Certificates

Question 1

Certificate of Registry

Answer 1

The Certificate of Registry indicates that the ship is documented with the issuing flag administration.

Validity: Certificate might or might not have an expiration date.

Endorsement/survey requirements: None required.

Question 2

Classification Document

Answer 2

A certificate of class is not required by regulation. However, the marine industry uses the document as verification that the ship conforms with the society issuing the certificate of class.
• Validity: Not to exceed five years, concurrent with other SOLAS documents.
• Annually endorsed concluding surveys.

Question 3

SOLAS Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate

Answer 3

A Safety Construction Certificate is issued to cargo ships 500 GT and over and meets international regulations for construction and maintenance.
-Last dry dock date.
-Last two inspections of ship’s hull.
• Validity: Not to exceed five years.
• Annual surveys +/- 3 months of the certificate’s anniversary.

Question 4

SOLAS Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate

Answer 4

issued to cargo ships 500 GT and over and meets international regulations for required safety equipment/apparatus onboard. Supplement the certificate with a Record of Equipment, Form E.
Not to exceed five years.
Annual surveys +/- three months of the certificate’s anniversary

Question 5

SOLAS Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate

Answer 5

issued to cargo ships 300 GT and above and meets international regulations for required radio installations. The certificate is supplemented by a Record of Equipment, Form R
Sea areas in which ship is certified to operate, Primary radio systems, If any exemptions have been issued, Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), International Maritime Satellite (INMARSAT), Search and Rescue Transponder (SART), Navigational Telex (NAVTEX), Shore-based maintenance, Number of persons required for radio installation.
Validity: Not to exceed five years.
Annual surveys +/- 3 months of the certificate’s anniversary.

Question 6

ISM Document of Compliance (ISM-DOC)

Answer 6

Issued by the administration or RO to the ship’s ISM company in compliance with the requirements of SOLAS, ISM Code.A copy of the DOC is kept onboard the ship. Interim certificates are to be issued for a period not to exceed 12 months

• Name and address of the company.
• Ship type.
• Validity: Not to exceed five years.
• Annual surveys +/- three months of the certificate’s anniversary.

Question 7

ISM SMC

Answer 7

Verify the original certificate is onboard the ship. Interim certificates are issued for a period not to exceed six months
Not to exceed five years.
Subject to at least one intermediate verification between the second and third anniversary dates of the certificate.

Question 8

ITC

Answer 8

An ITC is issued to every ship that is:
• Registered in a country party to the tonnage convention.
• At least 79-feet in length.
• Engaged on a foreign voyage.

Validity: Indefinite unless flag is changed. Certificate remains in force not to exceed three months if the ship changes flag.
No endorsements/surveys required.

Question 9

International Load Line Certificate

Answer 9

An International Load Line Certificate is required for ships 79 feet (29 meters) or greater in length and engaged in international voyages.
Verify load line marking on the side of hull matches the diagram on the certificate.
• Plimsol marking.
• Routes permitted under the survey.
• Validity: Not to exceed five years.
• Annual surveys +/- 3 months of the certificate’s anniversary.

Question 10

Minimum Safe Mannaning Document

Answer 10

The Minimum Safe Manning Document is issued by the administration to ships 500 GT and above.

A table showing the numbers and grades of personnel required to be carried, together with any special condition or limitations based on the particulars of the ship or the nature of the service upon which it is engaged. Engineering personnel can be reduced based on automation as indicated on the classification document.

No requirement, but ought to be recorded if any.
No endorsements/surveys required.

Question 11

International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate

Answer 11

The International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate is issued to oil tankers 150 GT and above, and to other ships 400 GT and above to note compliance with Annex I.
The certificate is supplemented by:
• A Record of Construction and Equipment for Ships, other than Oil Tankers, Form A or,
• A Record of Construction and Equipment for Oil Tankers, Form B

Compare max throughput of the OWS with Oil Record Book (ORB)
Sludge (3.1 tank), tank’s location and capacity
Not to exceed five years.
Annual surveys +/- 3 months of the certificate’s anniversary.

Question 12

International Air Pollution Prevention (IAPP) Certificate

Answer 12

Issued after an initial or renewal survey to any ship 400 GT and above engaged in voyages to ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of other parties. The IAPP indicates the ship complies with Annex VI of MARPOL.
Not to exceed five years.
Annual surveys +/- 3 months of the certificate’s anniversary date.
• Verify supplement to IAPP.
• For each applicable marine diesel engine >=130kw or an engine that undergoes a major conversion after 01JAN2000, not applicable to emergency use marine diesel engines.

Question 13

CSR

Answer 13

The CSR provides an onboard record of the history of the ship’s associated parties. The CSR is issued by the administration to each ship that is entitled to fly its flag.
The ship retains all CSRs from the date of first ownership or after July 1, 2004.
Not annually surveyed or endorsed.
- the administration has three months to issue a new CSR after any change has been made.

Question 14

ISSC

Answer 14

The ISSC indicates the ship has an approved ship security plan per the ISPS code. Interim certificates are valid for up to six months.
Not to exceed five years.
• Complete at least one intermediate verification. If only one intermediate verification is required by the administration, it takes place between the second and third anniversary date of the certificate.

Question 15

Secondary Certificates

Answer 15

Liferaft Servicing Certificate, for further guidance see Chapter 10: Lifesaving.

• Long-Range Identification Tracking (LRIT) conformance test report.
• Fixed and portable firefighting appliance servicing certificates.
• Foam Analysis. If a ship uses high (interior) or low (exterior) expansion foam, a foam analysis is used to determine serviceability of the foam concentration. The first test is completed three years after installation and on a yearly cycle thereafter, unless the foam concentrate is renewed.
• Shore-Based Maintenance Agreement for Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), if applicable.
• VDR, Annual Performance Test.
• Medical Logbook. It is common to inquire about the health of the crew during the initial meeting with the ship’s captain.

Question 16

Fire and Lifesaving Training

Answer 16

Onboard training in the use of ship’s fire and lifesaving appliances is given as soon as possible, but no more than two weeks after a crewmember joins the ship. Training includes operation and use of liferafts, first-aid for hypothermia and other relevant first-aid procedures, lifesaving instructions for severe weather/sea conditions and operation of all fire extinguishing appliances.

Question 17

Rest Hours

Answer 17

The 2011 Manila Amendments to the STCW increased the required amount of rest that each seafarer is required to have in a 24-hour and seven day period. Each seafarer is required to have 10 hours of rest in a 24-hour period with one block being at least six hours in length and no more than 77 hours of work in a seven day period.