The inspecting group for the engineering department should conduct a critical and thorough inspection of the machinery and equipment under the cognizance of the department. The condition sheets supplied by the type commander serve as a guide and a checkoff list in making the inspection. Appropriate remarks, comments, and recommendations are entered on the condition sheets for any particular unit of machinery or equipment.

The inspectors should conduct the inspection together with the ships personnel. No attempt must be made to follow a predetermined inspec-tion schedule, but different units should be inspected as they are made available by the ships company. If the ship is prepared for the inspec-tion, there should be no delay between the inspec-tion of the different units of machinery. It is not necessary that all machinery of one type be inspected simultaneously nor is it necessary to complete the inspection of one space before going to another.

Important items to be covered by the inspec-tion are indicated below:

1. All opened machinery and equipment is carefully inspected, especially where the need of repair work is indicated on the work list.

2. Investigations are made to locate any defects, in addition to those already known, that may exist in material condition or design.

3. Operational tests of machinery and equip-ment conducted in accordance with the furnished list.

4. Electrical equipment is not endangered by saltwater from hatches, doors, or ventilation outlets. Possible leaks in piping flanges are checked.

5. Currently required firefighting and damage control equipment in the engineering space is installed and properly maintained in accordance with current directives.

6. Supports and running gear of heavy suspended material are inspected.

7. Hold-down bolts, plates, and other members of machinery foundations are inspected. Hammers may be used for sounding, and file scrapers may be used for removing paint in order to disclose any condition of metal corrosion.

8. Condition sheets are checked to see that all the required information has been filled in by the ship being inspected, and that all items have been checked off and filled in by the inspector.

9. Routine tests of mechanical and electrical safety devices are observed to ensure that they are being conducted according to current directives.

10. Maintenance records and reports are care-fully inspected to see that they are maintained in accordance with prescribed procedures. A check is made to ensure that all known repair re-quirements are listed.