Ensuring compliance with gas detection regulations

It is not enough to simply provide testing equipment as part of the personal protective safety equipment for your crew members. In order to comply with the regulations, adequate testing instruments should be supplied which form part of the ship’s equipment. The testing instruments must be maintained accordingly & calibration is a requirement, as prescribed by gas detector manufacturers’ instructions.

It’s also essential to put procedures in place to test enclosed spaces from outside the confined space prior to entry, for flammable gasses or vapours, carbon monoxide, as well as hydrogen sulphide and every ship is to carry at least one portable atmosphere testing instrument.

A logistical nightmare: traditional methods of gas detector calibration

Calibration of gas detectors has traditionally been the bane of many a ship’s crew. Firstly, there were expensive logistical challenges to content with, as until recently, detectors had to be sent off to land based facilities for testing, costing upwards of $500 per detector and sometimes this also involved complex swap-out schemes, or the need to purchase more detectors than required.
Detectors would often get lost, or damaged in transit, or the delivery would miss the ship leading to safety and compliance issues and sometimes heavy fines too.

Furthermore, there was the issue of expensive and inefficient calibration gas replenishment. Can you imagine trying to hit a moving target? Well, that’s the exact challenge faced with calibration gas supply to ships and often gas deliveries would not make it to the ship on time, causing even further issues.

The A-B-C™ “Always Be Calibrated” Solution

QUICK ONBOARD SELF-CERTIFICATION – Bump test in just 30 seconds & produce INSTANT certificates acceptable to Class, Port State Control and Oil Majors at the touch of a button. Ensure COMPLIANCE with regulations & eliminate logistical challenges associated with calibration ashore.

COMPLETE SOLUTION – System includes portable quad gas detector & self-calibration/selfcertification station. Upgrade includes Tankscape, for inerted cargo tank gas detection.

INCLUSIVE TRAINING – SIMPLE, step-by-step video instructions on the set-up, use and calibration of equipment are provided.

What Our Customers Say

“The logistics of on-shore calibration and record keeping meant high cost and inconvenience. Authorities want a document showing calibration done…the equipment bought from Martek can do calibration and print certificates.”

– Mohammad Hoque, PIL UK Ltd

“We had difficulties arranging calibration at remote ports, and with span gas testing because of the various different make detectors on-board – not to mention the cost of these services. The A-B-C™ solution resolved all of our difficulties and offered huge savings.”

– Murali Kodi, Campbell Shipping

“Being able to calibrate our own detectors on-board rather than sending them ashorehas saved us thousands of dollars, many man hours and removed a logistical andadministrative headache.”

– John Samonas, John Samonas & Sons

“Positive feedback from vetting inspectors is that calibrations can be demonstrated immediately on-board with an audit trail of certificates. The ability to test to consistent standards without human error provides higher levels of safety assurance, too.”

– Hakan Hassleberg, Wisby Ship Management AB