At an appropriate time prior to the date of the inspection, the chief inspector will furnish the ship with advance instructions. These instructions will include:

1. List of machinery and major equipment to be opened for inspection. The limit that a unit of machinery or equipment should be opened is that which is necessary to reveal known or probable defects. The units selected to be opened should be representative and, in case of a multiple-shaft ship, should not disable more than one-half of the propulsion units. Proper con-sideration must be given to the ships operational schedule and safety.

2. List of equipment to be operated. Auxiliary machinery such as the anchor windlass, winches, and steering gear are normally placed on this list.

3. Copies of the condition sheets. These are checkoff lists which are used for the material inspection.

4. Any additional instructions considered necessary by the type commander or other higher authority.

Each department must prepare work lists showing the items of work to be accomplished and the recommended means for accomplishment (shipyard, tender or repair ship, or ships force during an overhaul or upkeep period.) The items are arranged in the recommended order of impor-tance and numbered. A list of the outstanding alterations is also made up for the inspection.

Work lists usually consist of 5 by 8 cards, with one repair or alteration item on each card. The work list should include all maintenance and repair items, because if material deficiencies are found during the inspection they will be checked against the work list. If the item does not appear on the work list, a discrepancy in maintaining the required records will be noted by the inspector.

CONDITION SHEETS.Condition sheets are made up in accordance with the needs of the different material groups. The engineering depart-ment is primarily concerned with the machinery, the electrical, the damage control, and the hull condition sheets. Condition sheets contain checkoff sheets and material data sheets, and con-sist of a large number of pages. Items for data and checkoff purposes are listed for all parts of the ship, and for all machinery and equipment on board ship.

In advance of inspection, the ship to be inspected must fill in a preliminary copy of the condition sheets. In order to do this, detailed data is obtained from the maintenance records and reports.

An entry for any known fault or abnormal condition of the machinery or equipment is made in the proper place on the condition sheets. Details and information are given, as necessary, to indicate the material condition to the inspecting party. If corrective work is required in connec-tion with a unit or space, a reference is made to the work list item. Data and information requested in the condition sheets should be furnished whenever possible. The preliminary copy, if properly filled out, represents the best estimate of the existing material condition of the ship.

When the condition sheets have been completed, they are turned over to the respective members of the inspecting party upon their arrival on board ship. During the inspection, the inspectors fill in the various checkoff sections of the condition sheets. These sheets are then used to prepare the final inspection report on the condition of the ship.

For more detailed information concerning a ship, you should obtain a copy of the applicable condition sheets from the engineering log room.

OPENING MACHINERY FOR INSPECTION. The ship will open machinery as previously directed by the chief inspector, in order to obtain the inspectors opinion concerning known or probable defects. The information given in Naval Ships Technical Manual, chapter 090, is used as a guide in opening particular machinery units. More detailed information on opening machinery for material inspections is found in the administrative letters of the type commander.

A list of machinery, tanks, and major equipment opened, and the extent of opening, should be supplied to the inspecting party on its arrival.

Test reports on samples of lubricating oil should be furnished to the machinery inspector.

Ships company should have portable extension lights rigged up and in readiness for the units of machinery opened up for inspection. The lighting of the space should be in good order. The inspectors should be furnished flashlights, chipping hammers, file scrapers, and similar items. Precision measuring instruments should be readily available.

ASSEMBLY OF RECORDS AND REPORTS.The material inspection also includes an inspection of various material records and reports. These documents are assembled so as to be readily available for inspection. Records must be kept up to date at all times; it is a good idea to check over all records to make sure that they ARE up to date and that nothing has been overlooked. The individual records should be filled out and maintained in accordance with cur-rent directives. Where applicable, the petty officer in charge of an engineering space should check all records or reports that concern the material or the maintenance procedures of that space.