Annex 7 - Procedures for Certification of a Company Engaged in Thickness Measurement of Hull Structures

1 Application

This guidance applies for certification of the company which intends to engage in the thickness measurement of hull structures of ships.

2 Procedures for certification

Submission of documents

2.1 The following documents should be submitted to an organization recognized by the Administration for approval:

.1 outline of the company, e.g., organization and management structure;
.2 experience of the company in thickness measurement of hull structures of ships;
.3 technicians' careers, i.e. experience of technicians as thickness measurement operators, technical knowledge and experience of hull structure, etc. Operators should be qualified according to a recognized industrial non-destructive test (NDT) standard;
.4 equipment used for thickness measurement such as ultrasonic testing machines and their maintenance/calibration procedures;
.5 a guide for thickness measurement operators;
.6 training programmes for technicians for thickness measurement;
.7 measurement record format in accordance with recommended procedures for thickness measurements (see annex 10). Recommended procedures for thickness measurements of double hull oil tankers are contained in annex 2.

Auditing of the company

2.2 Upon satisfactory review of the documents submitted, the company should be audited in order to ascertain that the company is duly organized and managed in accordance with the documents submitted and is capable of conducting thickness measurement of the hull structure of ships.

2.3 Certification is conditional upon an on-board demonstration of thickness measurement as well as satisfactory reporting.

3 Certification

3.1 Upon satisfactory results of both the audit of the company referred to in 2.2 and the demonstration tests referred to in 2.3, the Administration or organization recognized by the Administration should issue a certificate of approval as well as a notice to the effect that the thickness measurement operation system of the company has been certified.

3.2 Renewal/endorsement of the certificate should be carried out at intervals not exceeding three years by verification that original conditions are maintained.

4 Report of any alteration to the certified thickness measurement operation system

In case any alteration to the certified thickness measurement operation system of the company is made, such alteration should be immediately reported to the organization recognized by the Administration. A re-audit should be carried out where deemed necessary by the organization recognized by the Administration.

5 Withdrawal of certification

The certification may be withdrawn in the following cases:

.1 where the measurements were improperly carried out or the results were improperly reported;
.2 where the surveyor found any deficiencies in the approved thickness measurement operation system of the company;
.3 where the company failed to report any alteration referred to in 4 to the organization recognized by the Administration as required.