All the ships should be surveyed & certified by the officers of the flag State or their recognized organizations (ROs) or recognized security organizations(RSOs) or nominated surveyors so that applicable certificates can be provided to organize that the ships are designed, constructed, maintained & managed in acceptance with the conditions of the IMO Conventions, Codes & other instruments.
IMO Conventions, Codes and other instruments
1. Conventions:
SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Lines, Tonnage 69, COLREG 72, AFS 2001, BWM 2004 , etc;
2. Codes:
ISM, ISPS, HSC 1994/2000, IBC/BHC, IGC/GC, MODU, SPS, 2011 ESP, RO Codes, etc; &
3. Other instruments
- Global and uniform implementation of the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) (resolution A.883(21));
- Survey guidelines under the Harmonized System on Survey and Certification (HSSC), 2015 (resolution A.1104(29));
- 2014 Guidelines on survey and certification of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) (MEPC.254(67)), as amended by MEPC.261(68);
- 2010 Guidelines for survey and certification of anti-fouling systems on ships (MEPC.195(61));
- Interim Survey recommendations for the objective of the International Convention for the Control & Management of the Ships’ Ballast Water & Sediments under the Harmonized System of Survey & Certification (BWM.2/Circ.7);
- Surveys & inspections of the ro-ro passenger ships (resolution A.794(19));
- Revised Guidelines on the implementation of the international Safety Management (ISM) Code by Administrations (resolution A.1071(28))
- Interim Guidance on control and compliance measures to enhance maritime security (MSC.159(78))
- etc.
Certificates and documents
Certificates and documents required to be carried on board ships are listed in FAL.2/Circ.127-MEPC.1/Circ.817-MSC.1/Circ.1462, which was issued on 1 July 2013 and is subject to updating.
They include:
- International Tonnage Certificate;
- International Load Line Certificate;
- Passenger Ship Safety Certificate;
- Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate;
- Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate;
- Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate
- Cargo Ship Safety Certificate
- Safety Management Certificate
- International Ship Security Certificate
- Stability Information;
- Damage Control Information;
- Cargo Securing Manual
- Minimum safe manning document;
- Certificates for masters, officers or ratings;
- International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate;
- International Certificate for the Carriage of Noxious NOx Liquid Substances;
- International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate;
- International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate;
- International Anti-fouling System Certificate;
- Oil Record Book;
- Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan;
- Garbage Management Plan;
- Garbage Record Book;
- etc.
The certificates & documents are provided by the officers of flag State authorities or their ROs/RSOs/nominated surveyors approved for the function & are subject to assessment by the port State control officers (PSCOs). Reporting on exception & alternatives under the IMO obligatory instruments by flag state, as well as the arrangement of the specimen certificates, can be arranged using the GISIS module on Survey & Certification which can be examined by Members (resolution A.1074(28) on information & circulation through GISIS).
