Ship Documents

DOCUMENTS AND CERTIFICATES REQUIRED BY LAW

CHEMICAL TANKERS

In addition to the certificates listed in sections A and C above, where applicable, any chemical tanker shall carry a Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (for chemical tankers constructed before 1 July 1986) or an International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (for chemical tankers constructed on or after 1 July 1986).

For chemical tankers, a Code (Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk called BCH Code for chemical tankers constructed before 1 July 1986 and the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk called IBC Code for chemical tankers constructed on or after 1 July 1986) was promulgated, to provide an international standard for the safe carriage by sea in bulk of liquefied gasses and certain other substances listed in chapter 17 of the IBC Code, by prescribing the design and construction standards of ships involved in such carriage and the equipment they should carry so as to minimize the risk to the ship, to its crew and the environment, having regard to the nature of the products involved (IBC Code, Preamble, par. 1).

The Code has been amended several times by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and has to be applied in addition to SOLAS 1974 (which means they also need to have other safety certificates on board prescribed by SOLAS 1974) and Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 for chemical tankers constructed on or after 1 July 1986 which gives specific prescriptions to prevent pollution of the sea and the environment..

Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk

Chemical tankers constructed before 1 July 1986 are, where applicable, governed by the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemical in Bulk (BCH Code). As mentioned before, this Code was modified several times by resolutions of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC). The Code is mandatory under Annex II of MARPIL 73/78.

A certificate called a Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (see also side 2 and side3 of document) should be issued after an initial or periodical survey to a chemical tanker engaged in international voyages which complies with the relevant requirements of the Code. The form of the certificate is set out at the appendix of the Code. (BCH Code, Section 1.6.3.1; BCH Code as modified by Resolution MSC.18(58) Section 1.6.9.)

Quick Reference Guide

CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS FOR THE CARRIAGE OF DANGEROUS CHEMICALS IN BULK

Legislation :	MARPOL 73/78? ANNEX II and Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code).
Application :	all ships regardless of size, including those of less than 500 tons gross tonnage, engaged in the carriage of bulk cargoes of dangerous or noxious liquid chemical substances other than petroleum or similar flammable products (BCH Code, Section 1.1)
Duration and validity :	maximum 5 years (BCH Code, Section 1.6.5). The certificate shall cease to be valid:
	—	if the surveys are not carried out within the periods specified (BCH Code, Section 1.6.5.1 par. 1);
	—	upon transfer of the ship to the flag of another Government (BCH Code, Section 1.6.5.3, par. 2).
Extension :	No extension permitted (BCH Code, Section 1.6.5.2).
Surveys :	—	an initial survey before the ship is put in service (BCH Code, Section 1.6.1, par. 1);
	—	a periodical survey not exceeding 5 years (BCH Code, Section 1.6.1, par. 2);
	—	a minimum of one intermediate survey during the period of validity of the certificate (BCH Code, Section 1.6.1, par. 3);
	—	an annual surveys (BCH Code, Section 1.6.1, par. 4);
	—	an additional survey, either general or partial according to the circumstances, after an investigation prescribed in Section 1.6.2.3 of the Code, or whenever important repairs or renewals are made (BCH Code, Section 1.6.1, par. 5);
	NOTES
	—	The intermediate and annual surveys shall be endorsed on the certificate (BCH Code, Section 1.6.1, par. 3 and 4);
	—	When only one intermediate survey is carried out in any one certificate validity period, it shall be held not before six months to, not later than six months after the half-way date of the certificate's period of validity (BCH, Section 1.6.1, par. 3);
	—	The annual survey shall be held within three months before or after the day and the month of the date of issue of the certificate (BCH, Section 1.6.1, par. 4);
Request :	Owner or shipbuilder to the Administration (e.g. the Maritime Inspectorate) or to an authorized Organization (e.g. a classification society).
Issue :	Administration or authorized Organization.
Surveys :	Administration or authorized Organization.

International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk

Chemical tankers constructed on or after 1 July 1986 are, where applicable, governed by the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemical in Bulk (IBC Code). As mentioned before, this Code was modified several times by resolutions of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC). The Code is mandatory under Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 and Chapter VII of SOLAS 1974.

A certificate called a International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (see also side 2, side 3, side 4 and side 5 of document) should be issued after an initial or periodical survey to a chemical tanker engaged in international voyages which complies with the relevant requirements of the Code. The form of the certificate is set out at the appendix of the Code. (IBC Code, Section 1.5.4.1; IBC Code as modified by Resolution MSC.16(58) and MEPC.40(29) Section 1.5.10.) The certificate may be supplemented by Attachment 1 which is a continuation of the list of products and conditions of carriage and Attachment 2 which gives a tank plan with tank numbers.

Quick Reference Guide

INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS

FOR THE CARRIAGE OF

DANGEROUS CHEMICALS IN BULK

Legislation :	MARPOL 73/78? ANNEX II and International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code).
Application :	all ships regardless of size, including those of less than 500 tons gross tonnage, engaged in the carriage of bulk cargoes of dangerous or noxious liquid chemical substances other than petroleum or similar flammable products (IBC Code, Section 1.1)
Duration and validity :	maximum 5 years (IBC Code, Section 1.5.1). The certificate shall cease to be valid:
	—	if the surveys are not carried out within the periods specified (IBC Code, Section 1.5.6.3 par. 1);
	—	upon transfer of the ship to the flag of another Government (IBC Code, Section 1.5.6.3, par. 2).
Extension :	No extension permitted (IBC Code, Section 1.5.6.2).
Surveys :	—	an initial survey before the ship is put in service (IBC Code, Section 1.5.2.1, par. 1);
	—	a periodical survey not exceeding 5 years (IBC Code, Section 1.5.2.1, par. 2);
	—	a minimum of one intermediate survey during the period of validity of the certificate (IBC Code, Section 1.5.2.1, par. 3);
	—	a mandatory annual surveys (IBC Code, Section 1.5.2.1, par. 4);
	—	an additional survey, either general or partial according to the circumstances, after an investigation prescribed in Section 1.5.3.3 of the Code, or whenever important repairs or renewals are made (IBC Code, Section 1.5.2.1, par. 5);
	NOTES
	—	The intermediate and annual surveys shall be endorsed on the certificate (IBC Code, Section 1.5.2, par. 3 and 4);
	—	When only one intermediate survey is carried out in any one certificate validity period, it shall be held not before six months to, not later than six months after the half-way date of the certificate's period of validity (IBC Code, Section 1.5.2.1, par. 3);
	—	The mandatory annual survey shall be held within three months before or after the day and the month of the date of issue of the certificate (IBC Code, Section 1.5.2.1, par. 4);
Request :	Owner or shipbuilder to the Administration (e.g. the Maritime Inspectorate) or to an authorized Organization (e.g. a classification society).
Issue :	Administration or authorized Organization.
Surveys :	Administration or authorized Organization (IBC Code, Section 1.5.1.1).