Ship DocumentsDOCUMENTS AND CERTIFICATES REQUIRED BY LAWALL SHIPSThe following documents must be carried by all ships, that is: passenger ships, cargo ships, ships carrying noxious liquid substance in bulk, chemical tankers, gas tankers, special purpose ships, offshore supply vessels, dynamically supported crafts and mobile offshore drilling units. Certificate of RegistryThe Certificate of Registry attests the nationality of a ship. To obtain a Certificate of Registry, the owner of the ship must enter his ship in the official register of ships of the State of Registration. Only than, the ship is allowed to fly the flag of the State of Registration. Following "Key Clauses" were published by the United Nations on "Conditions for Registration of Ships". Unctad Convention - Key Clauses
See also: United Nations Convention on Conditions for Registration of Ships (Geneva 1986) - not yet in force. See also: Guide to International Ship Registers prepared by the International Shipping Federation (ISF - http://www.marisec.org/ ). This guide is conceived with the intension of providing ship owners and their national associations with the necessary range of information which would allow them to gain a proper insight into the extent to which the more common open registers operate to proper professional standards and, in particular, the extent to which they comply with, and are capable of enforcing, internationally recognized safety and labour standards. International Tonnage Certificate (1969)The International Tonnage Certificate (see also back of document) gives the gross and net tonnage of a ship, determined in accordance with the 1969 Tonnage Convention (Article 7).
See also: International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships (London 1969) NOTES
International Load Line CertificateThe International Load Line Certificate (see also back of document)is issued to ships which are engaged on international voyages and which have been surveyed and marked in accordance with the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (LL 66). (LL 66, Article 4, par. (2) and Article 16, par. (1)) or the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 as appropriate. The main purpose of the Convention is to ensure that ships, after loading, maintain a minimum freeboard. This is materialized by applying "Load Line Marks" also called "Plimsoll Marks" on each side of the hull, allowing the ship to maintain a minimum "Reserve Buoyancy". The International Convention on Load Lines 1966 is not applicable to:
To these ships a National Load Line Certificate (see also back of document) is issued. The main purpose of the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 is to bring the 1966 Rules in agreement with the International Conference on the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification. Quick Reference GuideINTERNATIONAL LOAD LINE CERTIFICATE
International Load Line Exemption CertificateAn International Load Line Exemption Certificate (see also back of document) may be issued to:
Ships which are engaged on international voyages between near neighbouring ports of two or more States, may be exempted by the Administration from the provisions of the LL 66 (LL 66, Article 6, par (1)). Quick Reference GuideINTERNATIONAL LOAD LINE EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE
Intact Stability BookletEvery passenger ship and every cargo ship of 24 meters (79 feet) in length and over, shall after completion, be inclined to determine the elements of its stability. These elements are entered in the "Intact Stability Booklet" and supplied to the master. This booklet enables the master to obtain accurate stability guidance of his ship under varying conditions of loading. For bulk carriers, the information which would normally be contained in the "bulk carrier booklet" may be contained in the intact stability booklet; (SOLAS 74, Chapter II-1, Regulation 22 and 25-8; 1988 LL Protocol, Regulation 10). Damage Control BookletOn passenger ships and dry cargo ships, there shall be permanently exhibited or readily available on the bridge:
Minimum Safe Manning DocumentA Document of Safe Manning is delivered to a ship to which Chapter I of the SOLAS Convention applies when it is considered to be safely manned whenever it proceeds to sea (SOLAS 74 - 1989 Amendments, Regulation V/13 (b)). See Document of Safe Manning - front and Document of Safe Manning - back. Certificates for masters, officers or ratingsEvery master, officer or rating must, to the satisfaction of the Administration, meet with the necessary requirements of service, age, medical fitness, training, qualifications and examination in accordance with the provisions of the Annex to the Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watch keeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW 78). (See also the 1995 amendments) The Certificates of Masters, officers and ratings which comply to the STCW 95 shall be endorsed by the Administration in the form prescribed in Regulation II/2 of the Annex. See Endorsement as Master. See also Certificate of Service for a engineer officer and its Endorsement. Crew members sailing on certain types of ships such as oil tankers, chemical tankers, gas tankers and others, also need specific qualifications to sail on these ships. These qualifications also need to be endorsed by the Administration. See Special Certificate of Competency for a deck officer and for a deck rating and the Endorsement for Crude Oil Washing + Inert Gas and Endorsement for Chemical Tanker. NOTEFrom 01/02/2002, certificates must comply with the STCW 95. De-rating or De-rating Exemption CertificateIn agreement with the International Health Regulations, every ship must be de-rated every six months, upon which a De-rating Certificate is issued. Oil tankers with full tanks can obtain a De-rating Exemption Certificate that is also valid for six months. Other ships can also obtain a De-rating Exemption Certificate after inspection of the empty holds or if the ship only has ballast on board or a cargo which does not attract rodents and of which the small volume makes it possible to inspect the spaces. Other spaces like lockers, pantries, galleys, messes, cabins, etc. must also be inspected. An extension of one month can be granted if a full inspection or an effective de-rating cannot be done or if the ship is en route to the port of registry. The reason of the extension must be mentioned on the certificate and the port of destination duly informed. International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate (IOPP Certificate)In agreement with Regulation 5 of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78, an International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate (see also side 2, side 3, side 4 and side 5 of document) shall be issued to any oil tanker of 150 tons gross tonnage and above and to any other ship of 400 tons gross tonnage and above, which are engaged in voyages to ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of other Parties to the Convention (MARPOL 73/78), after survey in accordance with the provisions of Regulation 4 of Annex I.
