In the SOLAS 1974/1988 regulation I/6, MARPOL Annex I regulation 6, MARPOL Annex II regulation 8, MARPOL Annex IV regulation 4, MARPOL Annex VI regulation 5, LLC 1966/1988 article 13, TONNAGE 1969 article 7 & AFS 2001 Annex 4 regulation 1, the assessment & survey of the ships will be performed by officers of the flag state. The flag state may, however, assign the assessment & surveys either to surveyors assigned for the purpose or to organizations recognized by it.
In the above context, IMO accepted resolutions A.739(18) on recommendations for the approval of the organizations acting on account of the authorities & A.789(19) on the specifications on the survey & certification responsibilities of the recognized organizations (ROs) acting on account of the authorities.
A short time ago, the IMO, identified the requirement to upgrade the aforementioned resolutions, to collect all the relevant conditions for the recognized organizations(RO) in a single IMO obligatory instrument & to help in achieving harmonized & uniform global application of requirements accepted by the IMO instruments for the evaluation & approval of the recognized organizations(RO), accepted the Code for the Recognized Organizations (RO Code) by resolutions MEPC.237(65) & MSC.349(92), which entered into force on 1 January 2015 under MARPOL annexes I and II, SOLAS 1974 and the 1988 Load Line Protocol. The Code parts 1 & part 2 are obligatory, while part 3 is recommendatory, furnish a combined instrument consisting conditions against which ROs are assessed & authorized, & gives guidance for subsequent monitoring of ROs by Administrations.
As needed by the relevant conditions of the aforementioned Conventions, the flag state will communicate information concerning ROs to the IMO. In this regard, reporting under MSC/Circ.1010-MEPC/Circ.382 on flag States’ authorizations to carry out surveys and issue certificates on their behalf, can be arranged using the GISIS module on Recognized Organizations(RO) which can be examined by the Members (resolution A.1074(28) on information & circulation through GISIS).
