MERCHANT SHIPPING NOTICE

MSN 1751 (M+F)

Harmonised System of Survey and Certification (HSSC)
Notice to Shipowners, Ship Operators, Masters and Officers of Merchant Ships, Certifying
Authorities and Surveyors.
This MSN cancels M963 and M 1612

Summary
This Merchant Shipping Notice provides background and necessary detail to accompany the
Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) (Amendment) Regulations 2000.
The above regulations implement the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea 1974, which harmonises the periods of validity and intervals between surveys for
the nine main convention certificates. These are listed in the attached Annex.
There is a new provision for a certificate known as the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate which may be
issued as an alternative to the three existing cargo ship safety certificates, namely Cargo Ship Safety
Construction, Cargo Ship Safety Equipment and Cargo Ship Safety Radio.

Background
1.

2.

safety certificate to five years. In so doing it

aims to simplify the survey and certification
process. Following a period of transition, the
streamlined format of the HSSC will bring
benefits to the industry in terms of flexibility
of survey schedule, reduced numbers
of surveyors, survey time and paperwork,
all therefore reducing costs.

The Merchant Shipping (Survey and

Certification) (Amendment) Regulations
2000 apply the Harmonised System of
Survey and Certification in the UK. The 1988
SOLAS and Load Lines Protocols formally
entered into force internationally on
3 February 2000, together with amendments
to MARPOL 73/78 and the International
Bulk Chemical (IBC) Code, International Gas
Carrier (IGC) Code, Bulk Chemicals (BCH)
Code, and Gas Carrier (GC) Code. The
United Kingdom ratified both Protocols on 8
March 2000 with implementing legislation
coming into force three months later.

Survey Types
3.

Under the HSSC, there are seven types

of survey:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

Initial Survey.
Renewal Survey.
Periodical Survey.
Intermediate Survey.
Annual Survey.
Inspection of the Outside of the Ships
Bottom.
g) Additional Survey.

The Harmonised System of Survey and

Certification (HSSC) seeks to standardise the
period of validity and the intervals between
surveys for the nine main convention
certificates to a maximum period of validly
for all certificates except a passenger ship

SCOPE OF SURVEYS

Cargo ships

Passenger ships

Cargo ship safety equipment

An initial survey of a passenger ship shall

consist of a complete inspection of the ships
structure, machinery and equipment,
including the outside of the ships bottom and
the inside and outside of the boilers, such as to
ensure that the arrangements, materials 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 requirements of the relevant
regulations, and that the workmanship of all
parts of the ship and its equipment is in all
respects satisfactory.

An initial survey of cargo ship safety

equipment shall include an inspection of the
fire safety systems and appliances, life-saving
appliances and arrangements except radio
installations, the shipborne navigational
equipment, means of embarkation for pilots
and other equipment to which Chapters II-1,
II-2, III and V of the 1974 SOLAS Convention
apply, to ensure that they comply with the
requirements of the relevant regulations, and
they are in satisfactory condition and are fit
for the service for which the ship is intended.
In addition the fire control plans, nautical
publications, lights, shapes, means of making
sound signals and distress signals shall also
be subject to this survey.
An annual survey shall include a general
inspection of the equipment referred to
above to ensure that it has been maintained
to conform with the provisions of the
relevant regulations to ensure that the ship
in all respects will remain fit to proceed to
sea without danger to the ship or persons on
board and that it remains satisfactory for the
service for which the ship is intended.

A renewal survey of a passenger ship shall

include an inspection of the structure,
boilers and other pressure vessels,
machinery and equipment, including the
outside the ships bottom, such as to ensure
that the arrangements, materials 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 is in satisfactory condition
and is fit for the service for which it is
intended, and fully complies with the
requirements of the relevant regulations.

A renewal survey and a periodical survey

shall include an inspection of the equipment
referred to in the initial survey to ensure that
it complies with the relevant requirements of
the relevant regulations, is in satisfactory
condition and is fit for the service for which
the ship is intended.
Cargo ship radio installations
An initial survey of cargo ship radio
installation equipment shall include a
complete inspection of the radio installations
of cargo ships, including those used in lifesaving appliances, to ensure that they
comply with the requirements of the
relevant regulations.

An additional survey, either general or

partial, according to the circumstances, shall
be made following a repair or renewal. The
survey shall be such as to ensure that the
necessary repairs or renewals have been
effectively carried out, that the material and
workmanship are in all respects satisfactory,
and that the ship complies with the
provisions of the relevant regulations.

