Welcome to BOB POLIAKOFF's website.
Ship/Marine Surveyor and Technical/Regulatory Consultant
INTEGRITY ♦ KNOWLEDGE ♦ EXPERIENCE
Engineering background, former USMM Master
About 40 years in the marine industries
Over 20 years as surveyor / consultant
(brief CV below)
Thanks for visiting.
♦
♦
NEVER
FORGET!!
♦
"A ship in harbor is safe---but that is not what ships are for."
-John A. Shedd-
♦
Do it the right way the first time!
Comply with the laws, keep sailing, and make more money.
You're going to have to anyway - the only question is
how much it costs you before you do.
♦
♦
For current MARSEC Level and much other important info, click on the USCG seal.
♦
Comments always welcome: shipbob@aol.com
♦
My job is to provide
HONEST, ACCURATE, DETAILED RESULTS
Welcome and thanks for visiting. I hope you find this site helpful, keep the link, and send it to your friends and associates. My job is helping good people in the shipping industry (home of Murphy's Law). I make sure I understand the laws, their "real world" applications, and the "hands-on" methods of complying and help good shipping people keep earning money and get/stay off the list of targeted entities. I also am quite experienced in honest, accurate, and detailed accident investigations, on/off charter and pre-purchase surveys and give darn good advice based on accurate knowledge.
I stay up-to-date on IMO Resolutions, laws, etc. as well as US laws applicable to ships and port facilities.
I support the US Coast Guard and other knowledgeable and professional Port State Control and law enforcement agencies and maintain good relationships with those I deal with.
On the other hand, when Port State Control agencies erroneously charge a ship with an infraction, I counter them with the applicable laws.
♦
HELPING KNOWLEDGEABLE SHIP OWNERS, BUYERS, CHARTERERS, SHIPPERS, AND
FACILITIES SAVE AND MAKE MONEY FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
(There are some interesting pictures throughout this page.)
♦♦♦ TEMPLATES available to select entities
(Note: My primary areas of knowledge are those that concern dry cargo ships, tugs, and barges.)
For many required plans and manuals. All written by me"from scratch" and final products from these templates have been approved. All are written to comply with both the intent and the letter of the law.(See farther down on this page. Please contact me by email.)
Please scroll down.
TEMPLATES or finished plans (all written to comply with both the intent and the letter of the law):
- Ship Security Plans (ISPS/MTSA)
- Safety Management Systems (ISM)
- Non-Tank Vessel Response Plans (USCG doesn't have guidance for final approval as of 11 December 2009.)
- Cargo Securing Manuals (with ship-specific acceleration tables)
- PowerPoint instruction & refresher presentations
"NEW" FACILITY SECURITY PLANS
NON TANK VESSEL RESPONSE PLANS, GUIDANCE, TRAINING
ISM & ISPS: Easy to use ship - specific systems with training. Systems can be hard copy, digital, or "hybrid". Approval guaranteed in that I work with the inspecting organization, modifying any elements as required (at no extra charge).
SHIP - SPECIFIC MANUALS and SYSTEMS:
NON TANK VESSEL RESPONSE PLANS, GUIDANCE, TRAINING; SOPEP; CARGO SECURING MANUALS (with ship-specific acceleration tables); SHIPBOARD INSTRUCTION MANUALS (SOLAS Training Manual); SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (ISM); SHIP SECURITY PLANS (ISPS).
Note: All templates for manuals, plans, and systems that I provide were written by me "from scratch" and the final products have always been approved by the appropriate authorities. The templates are modified to be ship and company specific in accordance with existing laws. All manuals and plans are guaranteed in that I will modify them as required until first approval by authorities at no extra charge.
♦♦♦
"FAILURE TO PREPARE IS PREPARING TO FAIL."
Miami, FL, USA
305-495-1760
Comments most welcome! (or just say hello)
(Please feel free to email questions to me. I won't reveal the sources of the questions although I may set up a separate article with questions and answers.)
♦ ♦
SHAME ON IMO! Page 3
(Keep scrolling down. I maintain items of interest for all of us on this
↓and the other pages of this site.)↓
♦
♦
DON'T GUESS!
ASK SOMEONE WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS!
(The authorities may differ with your opinion of what the laws say and mean - and the authorities will prevail if they're right. The simplest way isn't always the right way - and you will have to do it the right way in the end.)
