4.7 Definition of Approval Basis Phase
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1455 – Guidelines for the Approval of Alternatives and Equivalents as Provided for in Various IMO Instruments – (24 June 2013) - Annex – Guidelines for the Approval of Alternatives and Equivalents as Provided for in Various IMO Instruments - 4 Process - 4.7 Definition of Approval Basis Phase

4.7 Definition of Approval Basis Phase

  4.7.1 Following the Preliminary design preview phase, the next phase is for the Administration to define the approval basis with respect to scope of analysis and evaluation criteria. In order to accomplish this, the Administration and the Submitter may have to meet one or several times to discuss the alternative and/or equivalency, its purpose and objectives, deviations from conventional approaches, relevant rules and regulations, possible deviations from or lack of rules and regulations, requirements that may not be covered by the rules, proposed operations and potential impact on other systems, components, etc. During this time, the alternative and/or equivalency will have to be well understood.

  4.7.2 The Submitter and the Administration may also discuss plans for hazard identification, risk assessments and plans for testing and analyses. The scope and extent of the analysis (either qualitative or quantitative analysis or both) to be performed in the Analysis of Preliminary design phase (see paragraph 4.5) is agreed between the Submitter and the Administration considering the requirements of the Submitter with respect to the soundness of the preliminary approval.

  4.7.3 A risk assessment plan should be developed to identify appropriate types of assessment techniques by Submitter. The plan should clearly state the proposed evaluation criteria and the basis for the criteria.

  4.7.4 A testing and analysis plan should be developed to identify appropriate types of test and engineering analyses by Submitter. This plan is only a preliminary plan, as it will most likely be revised following the results of the analysis for the preliminary design phase.

  4.7.5 The work performed within this phase will result in a document issued by the Administration describing the requirements and the formal process for achieving preliminary approval.


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