Dated: Sept. 26, 2007
 

        Taking in to consideration the rapid growth in shipping and shipbuilding industry in India, Director General of Shipping (DGS)  has decided to bring in certain changes in the methodology for dealing with statutory surveys and approval of plans for speedier processing of the same. The revised methodology to be adopted for statutory surveys / approval of plans is as follows:- 

1. Load Line Surveys

1.1     Existing Ships being taken into class on change of flag. 

IRS will ensure that the vessel complies with all the applicable Rules, Regulations, Codes and Conventions prior to taking them under IRS Class. Owners shall submit the Trim and Stability, Damage Stability, Grain Stability booklets and Loading Operation Manual, as applicable to the type of vessel, to IRS for scrutiny and approval.  While approving these booklets, IRS shall ensure that the booklets / Manuals comply with applicable M.S. Rules, Conventions, Codes or other guidelines  / circulars issued by IMO / DGS in this regard. Owners shall ensure that the booklets / Manuals contain all the information required as per the relevant requirements. The booklets should be legible and in English language. The process of approval of stability booklets and obtaining any clarification should normally be completed during the validity period of the short term load line certificate i.e. five months. However in cases where any major modifications are required to be incorporated in the stability booklets, as per statutory rules a maximum period of one year may be granted by which time the stability booklets should be duly modified and approved by IRS. For existing ships having an approved Trim & Stability booklet, additional  relevant information may be provided by appending additional pages without requiring  the entire  booklet to be redone.  Full Term certificate in all cases will be issued within the validity period of short term certificate. 

 A copy each of the  IRS approved Stability booklet / Damage stability booklet / Grain stability booklet / Loading Operation Manual, as applicable, will be forwarded to D.G. Shipping along with Full Term Load Line Certificate, for information.

1.2     New Construction

           In the case of new construction, IRS will approve the Stability booklet / Damage stability booklet /Grain Stability booklet / Loading Operation Manual, as applicable to the type of the vessel prior to issuance of short term load line certificate and in extreme cases, where approval cannot be granted, minimum stability requirements will be ensured prior to issuance of short term load line  certificate. Full term load line certificate will be issued only on approval of stability booklets and within the   applicability of short term load line certificate i.e. five months. A copy of the approved booklets / manuals will be forwarded to DGS along with Full  Term Load Line Certificate for information. 

2.     Safety Equipment Survey (SEQ)/MARPOL Surveys :

2.1    For Existing Ships being taken into Class on change of flag.

         Fire Control Plan/Life Saving appliances plan/Light Shapes & Sound Signal Plan towards SEQ surveys, SOPEP/ODMCE/COW plan as required by IOPP Surveys are to be approved by IRS. For existing ships, for ships provided with only holding tank towards compliance with MARPOL Annexure IV, capacity of existing holding tank as shown in the certificate or ships plan be considered acceptable.   While forwarding reports towards recommendation of issuance of full term certificates, a copy of approved plan to be forwarded to respective MMD where the vessel is registered and a copy of letter is required to be forwarded to DGS for information.

2.2    For New Construction ships       

          All plans related to SEQ and MARPOL Surveys will be approved by IRS and short term certificates issued on completion of verification of satisfactory installation and on board operational verification.  While forwarding reports towards recommendation of issuance of full term certificates, a copy of approved plan to be forwarded to respective MMD where the vessel is registered and a copy of letter is required to be forwarded to DGS for information. information.

3.      Approval of FFA/LSA/MARPOL 73/78 Equipments.

Vessels built or acquired in a foreign country having OWS/ODMCE/Sewage treatment Plant/Incinerator, FFA / LSA /LSS / Communication equipments installed on board of any particular make will be considered acceptable provided they have type approval certificate for these equipments/appliances issued by the recognized society on behalf of the administration in the country of manufacture, as stated in M.S. Notice 5 of 2007. 

4.   Reports for Non Convention Vessels

All reports related to SEQ and SRT surveys will consist of Certificate, report and record. With regard to Cargo Ship Construction Survey, the report will consist of declaration/report as applicable and certificate. The declaration form and report to be prepared in line with the form applicable for convention vessels.

5.  Grant of Exemptions 

Any non-compliance with M.S Rules / Convention provisions /deficiency noted during statutory surveys or plan approvals during change of flag / new construction will need to be communicated to the DGS with the recommendation and their concurrence sought prior to issuance of statutory certificates / approval of plans / booklets etc. 

          This issues with the approval of the Director-General of Shipping & ex-officio Additional Secretary to Govt. of India.

Sd/-
(D. Mehrotra)
Dy. Chief Surveyor-cum-Sr.DDG (Tech)

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