Harmonized system of survey and certification ,hssc survey

Q:-Explain Harmonization of Statutory Certificates under the   SOLAS 74/88 Convention.

If a period of a statutory Certificate has just expired and a port is having inadequate survey facility, state the actions you will take, as per the provision stated in the Protocol of 1998 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974.

ANSWER :-

A harmonized system of survey and certification covering international shipping regulations adopted by the International Maritime Organization enters into force on 3 February 2000, in order to alleviate the problems caused by survey dates and intervals between surveys which do not coincide, covering international shipping regulations including the codes and conventions of these following institutions:

1. International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974
2. The International Convention on Load Lines (LL), 1966
3. The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto -MARPOL 73/78
4. The International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code)
5. Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code)
6. Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code).

Purpose

     Surveys, made in accordance with the harmonised survey system for ships, to harmonize intervals between surveys of all legitimate certificates issued to all marine vessels. 

       The harmonized system is presumed to facilitate all the troubles of periods between  surveys so that any ship would not have to worry about going into the process of a survey schedule required by one convention right after having gone through the same thing concerned in connection with another instrument.

Harmonized system adopted in 1988:-this is just for refrence

    The international requirements introducing the harmonized system of survey and certification for the SOLAS and Load Lines Conventions were adopted by IMO at an International Conference on the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification held in 1988 - which itself had its origins in the 1978 Conference on Tanker Safety and Pollution Prevention which recognized the difficulties caused by the survey and certification requirements of SOLAS, the Load Lines Convention and MARPOL 73/78. The 1978 Conference called upon IMO to develop a harmonized system which would enable the surveys to be carried out at the same time.

      The 1988 HSSC Conference adopted Protocols to the SOLAS and Load Lines Conventions to introduce the harmonized system. 

      The conditions for entry into force of the 1988 SOLAS and Load Lines Protocols were met on 2 February 1999, when Bahamas deposited instruments of accession to both instruments with IMO. Malta also recently acceded to the 1988 Protocols. The 1988 Load Lines Protocol has 36 States Parties with 58.58 percent of world merchant shipping tonnage. The 1988 SOLAS Protocol has 36 States Parties with 58.10 percent of world merchant shipping tonnage.

    In terms of MARPOL 73/78, the Convention allowed for amendments to the certification and survey requirements to be accepted by a procedure known as "tacit acceptance", meaning amendments enter into force on a specified date unless sufficient objections are received. 

    As a result, MARPOL 73/78 was amended on 16 March 1990 to introduce the harmonized system of survey and certification, with the proviso that the amendments enter into force at the same time as the  entry into force date of the 1988 SOLAS Protocol and the 1988 Load Lines Protocol.

List of certificates required on board ship relating to harmonized system of survey and certification (some depend on type of ship)

1. Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, including Record of Equipment
2. Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate
3. Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, including Record of Equipment
4. Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate, including Record of Equipment
5. Cargo Ship Safety Certificate, including Record of Equipment
6. International Load Lines Certificate(ILLC)
7. International Load Lines Exemption Certificate
8.  International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate
9.  International Pollution Prevention Certificate for the Carriage of Noxious Liquid  Substances in Bulk.
10.  International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk
11.   International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk
12.   Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk

The harmonized system

In practice, many Administrations and classification societies already operate a form of harmonized survey and certification. Moreover, a resolution adopted by the IMO Assembly in 1991, and amended in 1993 (Resolution A.718(17), as modified by resolution A.745(18)), allowed for Governments which had ratified the 1988 SOLAS and Load Lines Protocols to implement the harmonized system ahead of the entry into force date of the protocols.

The harmonized system provides for:

• A one-year standard interval between surveys, based on initial, annual, intermediate, periodical and renewal surveys as appropriate;
•  A scheme for providing the necessary flexibility for the execution of each survey with the provision that the renewal survey may be completed within three months before the expiry date of the existing certificate with no loss of its period of validity;
• A maximum period of validity of five years of all certificates for cargo ships;
• A maximum period of validity of 12 months of the Passenger Ship Safety  Certificate;
• A system for the extension of certificates limited to three months to enable a ship to complete its voyage (or one month for ships engaged on short voyages);
•  When an extension has been granted, the period of validity of the new certificate is to start from the expiry date of the existing certificate before its extension.

      The main changes to the SOLAS and Load Lines Conventions are that annual inspections have been made mandatory for cargo ships and unscheduled inspections have been discontinued. Other changes refer to survey intervals and requirements.

       No more unscheduled inspections for harmonised system of classification for ships, while  annual surveys have been made mandatory

       At least two inspections are required to be executed of the ship’s bottom in a five year          period; maximum interval between the inspections has also been set at not more than thirty six months.

        A substantive harmonised system for merchant marine which credits a combined cargo ship safety certificate to replace existing safety equipment, safety construction and safety  radio certificates