1. Statutory requirements
1. What is your ticket limitations / v Master of vessel less than 3000 gt on near coastal voyagesv Chief officer on vessels unlimited voyages and tonnage
2. What do you mean by NCV / E03d.2 Trading areas under STCW 95
v “Near-coastal voyages” means Voyages in the vicinity of a Party as defined by that Party” (STCW regulation I/1.13).
v It is thus for each Party to the Convention, so long as they communicate their definitions to IMO in accordance with regulation I/7. Section A-I/3, which has the same title as regulation I/3, contains no mandatory provisions.
v Section B-I/3 contains Guidance regarding near-coastal voyages and contains a list of factors that should be taken account of by Parties defining “near-coastal voyages”.
v An STCW Party which includes voyages off another Party’s coast within the limits of its “near-coastal voyage” definition may enter into a bilateral agreement with the (other) Party concerned.
v It is not intended that ships engaged on near-coastal voyages should extend their voyages world-wide, under the excuse that they are navigating constantly within limits of designated near-coastal voyages of neighboring Parties.
3. What do you know about flag state and port state / Flag state control / port state control
1. is the state whose flag the vessel is entitled to fly
2. vessels are subjected to the jurisdiction and control in administration
3. maintaining a register of ships flying their flag
4. make sure vessel under their flag maintaining required standards by appointing various surveyors in the harmonized system
5. make sure vessels are adequately manned
6. type approval for various equipment under SOLAS regulations / 1. is the inspection body of the ships are entering in to their respective harbors
2. is to inspect the vessel for their proper maintenance of required safety standards and manning levels
3. Port state control actually does what flag state control should do but due to various reasons is fail to do so.
4. Port control has power to detain the vessel if they are not complying the required safety standards and found not seaworthy.
4. What is FOC (ITF)
Other names for the same
1. “flags of necessity”
2. “open registers”
3. “free flags”. / v FOCs are deemed by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) (see C05) to exist where beneficial Ownership and control of the vessel is found to lie elsewhere than in the country of the flag the vessel is flying.
v FOCs are designated by the ITF Fair Practices Committee, which decides which flags are FOCs and which are not.
v This committee maintains a list of countries offering FOC facilities and from time to time adds countries to or deletes them from the list.
v The criteria for entry in the list are the “Rochdale Criteria”, which were laid down by a British Committee of Inquiry into Shipping in 1970. The criteria include:
• whether the country allows non-citizens to own and control vessels;
• whether access to and transfer from the registry is easy;
• whether taxes on shipping income are low or non-existent;
• whether the country of registration does not need the shipping tonnage for its own purposes but is keen to earn the tonnage fees;
• whether manning by non-nationals is freely permitted;
• Whether the country lacks the power (or the willingness) to impose national or international regulations on the shipowners using its flag.
* In defining an FOC register, the ITF takes as the most important factor whether the nationality of the shipowner is
the same as the nationality of the flag.
* FOC ships are beneficially owned mainly in the USA, Greece, Hong Kong, and Western European States.
* The list of ITF-designated FOCs can be viewed at www.itf.org.uk/seafarers/foc/foc.htm In April 2002 it included the following 30 flags: Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba (Netherlands), Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda
1 UNCLOS Article 91 provides that there must be a genuine link between the ship and the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly, but fails to say what this means in practice.
Why do ships need registry / * Registration of a ship -
1. Establishes the ship’s nationality, measurements and tonnage for identification purposes
2. provides documentary evidence of ownership (in the register, not on the Certificate of Registry)
3. Allows the ship to operate commercially (since clearance from ports normally requires production of a Certificate of Registry to prove nationality)
4. grants recognition as a vessel of the flag State and enjoyment of the normal privileges accorded to vessels of that State, e.g. consular assistance in foreign ports and the protection of the flag State’s armed forces;
* A major reason for Part I and Part II registration (i.e. as a merchant ship, large pleasure vessel or fishing vessel) is to be able to use the vessel as security for a marine mortgage. Most finance companies prefer the security of having their mortgage on a ship registered so that their claim against the ship is clear.
What are the types of ship registry / National registers / v Are registers where there is a genuine link between the vessels’s flag State and the owner or operator (as required by UNCLOS).
v Are known also as “closed registers” and “first registers”.
v Include the first registers of most of the “traditional” ship owning nations including the UK, Norway, France, Denmark, Germany and many others.
Flags of convenience (FOCs) / v FOCs are deemed by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) (see C05) to exist where beneficial Ownership and control of the vessel is found to lie elsewhere than in the country of the flag the vessel is flying.
Second registers / Known as offshore registers and international ship registers.
Bareboat charter registers / v Several States, including the UK, have relaxed their ship registration legislation to allow for the bareboat chartering of ships into or out of the national flag.
v For the duration of the bareboat charter, but usually subject to a specified maximum term, the vessel is entered on the register of the bareboat charterer’s State (the “bareboat charter registry”) and flies that State’s flag, whilst retaining her primary registration. On the termination of the bareboat charter, the bareboat charter registry is cancelled and the vessel reverts to her primary registry2.
What is second registry / Second registers
v Are also known as offshore registers and international ship registers.
v are in some cases established under separate legislation as a second register in the “parent” State, e.g. the Norwegian International Ship register (NIS), which is established in Norway to run alongside the Norwegian “first register”
v Are in other cases established in an offshore territory with legal links to the “parent” State, e.g. Kerguelen (linked to France), Isle of Man (linked to the UK); these registers may be termed offshore registers.
v First appeared in June 1987 with the establishment of NIS, immediate success of which prompted other countries to follow its example.
v Are different from FOCs in that, while manning, taxation and other laws may be relaxed under the second register, shipowners must still have a genuine link with the flag State.
v have their status determined by the ITF (see C05), which considers whether ownership is genuinely from the flag “parent” State and whether there are agreements acceptable to that country’s trades unions.
v Include the following registers: Danish International Ship Register (DIS) (Denmark), Isle of Man (UK), Kerguelen (France), Madeira (Portugal) and Norwegian International Ship Register (NIS) (Norway).
