Answer
PMS is a systematic method of planning, scheduling, carrying out, recording and reviewing maintenance of shipboard machinery and equipment so that machinery remains reliable, statutory/class requirements are complied with, breakdowns are minimized and safe operation of the ship is maintained.
Why PMS is Necessary
- Statutory & Mandatory Compliance: Required under ISM Code Element 10 (Maintenance of the Ship and Equipment). A non-compliant PMS triggers major ISM audit non-conformities and Port State Control (PSC) detentions.
- Seaworthiness & Reliability: Ensures critical machinery (steering gear, emergency generators, main propulsion) remains functional, preventing sudden operational failures at sea.
- Classification & Machinery Surveys: Enables Class schemes such as Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) or Machinery Survey Scheme (PMS-CMS), allowing Class surveyors to credit surveys based on shipboard PMS records.
- Commercial & Vetting Performance: High-quality PMS logs satisfy vetting inspections (e.g., SIRE 2.0, RIGHTSHIP) and reduce off-hire time, engine downtime, and overall operational expenditure (OPEX).
What the Chief Engineer Audits in the PMS
- Overdue & Pending Critical Jobs: Prioritizes safety-critical items (e.g., quick-closing valves, trip alarms, standby pump auto-starts, emergency equipment).
- Running Hour Accuracy: Cross-checks logged engine running hours against physical counter readings in the engine room.
- Spare Parts Inventory Reconciliation: Ensures minimum mandatory Class and critical operational spares (piston rings, fuel injectors, pump seals) are physically present before clearing jobs.
- Maintenance History & Trending: Reviews clearance measurements (piston ring gaps, bearing clearances, liner wear, deflection logs) to detect abnormal degradation patterns.
- Job Quality & Crew Sign-offs: Verifies that maintenance logs contain actual measured parameters and calibration records rather than generic "checked OK" entries.