What are the surveys come under CSM and what machineries are not included in CSM? What is Continuous Survey of Machinery? If you own or operate a ship that is classed by a classification society, you may be familiar with the term Continuous Survey of Machinery (CSM). But what does it mean and why is it important?
What is Continuous Survey of Machinery?
CSM is a system that allows you to complete the special survey requirements of your ship’s machinery within a five-year period, instead of doing it all at once. This means that you can spread out the workload and the costs of opening up, inspecting, testing and repairing your machinery items over time.
The main benefits of CSM are:
– You can maintain your ship’s machinery in good condition and avoid major breakdowns or failures.
– You can reduce the downtime and disruption of your ship’s operations during surveys.
– You can plan ahead and schedule your surveys according to your ship’s availability and itinerary.
– You can reduce the risk of non-compliance with class rules and statutory regulations.
How does CSM work?
CSM is based on a systematic and reasonable approach to surveying your ship’s machinery. The classification society will approve a list of machinery items that are subject to CSM and divide them into five groups. Each group will be surveyed once every five years, so that approximately 20% of the machinery items are surveyed each year.
The survey cycle should ensure that the interval between consecutive examinations of each item does not exceed five years. The survey scope should cover all aspects of the machinery condition, such as:
– External examination
– Opening up inspection
– Operational test
– Performance measurement
– Lubricating oil analysis
– Condition monitoring
The classification society will also specify which items can be surveyed by the chief engineer of the ship under their supervision, and which items have to be surveyed by their surveyor. The chief engineer will have to submit a declaration of examination and a report of opening-up inspection for each item surveyed by them. The surveyor will then verify and credit the surveys during an annual audit.
What are the requirements for CSM?
To apply for CSM, you will have to submit a request to the classification society, along with a proposed arrangement and schedule of surveys. The classification society will review your request and approve it if it meets their criteria.
Some of the requirements for CSM are:
– Your ship should have a valid class certificate and comply with all applicable rules and regulations.
– Your ship should have a competent and qualified chief engineer who can perform the surveys under their supervision.
– Your ship should have adequate facilities and equipment for carrying out the surveys, such as tools, instruments, manuals, records, etc.
– Your ship should have a planned maintenance system (PMS) or a condition monitoring system (CMS) that covers all the machinery items subject to CSM.
– Your ship should follow the approved arrangement and schedule of surveys, and report any deviations or changes to the classification society.
– Your ship should cooperate with the classification society’s surveyor during the annual audit and any other surveys.
CSM is a flexible and convenient way to manage your ship’s machinery surveys. It can help you improve your ship’s performance, safety and reliability, while saving time and money. If you are interested in CSM, you can contact your classification society for more information and guidance.
CSM stands for Continuous Survey of Machinery, which is a program approved by classification societies to ensure that all machinery on ships are surveyed every five years. The surveys can be done by the chief engineer on board, under the supervision of the class surveyor, who will credit the surveys at an annual audit. The surveys can be done in rotation, over a number of annual cycles, to reduce the workload and costs for the owners and operators.
The surveys are intended to check the condition and performance of the machinery, and to detect any defects or damages that may affect the safety and efficiency of the ship. The surveys may involve physical opening up of the machinery, or alternative methods such as lubricating oil analysis or performance monitoring. The latter methods can be used to waive the internal inspection of some machinery, if the results indicate that they are in good condition.
The machinery that come under CSM include:
– Main propulsion machinery and associated systems
– Auxiliary engines and generators
– Boilers and steam systems
– Steering gear machinery
– Air compressors and receivers
– Refrigeration and air conditioning systems
– Pumps and valves
– Electrical equipment and systems
– Fire fighting equipment and systems
– Automation and control systems
The machinery that are not included in CSM are:
– Lifeboats and davits
– Anchor windlass and mooring winches
– Deck cranes and cargo handling equipment
– Emergency generator and batteries
– Navigation and communication equipment
These machinery are subject to other types of surveys, such as annual surveys, intermediate surveys, or renewal surveys, depending on their nature and importance.
CSM is a useful program that helps to maintain the machinery on ships in a safe and efficient manner. It also reduces the downtime and costs associated with major overhauls or repairs. By following the CSM guidelines, the ship owners and operators can ensure that their ships comply with the class rules and regulations, and avoid any penalties or detentions.
