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 safety certificate to five years. In so doing it

aims to simplify the survey and certification
1. The Merchant Shipping (Survey and process. Following a period of transition, the
Certification) (Amendment) Regulations streamlined format of the HSSC will bring
2000 apply the Harmonised System of benefits to the industry in terms of flexibility
Survey and Certification in the UK. The 1988 of survey schedule, reduced numbers
SOLAS and Load Lines Protocols formally of surveyors, survey time and paperwork,
entered into force internationally on all therefore reducing costs.
3 February 2000, together with amendments
to MARPOL 73/78 and the International Survey Types
Bulk Chemical (IBC) Code, International Gas
Carrier (IGC) Code, Bulk Chemicals (BCH) 3. Under the HSSC, there are seven types
Code, and Gas Carrier (GC) Code. The of survey:
United Kingdom ratified both Protocols on 8
March 2000 with implementing legislation a) Initial Survey.
coming into force three months later. b) Renewal Survey.
c) Periodical Survey.
2. The Harmonised System of Survey and
d) Intermediate Survey.
Certification (HSSC) seeks to standardise the
period of validity and the intervals between e) Annual Survey.
surveys for the nine main convention f) Inspection of the Outside of the Ships
certificates to a maximum period of validly Bottom.
for all certificates except a passenger ship g) Additional Survey.

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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 ship’s An initial survey of cargo ship safety
structure, machinery and equipment, equipment shall include an inspection of the
including the outside of the ship’s bottom and fire safety systems and appliances, life-saving
the inside and outside of the boilers, such as to appliances and arrangements except radio
ensure that the arrangements, materials and installations, the shipborne navigational
scantlings of the structure, boilers and other equipment, means of embarkation for pilots
pressure vessels and their appurtenances, and other equipment to which Chapters II-1,
main and auxiliary machinery, electrical II-2, III and V of the 1974 SOLAS Convention
installation, radio installations including those apply, to ensure that they comply with the
used in life-saving appliances, fire protection, requirements of the relevant regulations, and
fire safety systems and appliances, life-saving they are in satisfactory condition and are fit
appliances and arrangements, shipborne for the service for which the ship is intended.
navigational equipment, nautical publications, In addition the fire control plans, nautical
means of embarkation for pilots, lights, publications, lights, shapes, means of making
shapes, means of making sound and distress sound signals and distress signals shall also
signals and other equipment fully comply be subject to this survey.
with the requirements of the relevant
regulations, and that the workmanship of all An annual survey shall include a general
parts of the ship and its equipment is in all inspection of the equipment referred to
respects satisfactory. above to ensure that it has been maintained
to conform with the provisions of the
A renewal survey of a passenger ship shall relevant regulations to ensure that the ship
include an inspection of the structure, in all respects will remain fit to proceed to
boilers and other pressure vessels, sea without danger to the ship or persons on
machinery and equipment, including the board and that it remains satisfactory for the
outside the ship’s bottom, such as to ensure service for which the ship is intended.
that the arrangements, materials and
scantlings of the structure, boilers and other A renewal survey and a periodical survey
pressure vessels and their appurtenances, shall include an inspection of the equipment
main and auxiliary machinery, electrical referred to in the initial survey to ensure that
installation, radio installations including it complies with the relevant requirements of
those used in life-saving appliances, fire the relevant regulations, is in satisfactory
protection, fire safety systems and condition and is fit for the service for which
appliances, life-saving appliances and the ship is intended.
arrangements, shipborne navigational
equipment, nautical publications, means of
Cargo ship radio installations
embarkation for pilots, lights, shapes, means
of making sound and distress signals and
An initial survey of cargo ship radio
other equipment is in satisfactory condition
installation equipment shall include a
and is fit for the service for which it is
complete inspection of the radio installations
intended, and fully complies with the
of cargo ships, including those used in life-
requirements of the relevant regulations.
saving appliances, to ensure that they
An additional survey, either general or comply with the requirements of the
partial, according to the circumstances, shall relevant regulations.
be made following a repair or renewal. The
survey shall be such as to ensure that the A renewal survey and a periodical survey
necessary repairs or renewals have been will include an inspection of the radio
effectively carried out, that the material and installations of cargo ships, including those
workmanship are in all respects satisfactory, used in life-saving appliances, to ensure that
and that the ship complies with the they comply with the requirements of the
provisions of the relevant regulations. relevant regulations.

