Gas Carriers


Ship Documents

DOCUMENTS AND CERTIFICATES REQUIRED BY LAW

GAS CARRIERS

In addition to the certificates listed in sections A and C above, where applicable, any gas carrier shall carry a Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk (for gas carriers constructed before 1 July 1986) or an International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk (for gas carriers constructed on or after 1 July 1986).

For gas carriers, a Code (Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gasses in Bulk called GC Code for gas carriers constructed before 1 July 1986 and the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gasses in Bulk called IGC Code for gas carriers 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 19 of the ICC 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 (IGC Code, Preamble, par. 1).

The Code has been amended several times by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) 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).

Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk

After a satisfactory initial or periodical survey to a gas carrier showing that the ship complies with the relevant requirements of the GC Code, a certificate called Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gasses in Bulk shall be issued. The form of the certificate is given the appendix to the GC Code (GC Code, Section 1.6).

International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk

Gas carriers constructed on or after 1 July 1986 are, where applicable, governed by the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gasses 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 Liquefied Gasses in Bulk (see also side 2, side 3, side 4, side 5, side 6 and side 7 of document) should be issued after an initial or periodical survey to a gas carrier which complies with the relevant requirements of the Code. The form of the certificate is set out at the appendix of the Code. (IGC Code, Section 1.5.4.1; IGC Code as modified by Resolution MSC.17(58), Section 1.5.10.)

Quick Reference Guide

INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS

FOR THE CARRIAGE OF LIQUEFIED GASSES IN BULK


Legislation :International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefies Gasses in Bulk (IGC Code).

Application :all ships regardless of size, including those of less than 500 tons gross tonnage, engaged in the carriage of liquefied gasses having a vapour pressure exceeding 2.8 bar absolute at a temperature f 37.8° C, and other products as shown in Chapter 19, when carried in bulk (IGC Code, Chapter 1, Section 1.1.1).

Duration and validity :maximum 5 years (IGC Code, Section 1.5.6.1).


The certificate shall cease to be valid:


—if the surveys are not carried out within the periods specified (IGC Code, Section 1.5.6.3 par. 1);

—upon transfer of the ship to the flag of another Government (IGC Code, Section 1.5.6.3, par. 2).

Extension :No extension permitted (IGC Code, Section 1.5.6.2).

Surveys :—an initial survey before the ship is put in service (IGC Code, Section 1.5.2.1, par. 1);

—a periodical survey not exceeding 5 years (IGC 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 (IGC 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 (IGC Code, Section 1.5..2.1, par. 5);

NOTES

—The intermediate and annual surveys shall be endorsed on the certificate (IGC Code, Section 1.5.2.1, 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 (IGC 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 (IGC 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 (IGC Code, Section 1.5.1.1).