The Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) (Amendment) Regulations 2000

Amendment of survey requirements

4.  For regulations 4 to 8 of the principal Regulations there shall be substituted:—

“Surveys of passenger ships

4.   A United Kingdom passenger ship shall be subject to the following surveys:

(a) before the ship is put in service, a passenger ship initial survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751,

(b) before the end of every period of 12 months following the issue of the ship’s Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, a passenger ship renewal survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751,

(c) two inspections of the ship’s bottom, out of the water, to take place:

(i) within any five year period, and

(ii) at intervals not exceeding 36 months, and

(d) after a repair resulting from investigations prescribed in regulation 8(2) below, or whenever any important repairs or renewals are made, an additional survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751.

Surveys of cargo ship safety equipment

5.   A United Kingdom cargo ship of 500 tons gross tonnage or more engaged on international voyages shall be subject to the following surveys of its life-saving appliances and other equipment:

(a) before the ship is put in service, a cargo ship safety equipment initial survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751,

(b) at the intervals specified in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751 which, subject to the provisions of regulation 14(b), (e) and (f) of the Protocol of 1988 to the 1974 SOLAS Convention, shall be no more than five years, a cargo ship safety equipment renewal survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751,

(c) within three months before or after the second or third anniversary date of a Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate first being issued, a cargo ship safety equipment periodical survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751,

(d) within three months before or after each anniversary date of the issue of the ship’s Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, other than where a periodical survey is required to be carried out within that period, an annual survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751, and

(e) after a repair resulting from investigations prescribed in regulation 8(2) below, or whenever any important repairs or renewals are made, an additional survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751.

Surveys of cargo ship radio installations

6.   A United Kingdom cargo ship of 300 tons gross tonnage or more engaged on international voyages shall be subject to the following surveys of its radio installations:

(a) before the ship is put in service, a cargo ship radio installations initial survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751,

(b) at the intervals specified in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751 which, subject to the provisions of regulation 14(b), (e) and (f) of the Protocol of 1988 to the 1974 SOLAS Convention, shall be no more than five years, a cargo ship radio installations renewal survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751,

(c) within three months before or after each anniversary date of the issue of the ship’s Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate, a cargo ship radio installations periodical survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751, and

(d) after a repair resulting from investigations prescribed in regulation 8(2) below, or whenever any important repairs or renewals are made, an additional survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751.

Surveys of cargo ship structure, machinery and equipment

7.— (1) A United Kingdom cargo ship shall be subject to the following surveys of its structure, machinery and equipment, other than equipment to which regulations 5 and 6 above apply:

(a) before the ship is put in service, a cargo ship structure etc. initial survey, including an inspection of the outside of the ship’s bottom, as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751,

(b) at the intervals specified in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751 (which subject to regulation 14 of the Protocol of 1988 to the 1974 SOLAS Convention shall be no more than five years), a cargo ship structure etc. renewal survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751,

(c) within three months before or after the second or third anniversary date of a Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate being issued, a cargo ship structure etc. intermediate survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751,

(d) within three months before or after each anniversary date of the issue of the ship’s Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate, other than where a cargo ship structure etc. renewal or intermediate survey is required to be carried out within that period, a cargo ship structure etc. annual survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751,

(e) two inspections of the ship’s bottom, as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751, to take place:

(i) subject to paragraph (2) below, within any five year period, and

(ii) at intervals not exceeding 36 months, and

(f) after a repair resulting from investigations prescribed in regulation 8(2) below, or whenever any important repairs or renewals are made, an additional survey as set out in Merchant Shipping Notice M 1751.

(2) For the purpose of paragraph 1(e) above, where a cargo ship structure etc. renewal survey takes place within three months after the end of the five year period of validity of a Convention Certiticate, and that certificate has been extended in accordance with regulation 15(3) or (4) below, the period of extension of the certificate shall be deemed to be within the five year period.

Responsibilities of owner and master

8.— (1) The owner and master of every ship to which this regulation applies shall ensure that:

(a) the condition of the ship and its equipment shall be maintained to conform with the provisions of regulations 4 to 7 to ensure that the ship in all respects will remain fit to proceed to sea without danger to the ship or persons on board,

(b) after any survey of the ship required by these Regulations has been completed, no change shall be made in the structural arrangements, machinery, equipment and other items covered by the survey, without the approval of the appropriate Certifying Authority, except by direct replacement, and

(c) whenever an accident occurs to a ship or a defect is discovered, either or which affects the safety of the ship or the efficiency or completeness of its life-saving appliances or other equipment:

(i) it is reported at the earliest opportunity to the appropriate Certifying Authority, or a proper officer, and

(ii) if a United Kingdom ship is in such a case in a port outside the United Kingdom it is also reported to the appropriate authorities of the country in which the port is situated.

(2) Whenever an accident or defect is reported to the Certifying Authority or to a proper officer under paragraph (1)(c)(i) above, the Certifying Authority or proper officer shall cause investigations to be initiated to determine whether or not a survey by a surveyor is necessary and shall, if it is found necessary, require such a survey to be carried out.

(3) This regulation applies to:

(a) United Kingdom ships, and

(b) except as regards paragraph (1)(a) above, other ships which have been surveyed pursuant to these Regulations.”.