The Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) Regulations 1995

Survey requirements for passenger ships

4.  The structure, machinery and equipment of a passenger ship shall be subjected to the following surveys pursuant to these Regulations:

(a) a survey before the ship is put in service. This survey shall include a complete inspection of its structure, machinery and equipment, including the outside of the ship’s bottom and the inside and the outside of the boilers. The survey shall be such to ensure that the arrangements, material and scantlings of the structure, boilers and other pressure vessels and their appurtenances, main and auxiliary machinery, electrical installation, radio installations including those used in life-saving appliances, fire protection, fire safety systems and appliances, life-saving appliances and arrangements, shipborne navigational equipment, nautical publications, means of embarkation for pilots, lights, shapes, means of making sound and distress signals and other equipment fully comply with the relevant regulations applicable to the ship, are in a satisfactory condition and are fit for the service for which the ship is intended;

(b) a periodical survey before the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate or Passenger Certificate may be renewed which shall include an inspection of the ship’s structure, machinery and equipment referred to in paragraph (a) to ensure that they comply with the relevant regulations applicable to the ship, are in a satisfactory condition and are fit for the service for which the ship is intended;

(c) an additional survey, either general or partial, according to the circumstances, to be made after a repair resulting from investigations prescribed in regulation 8(2), or whenever any repairs or renewals are undertaken which could materially affect the safety and condition of the ship. The survey shall be such as to ensure that the necessary repairs or renewals have been effectively made, that the material and workmanship of such repairs or renewals are in all respects satisfactory, and that the ship complies in all respects with the relevant regulations applicable to the ship.