Under the new MLC 2006 which applies from August 2013, you’ve now got to do regular comprehensive documented testing of your ships drinking water supplies. The requirement can at first seem confusing due to the different requirements of the various rules/regulations & policies of Flag Administrations. The situation isn’t helped by the confusing way test kits are being offered to the market by various suppliers. We don’t understand why some companies seem to be making it so difficult for you to get your vessels compliant.

That’s why we’ve introduced DRINKSAFETM to offer you the “easy water testing” solution. Developed using feedback from a survey of 8000 marine decision makers, DRINKSAFETM is guaranteed to be the easiest kit to use, includes more tests than all other kits, and is guaranteed to meet all legislation & Class/Flag state requirements in a single kit. Easy!

MLC 2006 defines you must perform “frequent documented inspections”

World Health Organization Guidelines – “Source water is monitored at the port to ensure that water is safe. The ship’s master is responsible for operational monitoring: quality of source water: disinfectant residuals and pH (e.g., daily); microbial quality of treated water, particularly after maintenance or repairs. The frequency of monitoring should reflect the probable rate of change in water quality. For example, monitoring of drinking-water on ships may be more frequent when the ship is new or recently commissioned, with frequencies decreasing in the light of review of results. Similarly, if the ship’s water system has been out of control, monitoring following restoration of the system would be more frequent until it is verified that the system is clearly under control.”

ILO Convention 78 – “Physically check quality of water at random using different outlets.”

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) has issued urgent advice to shipowners to help them pre-empt port state control problems when the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) enters into force, on 20 August 2013.

“Regardless of the progress which may or may not have been made by a vessel’s flag state, ships are required to meet the standards in the Convention. ICS recommends you prepare a Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC) Part II before 20 August for all your ships, which will serve as evidence that YOUR ship meets MLC standards. To issue a DMLC you must of course have provided potable water test kits for your ships

Chlorine, pH, copper & iron – dissolve test tablet in ampoule of water, put in comparator then read level from the colour disc. EASY!
E-coli, Enterococci – dissolve test material water, incubate, beaker then test for fluorescence with UV lamp. EASY!
Total bacterial count – syringe sample onto petri dish, incubate, then count colonies. EASY!

Easiest & quickest test kit to use – GUARANTEED or your money back

• No glass ampoules to break
• No instruments to calibrate or calibration solutions
• No messy & difficult ‘Thio-bags’
• No need for sample dilution pots

Only Full Kit GUARANTEED to meet all legislation & Flag state requirements. More tests as standard than any other kit – lowest average cost per test
Whether you decide to buy Martek’s DRINKSAFETM or not, make sure you consider 3 critical things:

• Choose a test kit that s simple to understand and proven to be easy & quick to use
• Choose a test kit that’s guaranteed to meet all Flag State, MLC & WHO Guidelines for operational and source water testing including PH, turbidity & metak residues
• Choose a test kit with enough tests to do DAILY water testing at multiple outlets as per WHO & ILO guidelines

If any company tells you those three things aren’t necessary, tell them they are wrong – they’re just trying to get you to buy what they want to sell!