 August 2018
INFORMATION LETTER
IMPORTANT

To: To the attention of All Masters KRBS Fleet, Management Companies and Training centers.

Subject: Drug & Alcohol Policy and watch keeping –

Forthcoming changes

MAIN TOPIC:
Violation of Drug and Alcohol policy results in violation of Safety and
environmental protection policy and damage to property, the environment
and exposes human life to threats.

Forthcoming SMS changes

1) Review SMS-A-01, 2. “DRUG & ALCOHOL POLICY”.

2) Review SMS-A-02, 3.3.2 “Control of Drug and Alcohol”
3) Review SMS-D-03, 6.2 “TAKING OVER THE NAVIGATION WATCH”
4) Review SMS-I-04 “Control of Drug and Alcohol”

5) The Drug & Alcohol Policy for ships is a mandatory regulation of STCW and an important
code of conduct, which is to be strictly followed by those working on ships. While some
seafarers are often in doubt regarding the consumption of alcohol allowed on ships, for others
it is just one of the several regulations of shipping.

6) According to shipping regulations, it’s compulsory for seafarers to follow the “Drug &
Alcohol Policy” of the shipping companies they work for. Consumption and possession of
drugs and other abused substances is strictly prohibited on all ships, however, permission to
consume alcohol on ships depends on the description in the company SMS manual, which
please review SMS-I-04.

7) Either ways there are strict restrictions on the amount and time of alcohol consumed on
ships. It is the duty of the captain to ensure that all crew members are aware of the
regulations mentioned in the “Drug and Alcohol Policy” followed on the ship.

8) The negligence by crew members may result the harm of the life whom would be involved
and damages to the peaceful life and nice environmental circumstances of the people at and
around the incident place.

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<Advisory to Master>
1. Master should control the consumption of the alcohol of all crew members on the vessel with
the assistance by the ship medical officer (2/O).
2. All crew’s understanding of “KRBS Drug & Alcohol policy” should be verified by Master by
the interview immediately upon the receipt of this letter and the results of each crew are to be
reported to S/I-in-Charge with cc: crewing group, manning company-in Charge and each SEP
team of your fleet. The same procedure is kept for joining crew in Crew change report. The
candidate of joining seafarer should declare the oath for the strict compliance of KRBS Drug &
Alcohol policy at the signing on the contract for the next ship.

< Recent Incident with vessel managed by our Group of Companies (under investigation)
(The reason of this issue)
The vessel, has grounded at the rocks in a sensitive Marine preservation area due to the negligence
of the watch-keeping by C/O, who was under influence of alcohol with Full speed of 14knots. The
depth of water at grounding point was 3.8 meters against 6.5 meters of the ship’s draft.
< Damages >
Shore and marine environment: The ship’s fuel oil was spilled on the nearest coastline. (About
100 people were involved in cleaning there.)Impact still to be estimated within next months.
Ship: The whole area of the ship’s bottom was severely damaged with the breach of Fuel oil tanks,
Bulbous bow, Water Ballast tanks, Bow thruster, the Main engine L.O. sump tank holed , several
cracks on the outer shell and severe dents of double bottom in aft part.
Image of the Company: Expected to be severely impacted

Luckily there was no human injury nor loss of life.

< Penalty & Fine >

C/O was caught by the local police at grounding position immediately. The investigation with the
test of drug and alcohol was done to him at the police station. The fine in cash was imposed on the
C/O according to the judgement. He has paid it and been released from the police station.
The reason of this fine is “ABUSE OF ALCOHOL” and “CARELESSNESS” at sea of OOW.

< The counter-measure provided by ship Management Company of the grounded vessel>
1. Dry ship = No alcohol on board…The perfect prohibition of the alcohol consumption is
instructed to the Master and crew members of their fleet vessels.
2. The regular alcohol test to crew members. (At random in the past)

Needless to say, this serious incident will require additional countermeasures and revision of
existing practices and policies.

SMS revisions as outlined in Main Topic, will be published in shortly with KRBS official
letter

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Damage to the nature around the incident point of the ship aground in National reserve

Oil reached to the shore is being cleaned by the Coast Guard and volunteers

Oily sea water collection by the local Coast Guard boat

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 No professional seafarer or shipping company would like to be associated with such
pictures

For Masters preliminary information and explicit attention

(This circular is electronically generated and signature is not required)

Capt. K. Tokuda
Director of Ship management

Cc: Stargate Shipmanagement GmbH, KRBS Makuhari, KRBS-ROHQ

Cc: Manning companies concerned

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