4.19 Communication between Administration and the Submitter
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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 - 4.19 Communication between Administration and the Submitter

4.19 Communication between Administration and the Submitter

  4.19.1 Throughout the process, continuous communication between the Administration and the Submitter is important. As seen from the discussions in this section the process requires the Administration and the Submitter to work together on a number of occasions:

  • .1 design preview: In order to decide whether the alternative and/or equivalency requires observance of the approval process as outlined in this document or whether a conventional process can be followed, the Administration and the Submitter will need to meet and discuss the preliminary design developed by the Submitter;

  • .2 definition of approval basis: In order to define the approval basis, the Administration and the Submitter will need to meet one or several times to discuss the concept, applicable codes/standards/rules/etc., plans for risk assessments (including decision of which evaluation criteria to utilize) and plans for testing and engineering analyses. The definition of evaluation criteria may require additional meetings with the Administration to discuss and evaluate the selected criteria;

  • .3 monitoring of analysis of Preliminary design: the Administration may participate in the HazId for all alternative and/or equivalency designs. Furthermore, if a risk assessment and an identification of risk control options are agreed at this stage between the Administration and the Submitter, the Administration may monitor the activities of the Submitter;

  • .4 review of analysis of Preliminary design: The Administration reviews the results of the analyses for the Preliminary design;

  • .5 approval of Preliminary design: The preliminary approval will be given with a set of conditions that are to be met to achieve full approval. The Administration and the Submitter need to arrange a meeting to discuss the steps forward in the process;

  • .6 update of approval basis: In order to consider the results of the analyses performed for the preliminary design and the information provided by the specific design in the further risk analysis process, the approval basis is updated;

  • .7 review of analysis of Final design: The Administration reviews and eventually evaluates the necessary risk assessments necessary to satisfy the conditions outlined in the approval for the preliminary design;

  • .8 definition of detailed requirements: There may be a need to arrange a meeting to discuss the final design and results from the risk assessments and to further detail or revise the conditions given together for the approval of the final design;

  • .9 review of approval tests and analyses: The Submitter submits the required documentation and evidence of the testing and analyses to the Administration. Whether or not a meeting is required depends on the complexity of the testing and analyses; and

  • .10 final Approval: The approval certificate may be issued with some additional conditions assigned, such as additional survey scope and frequency, condition monitoring, or requirements related to maintenance and inspection. There should be a meeting between the Administration and the Submitter when issuing the approval certificate. During this phase, there may be a need for additional documents and drawings to be submitted to the Administration.


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