1.1 These Guidelines supersede the guidelines
adopted by resolution A.997(25),
as amended by resolution A.1020(26),
and resolution MEPC.180(59), and
take account of the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification
in the following instruments:
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.1 International Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS 1974) and as modified
by the Protocol of 1988 relating thereto, as amended (SOLAS 74/88);
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.2 International Convention on Load Lines, 1966
(LLC 1966) and as modified by the Protocol of
1988 relating thereto, as amended (LLC 66/88);
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.3 International Convention for the Prevention
of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978
relating thereto, and as further amended by the Protocol of 1997,
as amended (MARPOL);
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.4 International Code for the Construction and
Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk, as amended
(IBC Code);
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.5 International Code for the Construction and
Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk, as amended (IGC Code);
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.6 Code for the Construction and Equipment of
Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk, as amended (BCH Code).
1.2 These Guidelines take into account amendments
to statutory instruments which have entered into force up to and including
31 December 2013 (see appendix 1)
and contain the following:
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.1 Survey Guidelines under the 1974
SOLAS Convention, as modified by the Protocol of 1988 relating thereto
(annex 1);
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.2 Survey Guidelines under the 1966
Load Line Convention, as modified by the Protocol of 1988 relating
thereto (annex 2);
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.3 Survey Guidelines under the MARPOL
Convention (annex 3); and
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.4 Survey Guidelines under mandatory
Codes (annex 4).
1.3 The harmonized system, a diagrammatic
arrangement of which is given in appendix
2, provides for:
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.1 a one-year standard interval between surveys,
based on initial, annual, intermediate, periodical and renewal surveys,
as appropriate, except for MARPOL Annex IV which
is based on initial and renewal surveys;
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.2 a scheme providing the necessary flexibility
to execute each survey, with provision for:
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.1 completion of the renewal survey within 3 months
before the expiry date of the existing certificate with no loss of
its period of validity; and
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.2 a "time window" of 6 months – from 3
months before to 3 months after the anniversary date of the certificate
for annual, intermediate and periodical surveys;
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.3 a maximum period of validity of five years
for all cargo ship certificates;
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.4 a maximum period of validity of 12 months for
the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate;
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.5 a system for the extension of certificates
limited to three months, enabling a ship to complete its voyage, or
one month for ships engaged on short voyages;
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.6 when an extension has been granted, the period
of validity of the new certificate starting from the expiry date of
the existing certificate before its extension;
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.7 a flexible system for inspection of the outside
of the ship's bottom on the following conditions:
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.1 a minimum of two inspections during any five-year
period of validity of the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate
or the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate; and
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.2 the interval between any two such inspections
should not exceed 36 months;
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.8 a Cargo Ship Safety Certificate under SOLAS 74/88, as an alternative to separate Cargo
Ship Safety Construction, Cargo Ship Safety Equipment and Cargo Ship
Safety Radio Certificates;
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.9 a flexible system concerning the frequency
and the period of validity of certificates, subject to the minimum
pattern of surveys being maintained.
1.4 In implementing the harmonized system,
the following principal changes made to the survey and certification
requirements of SOLAS 74/88 have been taken
into account:
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.1 unscheduled inspections are no longer included
and annual surveys are mandatory for cargo ships;
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.2 intervals between the periodical surveys of
equipment covered by the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate are
alternately two and three years instead of two years;
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.3 intermediate surveys are required for all ships
under the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate;
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.4 inspection of the outside of the ship's bottom
is required for all cargo ships;
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.5 intermediate surveys for the Cargo Ship Safety
Construction Certificate are held within three months of either the
second or third anniversary date;
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.6 all cargo ship certificates may be issued for
any period of validity up to and including five years;
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.7 there is provision for a Cargo Ship Safety
Certificate;
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.8 the extension provisions have been reduced
from five months to three months to enable a ship to complete its
voyage and the extension for one month for a period of grace is limited
to ships engaged on short voyages.
1.5 With regard to LLC
66/88, the principal changes to the requirements for survey
and certification are the introduction of similar extension provisions
(see 1.4.8) and linking of the period of validity of the new certificate
to the expiry date of the previous certificate (see 1.3.6).
1.6 With regard to MARPOL and the IBC, IGC and
BCH Codes, the main changes are the linking of the period of validity
of the new certificate to the expiry date of the previous certificate
(see 1.3.6), the holding of the intermediate survey within three months
of the second or third anniversary date and the introduction of the
same extension provisions (see 1.4.8).