See also the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (1973) (MARPOL) as amended by the Protocol of 1978 (London). See also the 1996 Amendments to the 1978 Protocol (London). Quick Reference GuideINTERNATIONAL OIL POLLUTIONPREVENTION CERTIFICATE
Record BookEvery oil tanker of 150 tons gross tonnage and above and every ship of 400 tons gross tonnage and above other than an oil tanker shall be provided with an Oil Record Book Part I (Machinery Space Operations) (see also page 2, page 3, page 4, page 5 and page 6 of document). Every oil tanker of 150 tons gross tonnage and above shall also be provided with an Oil Record Book Part II (Cargo/Ballast Operations) (see also page 2, page 3, page 4, page 5, page 6, page 7, page 8, page 9 and page 10 of document). The Oil Record Book(s), whether as a part of the ship's official log-book or other wise shall be in the Form(s) specified in appendix III of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 (MARPOL 73/78, Annex I, Regulation 20, par. (1)). See MARPOL 73/78, Regulation 20, par (2) for the operations to be entered in the Oil Record Book(s), for each space separately. Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP)Every oil tanker of 150 tons gross tonnage and above and every ship other than an oil tanker of 400 tons gross tonnage and above shall carry on board a shipboard oil pollution emergency plan (SOPEP) approved by the Administration or a authorized Organization. For ships built before 4 April 1993 this requirement shall apply 24 months after that date (MARPOL 73/78, Annex I, Regulation 26, par. (1)). Paragraph (2) of Regulation 26 states which actions are to be taken in compliance with the Shipboard Oil Pollution Plan, which in turn shall be in accordance with the Guidelines adopted by the Marine Environment Protection Committee of the Organization, by resolution MEPC.54(32). After examination by the Administration or authorized Organization a certificate called Approval of Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan (SOPEP) is issued as a Amendment to the Supplement to the International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate (IOPP Certificate). Garbage Management PlanA Garbage Management Plan which the crew shall follow must be carried by every ship of 400 tons gross tonnage an above, and every ship which is certified to carry 15 persons or more (MARPOL 73/78, Annex V, Regulation 9, par. (2)). Paragraph (2) of Regulation 9 gives the necessary directions on how this plan must be carried out. Garbage Record BooA Garbage Record Book shall be carried by:
Regulation (9), par. (3) (a), (b), (c) and (d) of Annex V gives the necessary particulars of the operations to be should be entered in the Garbage Record Book. The Appendix to Annex V gives the form of the Garbage Record Book. Cargo Securing ManualAll cargo units, including containers, other than solid an liquid bulk cargoes, shall be loaded, stowed and secured throughout the voyage in according to the Cargo Securing Manual approved by the Administration. The Cargo Securing Manual is required on all types of ships and shall be drawn up to a standard at least equivalent to the Guidelines developed by the Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization and promulgated by circular MSC/Circ.745. In ships with ro-ro cargo space all securing shall be completed before the ship leaves the berth. (SOLAS 1974, Chapter VI, Regulation 5, Chapter VII, Regulation 6 and MSC/Circ.745.) Document of ComplianceEvery company which complies with the requirements of the International Safety Management Code (ISM Code) shall receive a Document of Compliance (SOLAS 1974, Annex 1, Chapter X, Regulation 4, par. (1)). See also ISM Code, paragraph 13. A copy of the document shall be kept on board in order that the master can produce it on request for verification (SOLAS 1974, Annex 1, Chapter X, Regulation 4, par. (2)). Safety Management CertificateA certificate, called Safety Management Certificate, shall be issued to every ship by the Administration or an authorized Organization, if it is satisfied that the company and its shipboard management operate in accordance with the approved safety management system (SOLAS 1974, Annex 1, Chapter X, Regulation 4, par. (3)). See also ISM Code, paragraph 13. |
