Harmonised Survey System for Ships

On February 3, 2000, International Maritime Organization (IMO)

adopted a harmonised survey system for ships, 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:

 International Convention for the Safety of Life at

Sea (SOLAS), 1974

 The International Convention on Load Lines (LL), 1966

 The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution

from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating
thereto –MARPOL 73/78

 The International Code for the Construction and Equipment

of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code)

 Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying

Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code)
 Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying
Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code).

Features
1) A standard interval of one year between harmonised surveys for
ships which could be based on any of the followings:
  Initial survey – A complete inspection of all the items
concerning the particular certificate before the ship is put into
service to make sure they possess satisfactory conditions and
are capable of carry out the service for which the ship is
intended

 Periodical survey – An official examination of the items

relating to the particular certificate to ensure that they are
meeting the requirements and are fit for the intended services

 Renewal survey – As similar as the periodical survey but

consequently results in issuing a new certificate

 Intermediate survey – Inspection of specified items

 Annual survey – General reviewing of the items concerned

to the particular certificate to ascertain the fact that they have
been observed maintained and remained fit for the service for
which the ship is designated.

 Additional survey – General or partial Inspection,

according to the circumstances, made after a repair resulting
from casualty probes or whenever there is an important
repair or renewal made.

2) A maximum period of validity of one year and five years for

all passenger ship certificates and cargo ship certificates
respectively

3) Three months extension for cargo ship certificates on the

harmonised survey system for ships and one month for short
voyages. When the duration of a particular certificate is extended,
the period of validity of new certificate begins from the expiry date
of last certificate.
4) 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.

5) 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

6) No more unscheduled inspections for harmonised system of

classification for ships, while annual surveys have been made
mandatory.

Purpose
Surveys, made in accordance with the harmonised survey system
for ships, are purported 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.

Certificates
The Harmonised system of classification for ships is related to
several certificates, depending upon the type of ships, including:

 Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, including Record of

Equipment
 Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate
 Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, including Record of
Equipment
  Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate, including Record of
Equipment
 Cargo Ship Safety Certificate, including Record of Equipment
 International Load Lines Certificate
 International Load Lines Exemption Certificate
 International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate
 International Pollution Prevention Certificate for the Carriage
of Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk
 International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of
Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk
 International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of
Liquefied Gases in Bulk
 Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals
in Bulk

3 months

3 months
3 months

3 months
3 months
3 months
3 months
3 months

Initial

4th Annual
1st Annual 2nd Annual/ 3rd Annual/
Intermediate Intermediate

Renewal

3 months