A renewal survey and a periodical survey

will include an inspection of the radio
installations of cargo ships, including those
used in life-saving appliances, to ensure that
they comply with the requirements of the
relevant regulations.

Cargo ship structure, machinery and

equipment

Inspection of the outside of the ships

bottom

An initial survey shall include a complete

inspection of the structure, machinery and
equipment, including an inspection of the
outside of the ships bottom, before the ship
enters service. The survey shall be such as to
ensure that the arrangements, materials,
scantling and workmanship of the structure,
boilers and other pressure vessels, their
appurtenances, main and auxiliary
machinery including steering gear and
associated control systems, electrical
installation and other equipment, and in the
case of tankers, the pump-rooms, cargo,
bunker and ventilation piping systems and
associated safety devices comply with the
requirements of the relevant regulations, are
in satisfactory condition and are fit for the
service for which the ship is intended and
that the required stability information is
provided. In the case of tankers such a
survey shall also include an inspection of the
pump-rooms, cargo, bunker and ventilation
piping systems and associated safety devices.

The inspection of the outside of the ships

bottom is a separate survey.
Passenger ships
For passenger ships the inspection is required
every year. On the years in which the out of
water inspection does not take place, an in
water inspection of the ships bottom shall be
carried out. As a minimum, two of these
surveys in any five year period, at intervals
not exceeding 36 months, shall be conducted
with the ship out of the water.
Cargo ships
For cargo ships there shall be a minimum of
two inspections during any five year period
at intervals not exceeding 36 months.
Inspections should normally be carried out
with the ship out of the water, however
consideration may be given to alternate
inspections being carried out with the
ship afloat.
Outline of HSSC

A renewal survey will include an inspection

of the ships structure, machinery and
equipment such as to ensure that they
comply with the requirements of the
relevant regulations, are in satisfactory
condition and are fit for the service for which
they are intended.

4.

The main points of the Harmonised System

of Survey and Certification (see Annex for a
diagrammatic overview) are as follows:
a) The maximum period of validity of all
certificates except the passenger ship
safety certificate is five years. The
passenger ship safety certificate shall be
renewed annually.

An intermediate survey will include an

inspection of the structure, boilers and other
pressure vessels, machinery and equipment,
the steering gear and the associated control
systems and electrical installations, and in
the case of tankers, the pump-rooms, cargo,
bunker and ventilation piping systems and
associated safety devices and the testing of
insulation resistance of electrical installations
in dangerous zones to ensure that they
remain satisfactory for the service for which
the ship is intended.

b) Each full term of five years (or one year)

will follow directly on from the previous
one (unless a ship is laid up or
undergoing major repairs); each
certificate will be dated from the expiry
date of the previous one.
c) In order to provide the necessary
flexibility, the renewal survey may be
carried out up to three months before the
expiry of the existing certificate. The new
certificate will still be dated from the
expiry date of the old certificate.

An annual survey will include a general

inspection of the structure, machinery and
equipment referred to above to ensure that
they have been maintained to conform with
the provisions of the relevant regulations to
ensure that the ship in all respects will
remain fit to proceed to sea without danger
to the ship or persons on board, and that
they remain satisfactory for the service for
which the ship is intended.

d) A certificate may also be extended by a

period of up to three months (or for
ships engaged on short voyages there is
a period of grace of one month) in order
that the renewal survey may be carried
out. However, the new certificate will

still be dated from the expiry date of

the old certificate before the extension
was granted.

second or third year this is replaced

with an Intermediate survey.
(h If an Annual, Intermediate or Periodical
Survey is completed more than three
months before the anniversary date, the
anniversary date may be amended to suit
and the expiry date of the certificate
brought forward by a corresponding
period or, if the expiry date is to remain
unchanged, additional surveys, as
appropriate, carried out so that the
pattern of surveys remains the same and
the maximum intervals between the
various types of surveys are not exceeded.

e) Where a renewal survey has been

completed and a certificate cannot be
issued or placed aboard the ship before
the expiry date of the existing certificate,
the existing certificate may be endorsed
and shall be accepted as the new
certificate for a period of up to five
months from the expiry date.
f)

A certificate (other than a passenger

certificate) that has been issued initially
for a period of less than five years may
be extended to the maximum period of
five years provided that the minimum
pattern of surveys is maintained.

