The Merchant Shipping (Load Line) Regulations 1998

Issue of appropriate certificates

9.—(1) Subject to the provisions of regulation 10, the Assigning Authority shall issue the appropriate certificate in respect of a United Kingdom ship which has been surveyed and marked in accordance with these Regulations.

(2) If the certificate is an International Load Line Certificate (1966) it shall be in the form prescribed by the 1966 Convention.

(3) If the certificate is a United Kingdom Load Line Certificate it shall be in the form prescribed in Schedule 8 of Merchant Shipping Notice MSN 1701 (M).

(4) Subject to any exemption conferred by or under these Regulations, a ship shall not proceed, or attempt to proceed, to sea unless the appropriate certificate is in force in respect of that ship.

(5) The Secretary of State may request, through a proper officer or otherwise, the Government of a Convention country to survey a United Kingdom ship and, if satisfied that the requirements of the Convention are complied with, to issue or authorise the issue, in respect of this ship, an International Load Line Certificate (1966). A certificate issued in accordance with such a request shall contain a statement that it has been so issued, and shall have the same effect as if it was issued by the Secretary of State.

(6) In the case of a ship that has transferred from the registry of the Government of another country to the United Kingdom registry, the Assigning Authority, subject to such survey requirements it considers to be necessary may, and in the case of a ship to which Council Regulation EEC No. 613/91(1) applies shall, issue an International Load Line Certificate (1966) for a period to be determined by the Assigning Authority, but for not longer than the period of validity of the certificate issued by or on behalf of the Government of that other country if satisfied that—

(a) the ship has already been subjected to satisfactory initial, periodical, annual and additional surveys, as appropriate;

(b) the condition of the ship, including its structure and equipment, have been maintained so as to comply with the requirements of the 1966 Convention applicable to the ship;

(c) after any of the surveys referred to in subparagraph (a) above have been completed, no material change has been made to the ship, including its structure and equipment, subject to such surveys, without the approval of the administration of that State; and

(d) that in the case of a ship to which Council Regulation EEC No. 613/91 applies, the intact stability information approved by or on behalf of the Government of that other country is in English and complies with the requirements of the International Maritime Organisation’s Resolution A.167(ES.1V).

(1)

O.J. No. L.68, 15.3.91, p. 1.