♦
♦
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
About Bob
I have been a part of the maritime industries for almost 40 years, starting out (after college and stints in engineering and air freight) as a young "hard hat" diver, then superintendent (marine construction and salvage), tug captain, ship's officer and master, then consultant and surveyor to the shipping industry. I have always conducted my efforts with integrity and knowledge, staying apprised of the many regulations applicable to our industry with IMO software, hard copy publications, and the many internet - accessible regulations such as the US Code of Federal Regulations. I have never "put my hand under the table" and never will. I cooperate with the USCG and other authorities and put the legitimate interests of my clients first and foremost in my efforts. I am proud of my record and offer the following services with successful experience in each:
(Note: My primary areas of knowledge are those that concern dry cargo ships, tugs, and barges.)
REAL Ship Surveys & Management
in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. I actually
bother to buy the books and software and LEARN them. I enjoy a
good relationship with USCG - because I do it right and by
the book. I provide REAL, usable Safety Management Systems
(ISM Code) and Ship Security Plans (ISPS) and teach folks how to
use them the RIGHT way so they can stay out of trouble and keep
sailing. I'm not one of the phony paperslingers.
I HELP YOU MAKE MONEY THE RIGHT WAY. That simple.
SURVEYS:
STATUTORY SURVEYS and CERTIFICATES (several flags, non-IACS,"by-the-book" ); PRE-PURCHASE; ON/OFF CHARTER; DAMAGE; CARGO; LOAD and STOW, including yachts for transport aboard ships and barges; TRIP and TOW; CONDITION; PSC RESPONSE.
SHIP - SPECIFIC MANUALS and SYSTEMS:
NON TANK VESSEL RESPONSE PLANS, GUIDANCE, TRAINING; SOPEP; CARGO SECURING MANUALS (with ship-specific acceleration tables); SHIPBOARD INSTRUCTION MANUALS (SOLAS Training Manual); SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (ISM); SHIP SECURITY PLANS (ISPS).
Note: All templates for manuals, plans, and systems that I provide were written by me "from scratch" and the final products have always been approved by the appropriate authorities. The templates are modified to be ship and company specific in accordance with existing laws. All manuals and plans are guaranteed in that I will modify them as required until first approval by authorities at no extra charge.
SERVICES:
Accident investigation; Response to PSC actions; Shipyard/refitting consultation and supervision with item negotiation on behalf of owner; Officer and crew training in ISPS, ISM, drills, laws, etc.; Port Captain; Designated Person Ashore (ISM); Company Security Officer (ISPS); Operations; Ship Management, partial or full; Storm routing recommendations.
I make my living helping good people in the shipping industry.
I Look Forward To Hearing From You!
305-495-1760
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
HOW TO SCREW IT UP
(condensed version - for details, see Page 2 ):
- When planning to buy a ship, believe everything the seller tells you.
- Do not use a surveyor who actually knows what he/she is doing - you can do an inventory. Regulations, stability, deadweight, and all that other stuff are just malarky paperwork, anyway.
- Charter a ship without on-charter and off-charter surveys.
- Hang a junk flag on your new ship.
- Don't seek or follow the advice of a reputable consultant who actually knows what he/she is talking about. If anything, find somebody who will tell you what you want to hear.
- Use a statutory surveyor who will sign off on your mandatory certificates whether your ship is in compliance or not (and he/she probably doesn't really know the laws, anyway).
- Ignore IMO, Port State, and Flag State regulations.
- Use an agent of bad repute.
- Don't pay any bills you don't have to in order to sail.
- Ignore US Coast Guard Captain Of The Port orders.
- BY ALL MEANS, do everything for "show and tell" instead of really complying. Port State Control folks and knowledgeable surveyors and inspectors are way too dumb to figure it out. Yours might be the first ship they were ever on anyway, and they've never encountered anybody as smart as you.
- Don't worry about your ship's record in CGMIX/PSIX or EQUASIS. Nobody pays attention to that silly stuff.
- Interpret laws so that you think they're a little more in your favor. Coast Guard will change its policy.
- When there's a deadline for something such as NTVRPs and TWICs, postpone compliance assuming that the deadline is the date on which you should make preparations to comply and, if you're preparing, Coast Guard will cut you some slack.
♦
AltaVista - Conversion Calculator (excellent calculator from AltaVista)
♦
.jpg)
Ship's name of the eon!
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
♦
♦
WHAT WERE THEY (not) THINKING?
Copied with permission of the Law Offices of Countryman & McDaniel at www.CargoLaw.com (excellent website).
♦
Cool picture of an iceberg, compliments of Countryman & McDaniel
♦
