Technical inspection

Scope of technical inspection

Technical Inspection Council conducts technical inspection of:

• the structure of a ship and its hull, particularly in the aspects of its strength and stability;
• the structure of engine and boiler rooms and bunkers;
• safe clearance, freeboard, including minimum freeboard, as well as draught marks and draught scale;
• manoeuvrability;
• steering system;
• wheelhouse;
• meeting standards of safety regarding protection of water, air or protection against noise;
• electrical devices;
• equipment;
• meeting technical requirements in the scope of safety in a workplace;
• accommodations;
• fuel-powered heating, cooking and refrigeration equipment;
• liquefied gas system for domestic purposes.

While evaluating technical requirements necessary for the issuance of Community inland navigation certificate, one shall comply with the regulations stated in the first part of chapter 1 of annex no. 2 of European Parliament and Council directive 2006/87/WE of 12 December 2006 establishing technical requirements for inland waterway vessels and repealing Council Directive 82/714/EWG (Dz. U. EU L 389 of 12 December 2006, p.1, as amended), hereinafter referred to as “Directive”.

Technical requirements regarding:

• construction of vessels are defined by regulations of part I of chapter 3 of annex II to Directive;
• safe clearance, freeboard and draught scale are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 4 of annex II to Directive
• manoeuvrability are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 5 of annex II to Directive;
• steering system are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 6 of annex II to Directive;
• wheelhouse are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 7 of annex II to Directive;
• construction of machines are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 8 of annex II of Directive;
• emission of gas and dust pollutants from compression ignition engine are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 8a of annex II of Directive;
• electrical devices are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 9 of annex II of Directive;
• equipment are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 10 of annex II of Directive;
• safety in a workplace are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 11 of annex II of Directive;
• accommodations are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 12 of annex II of Directive;
• fuel-powered heating, cooking and refrigeration equipment are defined by regulations of pert II of chapter 13 of annex II of Directive;
• liquefied gas system for domestic purposes are defined by regulations of pert II of chapter 14 of annex II of Directive.

Technical requirements regarding:

• passenger ships are defined by regulations of part II of chapters 15 and 15a of annex II of Directive;
• vessels intended to be part of pushed or towed convoys and side-by-side formations are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 16 of annex II of Directive;
• floating equipment are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 17 of annex II of Directive;
• worksite crafts are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 18 of annex II of Directive;
• vessels navigating on zone 4 waterways are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 19 of annex II of Directive;
• recreational crafts are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 21 of annex II of Directive;
• stability of vessels carrying containers are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 22 of annex II of Directive;
• vessels longer than 110 meters are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 22a of annex II of Directive;
• high-speed vessels are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 22b of annex II of Directive;
• vessels’ equipment regarding crew are defined by regulations of part II of chapter 23 of annex II of Directive.

Technical requirements regarding:

• navigation lights are defined by regulations of parts I and II of Directive;
• the radar equipment are defined by regulations of parts III and V of annex IX of Directive;
• rate-of-turn indicators are defined by regulations of parts IV and V of annex IX of Directive.

Operator’s activity
According to the Article 34b(1)(2) of 21 December 2000 on inland navigation (Dz. U. of 2006, no. 123, item. 857 as amended) in order to issue the Community inland navigation certificate, a vessel referred to in Article 30 is a subject of technical inspection carried out at the request of the ship operator.
Technical inspection is carried out in order to determine if a vessel meets the technical requirements regarding shipbuilding, permanent mechanical equipment, equipment, manoeuvrability, the protection of water and air and protection against noise.

Ship operator submits an application to the Director of Inland Navigation Office for carrying out technical inspection of a vessel according to the pattern set out in annex no. 1 of Regulation of Minister of Infrastructure of May 26, 2010 on the way and scope of carrying out technical inspection, required documents and charges for inspection activities and the way of payment (Dz. U. no. 108, item 702) – the application form is available to download on our website in the folder “files to download”.

After performing inspection activities by inspection council or entity authorised to perform the activities regarding technical inspection of a vessel, on the basis of results of performed inspection activities, the council issues a certificate from the conducted inspection.

The operator attaches to the application certified copies of the following documents:

• ship registration document;
• tonnage certificate;
• previous safety document (Ship’s passport, Community Inland Navigation Certificate, Rhine Certificate, etc.);
• certification of ENI number assignment or representation that ENI number has been never assigned;
• classification certificate;
• stability information;
• description of steering system;
• drawings and information on steering controls and drive units;
• data about steering-apparatus;
• diagram of electrical system;
• description of the rate-of-turn regulator;
• instruction and maintenance manual of steering system;
• general drawings concerning the entire electrical system;
• switching diagrams for the main switchboard, the emergency switchboard and the distribution switchboard, together with the most important technical data such
• as the amperage and rated current of the protection and control devices;
• power data concerning the electrical machinery and equipment;
• types of cable and information on conductor cross-sections;
• power balance;
• insulation certificate;
• fire extinguisher inspection certificate;
• permanently installed fire-fighting system inspection certificate;
• lifting equipment inspection certificate;
• pressure vessel examination certificate;
• acceptance report of liquefied gas system and gas alarm system;
• vessel’s safety rota;
• installation and performance certificate for radar equipment and rate-of-turn indicators;
• engine homologation document;
• engine manufacturer’s instruction regarding monitoring elements and parameters of engine, essential in the aspect of exhaust emission;
• engine parameters protocol.

The abovementioned documents are required depending on the type and intended purpose of a vessel.
Inspection Council may require documents that were not mentioned above.
Ship operator presents the vessel for technical inspection in unladen, cleaned and equipped state.
During the inspection, ship operator shall provide any necessary assistance and also enable access to these parts of hull and fittings that are not directly accessible or visible.
After carrying out technical inspection an inspection certificate shall be issued.
Technical inspection certificate

Fees for inspection activities

Fees for particular inspection activities are defined in annex no. 3 of Regulation of Minister of Infrastructure of 26 May 2010 on the way and scope of carrying out technical inspection, required documents and fees for inspection activities and the way of payment (Dz. U. no. 108, item 702)
Table with fees for inspection activities is available below.

Table no. 1. fees for inspection activities

Table no. 2. correction indicator of fees for inspection activities

The amount of payment fees for inspection activities, calculated on the basis of table no.1, should be multiplied by appropriate correction indicator defined for particular type of vessel and the operating zone.