28 SURVEY, CERTIFICATION, INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
28.1 General
28.1.1 All vessels covered by this code are required to be surveyed and certificated in accordance with the International Load Line Convention; vessels over 400 GT under the MARPOL Convention. Vessels over 500 GT are required to be surveyed and certificated under the construction and safety equipment requirements of the SOLAS Convention. All vessels ships of over 300 GT are also required to be surveyed and certificated under the radio requirements of SOLAS. Annex 6 is the list of certificates to be issued.
28.1.2 Statutory work may be undertaken by surveyors of the Administration or by surveyors of a Classification Society appointed by the Administration and, for safety radio, an appropriate Certifying Authority in relation to radio installations.
28.1.3 A vessel to which the International Conventions apply must be surveyed and, if the necessary standards are met, Convention certificates will be issued. All requests for survey and certification must be made to the Administration, the appropriate Classification Society or appropriate Certifying Authority in relation to radio installations.
28.2 Initial Survey (including new-building commercial vessels)
Vessels are required to be issued with the following certificates, as appropriate.
.1 International Load Line Certificate (all vessels)
.2 Certificate of Compliance (all vessels) - this certificate is to cover all aspects of the Code for which a separate certificate is not required
.3 Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate (vessels of 500 GT and over)
.4 Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate (vessels of 500 GT and over)
.5 Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate (vessels of 300 GT and over)
.6 International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate (vessels of 400 GT and over)
.7 International Tonnage Certificate (all vessels)
.8 Crew accommodation
.9 Safe Manning Document (vessels of 500 GT and over)
.10 International Safety Management (ISM) (vessels of 500GT and over). Refer to 29.1 / 29.2.
28.3 Exemption from certain safety regulations
If an owner/managing agent seeks any exemption from the application of specific regulations or requirements, formal application must be made to the Administration, demonstrating an equivalent level of safety. The Administration will issue an exemption if and when appropriate.
28.4 Periodical Surveys
28.4.1 Load Line Certificates, Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificates and Certificates of Compliance (Valid for 5 years in general)
Annual, intermediate and renewal surveys with respect to the Load Line Certificates, the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificates and the Certificate of Compliance should be carried out to the satisfaction of the Administration or Class Society as appropriate.
Any certificate is to be valid for not more the 5 years from the date of survey.
28.4.2 Cargo Ship Safety Equipment and Safety Radio Certificates
28.4.2.1 Safety Equipment Certificates and Safety Radio Certificate surveys should be carried out either by the Administration or Parties to the SOLAS Convention at the request of a the Administration; or by a Classification Society surveyor appointed by the Administration to act on its behalf; or by an appropriate Certifying Authority in relation to radio installations for cargo ships.
28.4.2.2 An application to the Administration for an extension to the certificate will be agreed only in cases when it appears proper and reasonable to do so.
28.4.2.3 At least once during a five year period, a surveyor appointed by the Administration will visit the ship to survey its safety equipment and to conduct a general inspection to ensure that standards are being met.
28.5 Use of an Authorised Classification Society
An authorised Classification Society is aware of the extent to which responsibility has been delegated to issue Load Line Certificates and Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificates. International Conventions give specific discretion to an Administration to either make exemptions or accept equivalent equipment or arrangements. The formal agreement between the Administration and an authorised Classification Society governs the relationship between the two parties.
28.6 Use of a Classification Society Surveyor to act on the behalf of the Administration
An exclusive surveyor from an authorised Classification Society and proposed by the Society may be appointed from time to time to act on behalf of the Administration in cases when it is impracticable for a surveyor of the Administration to make the visit necessary for the survey.
When a Classification Society surveyor is so appointed, actions taken will be under direct instruction of the Administration. The Administration will provide the appointed surveyor with detailed guidance on the scope of survey and report required.
28.7 Accident Investigations
The Administration with which the vessel is registered is obliged to investigate accidents or incidents in accordance with the requirements of International Conventions. Apart from this legal requirement, an Administration investigates such occurrences to demonstrate the effective control and importance they attach to safety at sea.
It is an offence for the vessel's master, skipper or owner not to inform the appropriate authority of a reportable accident shortly after it occurs and to provide details so that an assessment of its seriousness can be made quickly. The Marine Administration will appoint a suitable Surveyor or Inspector whenever an investigation is required. The Marine Administration will then receive the Surveyor's or the Inspector's report and will deal with the follow up action.
All serious casualties in accordance with the International Maritime Organisation's (IMO) definition should be reported to IMO through the Administration.