3 Application and Arrangements of the Guidelines
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Assembly - IMO Resolution A.1104(29) – Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC), 2015 – (Adopted on 2 December 2015) - Annex – Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC), 2015 - 3 Application and Arrangements of the Guidelines

3 Application and Arrangements of the Guidelines

 3.1 The guidelines provide a general framework upon which Administrations will be able to base their arrangements for carrying out surveys. It is recognized that survey provisions contained in the guidelines are not necessarily applicable to all types and sizes of ship.

 3.2 Whilst the guidelines are intended to cover instruments listed in 1.1, they should be applied, as appropriate, to drilling rigs and other platforms covered by MARPOL Annex I regulation 39 and Annex VI regulation 5.

 3.3 A description of the various types of survey is given in section 4 and, as shown on the contents page, this is followed by the detailed requirements for the various surveys for each of the certificates.

 3.4 When appropriate, the detailed requirements for the various surveys contain a section that is applicable to all cargo ships followed by a section that only applies to specific ship types.

 3.5 Whilst the Convention or Code references are included, where possible, it should be noted that, in general, it has not been possible to indicate where there are differing requirements dependent upon the ship's year of build. Consequently, care should be taken in applying specific requirements, particularly where there have been amendments that are only applicable to ships built after a certain date.

 3.6 Although also part of the requirements for the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate, a separate section is provided for inspection of the outside of the ship's bottom.

 3.7 SOLAS 74/88 regulation I/12(v) provides for a Cargo Ship Safety Certificate to be issued as an alternative to the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate and the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate. Consequently, the surveys for the issue and renewal of the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate should be in accordance with the certificates it replaces and, similarly, the annual and intermediate surveys should be the same as those required for the replaced certificates and the appropriate sections of the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate, endorsed accordingly.

 3.8 On the left-hand side of each item to be surveyed may be found two letters in brackets, the first indicating the certificate to which the survey relates, as follows:

  • (E) for the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate;
  • (C) for the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate;
  • (R) for the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate;
  • (L) for the International Load Line Certificate;
  • (O) for the International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate
  • (N) for the International Pollution Prevention Certificate for Carriage of Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk;
  • (S) for the International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate;
  • (A) for the International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate;
  • (D) for the International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk or the Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk;
  • (G) for the International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk;
  • (P) for the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate;

 and the second for the type of survey, as follows:

  • (I) for the initial survey;
  • (A) for the annual survey;
  • (In) for the intermediate survey;
  • (P) for the periodical survey;
  • (R) for the renewal survey;
  • (B) for inspection of the outside of the ship's bottom;
  • (Ad) for additional survey.

 Consequently, for example, "(EI)", "(OIn)" and "(PR)" indicate the initial survey for the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, the intermediate survey for the International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate and the renewal survey for the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate respectively.

 3.9 For the application of these guidelines, the following guidance on terms used in the survey requirements is provided:

  • .1 "Examining" except where used in "examining the plans" or "examining the design" should be understood as a thorough examination, using appropriate techniques, of the components, system or appliance in question for satisfactory provision, arrangement and condition and for any signs of defects, deterioration or damage;
  • .2 "Testing" should be understood as a functional test of the system or appliance in question, to confirm its satisfactory operation and performance for its intended use.

 3.10 The amplification of various terms and conditions is given in section 5.


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