What is the link between ship owner and flag state / As per the UNCLOS there must be a genuine link between the flag state and the ship owner
Is it possible to keep port as port of registry outside the flag state / Yes. This is called 2nd register
What are the statutory certificates / Certificates that must be carried as per the administration’s local law. This depends upon the international conventions ratified by the particular flag administration
certificate / validity / surveys / Issuing authority
1 / International load line certificate (ILLC) / 5 yrs / AIR / Administration
2 / International oil pollution prevention certificate (IOPPC) / 5 yrs / AIR / Administration
3 / International safety management certificate (ISM) / 5 yrs / AIR / Administration
4 / International ship security certificate(ISSC) / 5 yrs / AIR / Administration
5 / International air pollution certificate (IAPP) / 5 yrs / AIR / Administration
6 / Cargo ship safety construction certificate / 5 yrs / AIR / Administration
7 / Cargo ship safety equipment certificate / 5 yrs / APR / Administration
8 / Cargo ship safety radio certificate / 5 yrs / APR / Administration
9 / Cargo ship safety certificate / 5 yrs / Administration
10 / Passenger ship safety certificate / 1 year / IR / Administration
11 / Special trade passenger ship safety certificate(STP) / 1 year / IR / Administration
12 / International pollution prevention certificate for noxious liquid in bulk / 5 years / AIR / Administration
13 / Certificate of fitness for the carriage of dangerous chemical in bulk / 5 years / AIR / Administration
Who issue the statutory certificates / Issued by the flag administration or the recognized body on behalf of the flag administration(eg Classification society on behalf of the flag admin)
What is the procedure of issuing of above certificates / v Since most of the flag administrations do not have the experienced surveys for the purpose of surveying the delegate this task to the approved recognized body to survey the vessel and issue the certificates of behalf of them.
v Always surveys are done in accordance with the flag state rules and regulations
When registering a ship in Sri Lankan flag, what type is it / Flag of Opportunity if the ownership is Sir Lankan. Also it is called the first registry
What is the difference between FOC and FOO / FOO : Comparatively high standard requirements with high registration fees
FOC : Comparatively Law standard requirements with law registration fees
What are the special certificates to be carried onboard tankers / Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH code) / BCH Code
International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk ( IBC code) / IBC code
Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk. / GC Code
International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk. / IGC code
certificate / validity / surveys / Issuing authority
Anchor certificate
Minimum safe manning certificate
Safety management certificate
Document of compliance
Life raft certificate / 1 yr but can extend up to 5 months / manufcaturerer
How Sri Lankan flag state implement the load line convention / 1. Ratify the convention (Party to the convention)
2. A draft with effect to this will be made by the ministry of shipping
3. This draft will be sent to the parliament for the cabinet approval
4. Once the cabinet approval is received, it will be added to the Merchant shipping act and will be gazetted
What is the difference between statutory and trading certificates / Both have the meaning same
What is the difference between oil pollution insurance certificate and cargo insurance certificate / v Cargo insurance has limited coverage
v Oil pollution insurance has unlimited coverage
Codes and conventions related to shipping / 1. 1974 SOLAS Convention, including 1978 and 1988 Protocols and all amendments
2. 1966 Load Lines Convention, including the 1988 and 2003 Protocols
3. MARPOL 73/78, convention including all amendments
4. 1978 and 1995 STCW Convention and Code, with amendments
5. 1972 Collision Regulations
6. 1969 Tonnage Convention
7. 2004 Ballast Water Management Convention (BWM convention)
8. International Bulk Chemical (IBC) Code, with amendments
9. International Gas Carrier Code (IGC) Code, with amendments
10. International Safety Management (ISM) Code
11. International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code
12. International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC) 1994 and 2000
13. Code of Safe Practice for Solid Bulk Cargoes (BC Code), with amendments. It will be amended as IMSBC code (International maritime solid bulk cargoes)
14. International Grain Code
15. Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing, as amended
16. Code of Safe Practice for Ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes, as amended
17. 1989 Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU Code), as amended in 1991
18. International Code of Signals
19. International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code
20. Recommendations on the Safe Use of Pesticides in Ships.
21. International Convention on Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation (OPRC), 1990
OPRC-HNS Protocol 2000.
Whereas only the most known requirements are listed above, the database also contains best safety-related documents issued by IMO such as circulars, resolutions, etc.
IMO-Vega is also available as a web-based solution and can be accessed directly through your web browser provided you have a user ID and password. The web-based solution will be regularly updated when new IMO requirements are made available.
View the IMO-Vega Database (V13.0) demo
Important publications to be carried onboard / IAMSAR Volume I / Organization and Management (Volume I) discusses the global SAR system concept, establishment and improvement of national and regional SAR systems, and co-operation with neighboring States to provide effective and economical SAR services.
This Manual is published jointly by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization. It has been updated from the first edition by including the amendments that were adopted by sessions of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee since June 2001, up to and including May 2006, all of which have now entered into force.
This volume is now updated by the amendments that were adopted by
the eighty-third session in May 2007 (which apply from 1 June 2008).
IAMSAR MANUAL, Volume II: MISSION CO-ORDINATION, 2008 Edition / The Mission Co-ordination volume assists personnel who plan and co- ordinate SAR operations and exercises. This Manual is published jointly by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization.