OVID inspection guide: OVIQ4 preparation for offshore vessels

• DP and station keeping: annual DP trials, FMEA kept current, capability plots for the operating area, DP log discipline.
• Lifting appliances: crane and winch certificates, NDT records, operator competence and maintenance. SOLAS II-1/3-13 lifting-appliance rules have been mandatory since 1 January 2026, so PSC and vetting inspectors both look at them.
• Towing and anchor handling: tow pins and shark jaws maintained, girting procedures, tow wire management and discard criteria.
• Deck cargo and bulk tanks: securing arrangements, bulk system ventilation and sampling, mud and brine tank entry.
• Safety on board: stop-work authority actually used, toolbox talks recorded, permits for the high-risk jobs offshore vessels do every day.
• Crew competence: familiarisation for this vessel type, junior officers ready for interview, good handovers at crew change.

1. Leadership and commitment
2. Risk management
3. Competence and training
4. Recruitment and selection
5. Vessel operations
6. Maintenance and reliability
7. Management of change
8. Incident investigation
9. Emergency preparedness
10. Measurement and analysis
11. Audits and assurance
12. Contractor and interface management
13. Documentation and information

The inspector expects what happens on deck to match what the operator’s OVMSA says — especially risk management, management of change and emergency preparedness for the vessel’s real operations (man overboard, DP loss, tow failure).

Emergency scenarios should be drilled for the work you actually do, on top of the SOLAS minimums — see drill intervals. Long DP shifts and night operations make rest hours a frequent finding — see the rest-hour rules.