The Assembly
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Assembly - IMO Resolution A.883(21) – Global and Uniform Implementation of the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) – (Adopted on 25 November 1999) - The Assembly

The Assembly

 RECALLING Article 15(j) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Assembly in relation to regulations and guidelines concerning maritime safety and the prevention and control of marine pollution from ships,

 RECALLING ALSO that the International Conference on the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification, 1988 (1988 HSSC Conference), adopted the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (1988 SOLAS Protocol), and the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (1988 Load Line Protocol) which introduce, inter alia, the harmonized system of survey and certification under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (1974 SOLAS Convention) and the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (1966 Load Line Convention),

 NOTING that the 1988 SOLAS and Load Line Protocols are due to enter into force on 3 February 2000, resulting in the harmonized system of survey and certification taking effect as from that date with respect to ships entitled to fly the flag of States Parties to the 1988 SOLAS and Load Line Protocols,

  • NOTING ALSO that, by the resolutions given below, amendments have been adopted to introduce the harmonized system of survey and certification in the following instruments:

  • (a) Annexes I and II of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL 73/78), by Resolution MEPC.39(29);

  • (b) the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code), by resolutions MEPC.40(29) and MSC.16(58);

  • (c) the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code), by resolution MSC.17(58); and

  • (d) the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code), by resolutions MEPC.41(29) and MSC.18(58),

 NOTING FURTHER that the aforementioned amendments to the above instruments will also enter into force on 3 February 2000, and that

  • (a) amendments to MARPOL 73/78, the IBC Code and BCH Code will take effect with respect to ships entitled to fly the flags of States Parties to MARPOL 73/78; and

  • (b) amendments to the IBC Code and the IGC Code will take effect with respect to ships entitled to fly the flags of States the Governments of which are Contracting Governments of the 1974 SOLAS Convention,

irrespective of whether or not they are also Parties to the 1988 SOLAS and Load Line Protocols,

 BEING DESIROUS that all States apply a single and uniform system of survey and certification to all types of ships entitled to fly their flags,

 RECOGNIZING the need for the change-over from the existing system of survey and certification to the harmonized system in a uniform manner,

 RECALLING Resolution A.718(17) on Early implementation of the harmonized system of survey and certification, which encourages States to introduce the harmonized system of survey and certification prior to the entry into force of the 1988 SOLAS and Load Line Protocols,

 BEING CONVINCED that the harmonized system of survey and certification is at least equivalent to the system prescribed in the existing SOLAS and Load Line Conventions,

 BELIEVING that the implementation of a single and uniform system of survey and certification could best be achieved through the introduction of the harmonized system of survey and certification also by States which are not Parties to the 1988 SOLAS and Load Line Protocols, as equivalent to the existing system,

 BELIEVING ALSO that the global and uniform implementation of the harmonized system of survey and certification by all States could avoid possible problems or confusion by contributing to the determination of the duration and validity of certificates issued,

 HAVING CONSIDERED the recommendations made by the Maritime Safety Committee at its seventy-first session and by the Marine Environment Protection Committee at its forty-third session,

  1. INVITES States to introduce the harmonized system of survey and certification in the manner provided for in annex 1 to the present resolution;

  2. AGREES that States which are Contracting Governments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention and the 1966 Load Line Convention, but not Parties to the 1988 SOLAS and Load Line Protocols, may:

  • (a) implement the harmonized system of survey and certification as from 3 February 2000; and

  • (b) issue certificates in the form prescribed by the 1988 SOLAS and Load Line Protocols as modified in accordance with annex 2 to the present resolution;

  3. INVITES port States, whether or not they are Parties to the 1988 SOLAS and Load Line Protocols, to accept the certificates issued in accordance with paragraph 1 above as equivalent to the certificates issued under the SOLAS and Load Line Convention or Protocols in force for those States;

  4. REQUESTS Governments that implement the harmonized system of survey and certification in accordance with the provisions of this resolution to inform the Secretary-General of their action and of the date when it will take effect;

  5. REQUESTS ALSO that the Secretary-General keep Governments informed of those Governments that are introducing the harmonized system of survey and certification in accordance with the provisions of this resolution;

  6. URGES States which have not yet become Party to the 1988 SOLAS and Load Line Protocols to do so as soon as possible.

Parent topic: IMO Resolution A.883(21) – Global and Uniform Implementation of the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) – (Adopted on 25 November 1999)
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