(i) A new Cargo Ship Safety Certificate

(CSSC), which includes provision for
recording all the surveys required for the
Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate,
the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate
and the Cargo Ship Safety Construction
Certificate, may be issued as an
alternative to the existing cargo ship
safety certificates.

g) Every certificate will be subject to an

Annual, Intermediate or Periodical
survey each year within three months of
its anniversary date (the day and month
of each year corresponding to the date of
expiry) as follows:
(i)

The Passenger Certificate (PC)

requires a Renewal survey each year.

(ii)

The Cargo Ship Safety Radio

Certificate (RADIO) requires a
Periodical survey each year.

(j) In general the UK will model its

instructions for guidance of surveyors on
the Survey Guidelines under the
Harmonised System of Survey and
Certification (IMO Resolution A.746 (18)).
5.

(iii) The International Load Line

Certificate (LOADLINE) requires an
Annual survey each year.
(iv) The Cargo Ship Safety Equipment
Certificate (SEC) requires an Annual
survey every year. On either the
second or third year this is replaced
with a Periodical survey.
(v)

In complying with the provisions of

Regulation 5(1) of these regulations as they
apply to the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate,
the Certifying Authority should ensure that
they have in their possession declarations
of satisfactory survey before the issue of
the CSSC.

Relevant UK Legislation
6.

The Cargo Ship Safety Construction

Certificate
(SAFCON),
the
International Certificate of Fitness for
the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in
Bulk (IGC/GC), the International
Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage
of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk
(IBC/BCH), the International Oil
Pollution Prevention Certificate
(IOPPC) and the International
Pollution Prevention Certificate for
the Carriage of Noxious Liquid
Substances in Bulk all require Annual
surveys each year. On either the

The current provisions for survey and

certification under UK legislation are
contained in the following Statutory
Instruments :19995/1210 MS (Survey and Certification)
Regulations;
*1994/2264 MS (Gas Carriers) Regulations;
*1996/3010 MS( Dangerous or Noxious
Liquid Substances in Bulk)
Regulations;
1968/1053

MS (Load Line ) Rules;

*1996/2154 MS (Prevention of Oil Pollution)

Regulations.

7. To ensure full harmonisation of all the nine

convention certificates those regulations
marked with * require further minor
amendment after 8 June 2000 but this should
not affect the practical application of HSSC
provisions in the mean time.

10.

In the case where an existing certificate has

expired before the introduction of the
harmonised system, a new certificate using
the form prescribed under the harmonised
system may be issued after the renewal
survey has been carried out. The validity of
the new certificate shall be limited to the date
of the introduction of the harmonised system
for that ship (as set out in paragraph 6).

11.

On the agreed date, renewal surveys leading

to the issue of a complete set of new
certificates will be carried out and new
certificates issued under the harmonised
system. The anniversary date common to all
certificates should be specified. Renewal
surveys carried out within three months of
the date of the introduction of the harmonised
system shall be valid and the extent of
renewal surveys to be carried out shall take
account of the date and extent of the previous
renewal surveys if carried out recently.

12.

The survey requirements, periods of validity

and extension provisions that form part of
the HSSC will then apply to each ship to
which the new certificates have been issued.

Transitional arrangements
8.

9.

The current certificates that are on board a

particular ship on 8 June 2000 will remain in
force until they expire or until it is decided
to implement the HSSC on that ship.
The owner, in conjunction with the
administration and any recognised
organisation that issue certificates on their
behalf, will then agree a mutually convenient
date on which to implement the HSSC for the
ship. This will normally be the latest expiry
date of certificates issued under the SOLAS,
Loadline and MARPOL Conventions.
Alternatively a date may be agreed between
the shipowner or Company to coincide with
the expiry date of the Cargo Ship Safety
Construction Certificate or with the date of
dry docking, refit or repair.

Survey Policy Branch

Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton SO15 1EG
Tel: 023 80329518
Fax: 023 80329104
June 2000
An executive agency of the Department of the
Environment, Transport and the Regions

MS 103/001/0214

A or I

A or I

A or I

IBC/BCH

LOADLINE

MARPOL
Annex I

MARPOL
Annex II A

I Intermediate

A or I

IGC/GC

P Periodical

A or I

SAFCON

R Renewal

RADIO

Legend

A or P

SEC

21 24 27

9 12 15

Months 0

Years

PASSENGER

Diagrammatic Arrangement

THE HARMONISED SYSTEM OF SURVEY AND CERTIFICATION

ANNEX

A Annual

I or A

I or A

I or A

I or A

I or A

P or A

33 36 39

45 48 51

57 60 63