4.4 Phases in the process
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
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 - 4.4 Phases in the process

4.4 Phases in the process

  4.4.1 The submission and approval process for an alternative and/or equivalency design should be clear, transparent and well described in order to avoid misinterpretations. In the following sections, the phases of the process outlined in figure 2 are described taking into account the roles of the Administration and the Submitter.

  4.4.2 The details of the process for an alternative and/or equivalency design depend also on the design process of the Submitter. The process shown in figure 2 was based on a design process covering preliminary and final design, both consecutively analyzed in the approval process. However, the Submitter may wish to carry out the approval process using a final design, i.e. without an analysis of a preliminary design. In such cases both parties may agree to skip the analysis of the Preliminary Design and adjust accordingly the approval process including the documentation of analyses. Independent of such details the approval process should consider among others the definition of the approval basis, the hazard identification, review of approval basis after HazId and quantitative risk assessment.

  4.4.3 Documentation and the exchange of documents between the Administration and the Submitter are highlighted in the description of each phase. Results of assessments need to be fully documented in a manner readily accessible to a third party. A description of the documentation requirements for the submission and approval process is provided in section 6 of this document.


Copyright 2022 Clasifications Register Group Limited, International Maritime Organization, International Labour Organization or Maritime and Coastguard Agency. All rights reserved. Clasifications Register Group Limited, its affiliates and subsidiaries and their respective officers, employees or agents are, individually and collectively, referred to in this clause as 'Clasifications Register'. Clasifications Register assumes no responsibility and shall not be liable to any person for any loss, damage or expense caused by reliance on the information or advice in this document or howsoever provided, unless that person has signed a contract with the relevant Clasifications Register entity for the provision of this information or advice and in that case any responsibility or liability is exclusively on the terms and conditions set out in that contract.