Whenever possible, the VSP staff shall conduct inspections of vessels being constructed or undergoing major retrofits upon the request of the vessel owner or operator.
12.11.1.2 Requesting Inspection
An official written request shall be submitted to the Chief, VSP, requesting a voluntary construction renovation inspection. CDC’s ability to honor these requests shall be based on the availability of VSP staff.
Construction / renovation inspections shall normally be conducted at the shipyard 4 to 6 weeks before completion. An additional inspection may also be conducted upon completion of the work and before the vessel enters operational status.
12.11.1.4 Construction Compliance
Construction/renovation inspections shall document the vessel’s compliance with CDC’s Vessel Sanitation Program Construction Guidelines, which provides a framework for consistency in the sanitary design, construction, and construction inspections of cruise vessels.
12.11.1.5 New Vessels
The CDC Vessel Sanitation Program Construction Guidelines shall apply to all new vessels in which the keel is laid after June 1, 2005.
A written report shall be issued by the VSP after a construction / renovation inspection. These reports shall summarize any changes recommended to ensure conformity with CDC guidelines.
12.11.2.2 Guides
The reports prepared by VSP personnel in the shipyards during construction shall be used as guides if VSP conducts a final construction / renovation inspection on the vessel before the vessel enters operational service.
12.11.2.3 No Score
No score shall be given for construction / renovation inspections.
12.12 Other Environmental Investigations
12.12.1 Procedures
12.12.1.1 Environmental Investigations
The VSP may conduct or coordinate other activities such as: investigating disease outbreaks; checking a specific condition such as halogen residual in the potable water distribution system; or investigating complaints of unsanitary conditions on a vessel.
12.12.1.2 Problems Noted
Public health problems noted during other environmental investigations shall be brought to the attention of the vessel’s master or designee when these investigations are performed.
12.12.1.3 No Score
There shall be no inspection score provided nor fee charged for other environmental investigations.
The VSP may grant a variance by modifying or waiving the requirements of this Operations Manual if in the opinion of the VSP a health hazard or nuisance will not result from the variance.
12.13.1.2 VSP Records
If a variance is granted, the VSP shall retain the information in its records for the vessel or, if applicable, multiple vessels.
12.13.1.3 Vessel Records
If a variance is granted, the vessel using the variance shall retain the information in its records for ready reference.
12.13.1.4 Existing Variances
If there are changes submitted for an existing approved variance or a new vessel is added to an existing approved variance, the entire variance will be reviewed.
If there is new technology or science that has been developed since the approval of a variance, that section of the variance where the new technology or science was developed will be reviewed.
12.13.2 Documentation
12.13.2.1 Detailed Justification
Before a variance from a requirement of this Operations Manual is approved, the information that shall be provided to the VSP by the person requesting the variance and retained in the VSP’s file on the vessel or vessels shall include
A statement of the proposed variance of the Operations Manual requirement citing relevant section numbers;
An analysis of the rationale for how the potential public health hazards and nuisances addressed by the relevant Operations Manual requirement will be alternatively addressed by the proposal;
If required, a HACCP plan, standard operating procedures, training plan and monitoring plan that includes all the information as it is relevant to the variance requested; and
Additional scientific data or other information as required to support the determination that public health will not be compromised by the proposal.
12.13.3 Conformance
12.13.3.1 Conformance
If the VSP grants a variance, the vessel shall
Comply with the HACCP plans, standard operating procedures, training plan, and monitoring plan that are submitted and approved as a basis for the modification or waiver; and
Maintain and provide to the VSP, upon request, records that demonstrate that procedures monitoring critical-control points are effective, monitoring of the critical-control points are routinely employed, necessary corrective actions are taken if there is failure at a critical-control points and periodic verification of the effectiveness of the operation or process protects public health.
12.13.3.2 Rescinding Variance
The variance approval may be rescinded at any time for noncompliance with these conditions or if it is determined that public health has the potential of being compromised.