COMDTINST 16710.92A
18 NOV 1988
5.
OVERSIGHT OF ABS INSPECTIONS.
a.
It is the responsibility of the OCMI to ensure that all necessary inspections prerequisite to
certification are satisfactorily completed, and to make all local level decisions regarding
interpretations or policy. The OCMI is responsible for developing a formal and effective
local program of oversight to ensure that ABS is performing inspections in accordance
with Coast Guard regulations and policy. The program should be written and issued by
the OCMI as a local directive or guide. It should be a document that supplements
reference (a) and this instruction, and should be developed in cooperation with the senior
ABS surveyor in the area. It should be sufficiently complete to address all foreseeable
oversight concerns.
b.
Oversight inspections may be conducted at any time during construction. These
inspections may consist of accompanying the ABS surveyor or may involve spot checking
the results of the surveyor's inspections after the fact. Any discrepancies or problems
detected during an oversight inspection are to be brought to the attention of ABS, and
ABS should be encouraged to resolve problems. Except in formal appeals (paragraph 8
below), direct Coast Guard intervention to resolve discrepancies or problems should only
be used when ABS does not resolve them to the Coast Guard's satisfaction. Any
outstanding requirements which remain at the time of certification by mutual agreement
between the OCMI and the ABS should be addressed by a Form CG-835 issued by the
OCMI.
c.
In order to allow the greatest amount of flexibility in conducting oversight inspections and
distribution of resources, the OCMI should consider the following guidance in developing
a plan for oversight:
(1) An overall average of 10 percent of the inspection performed solely by ABS under
reference (a) should be subject to oversight inspection. This percentage need not be
applied equally to each vessel, but is should be an average value for each inspection
zone. The number and extent of oversight inspections will vary from vessel to vessel
depending on the number and variety of vessels built in a particular inspection zone.
(2) The items to be inspected for oversight and the extent of the inspections should be of
sufficient variety and depth to determine that the applicable requirements of all laws
and regulations are satisfied.
(3) If discrepancies are found, the OCMI shall initiate action to correct them in the
manner discussed in subparagraph 5. b above and prevent their recurrence.
Commandant (G-MVI) is to be informed of significant problems encountered during
oversight inspections.
4
Previous Page