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Cargo ship structure, machinery and Inspection of the outside of the ship’s
equipment bottom

An initial survey shall include a complete The inspection of the outside of the ship’s
inspection of the structure, machinery and bottom is a separate survey.
equipment, including an inspection of the
outside of the ship’s bottom, before the ship • Passenger ships
enters service. The survey shall be such as to For passenger ships the inspection is required
ensure that the arrangements, materials, every year. On the years in which the out of
scantling and workmanship of the structure, water inspection does not take place, an in
boilers and other pressure vessels, their water inspection of the ship’s bottom shall be
appurtenances, main and auxiliary carried out. As a minimum, two of these
machinery including steering gear and surveys in any five year period, at intervals
associated control systems, electrical not exceeding 36 months, shall be conducted
installation and other equipment, and in the with the ship out of the water.
case of tankers, the pump-rooms, cargo,
bunker and ventilation piping systems and • Cargo ships
associated safety devices comply with the For cargo ships there shall be a minimum of
requirements of the relevant regulations, are two inspections during any five year period
in satisfactory condition and are fit for the at intervals not exceeding 36 months.
service for which the ship is intended and Inspections should normally be carried out
that the required stability information is with the ship out of the water, however
provided. In the case of tankers such a consideration may be given to alternate
survey shall also include an inspection of the inspections being carried out with the
pump-rooms, cargo, bunker and ventilation ship afloat.
piping systems and associated safety devices.
Outline of HSSC
A renewal survey will include an inspection
of the ship’s structure, machinery and 4. The main points of the Harmonised System
equipment such as to ensure that they of Survey and Certification (see Annex for a
comply with the requirements of the diagrammatic overview) are as follows:
relevant regulations, are in satisfactory
condition and are fit for the service for which a) The maximum period of validity of all
they are intended. certificates except the passenger ship
safety certificate is five years. The
An intermediate survey will include an passenger ship safety certificate shall be
inspection of the structure, boilers and other renewed annually.
pressure vessels, machinery and equipment,
the steering gear and the associated control b) Each full term of five years (or one year)
systems and electrical installations, and in will follow directly on from the previous
the case of tankers, the pump-rooms, cargo, one (unless a ship is laid up or
bunker and ventilation piping systems and undergoing major repairs); each
associated safety devices and the testing of certificate will be dated from the expiry
insulation resistance of electrical installations date of the previous one.
in dangerous zones to ensure that they
remain satisfactory for the service for which c) In order to provide the necessary
the ship is intended. flexibility, the renewal survey may be
carried out up to three months before the
An annual survey will include a general expiry of the existing certificate. The new
inspection of the structure, machinery and certificate will still be dated from the
equipment referred to above to ensure that expiry date of the old certificate.
they have been maintained to conform with
the provisions of the relevant regulations to d) A certificate may also be extended by a
ensure that the ship in all respects will period of up to three months (or for
remain fit to proceed to sea without danger ships engaged on short voyages there is
to the ship or persons on board, and that a period of grace of one month) in order
they remain satisfactory for the service for that the renewal survey may be carried
which the ship is intended. out. However, the new certificate will

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 still be dated from the expiry date of second or third year this is replaced
the old certificate before the extension with an Intermediate survey.
was granted.
(h If an Annual, Intermediate or Periodical
e) Where a renewal survey has been Survey is completed more than three
completed and a certificate cannot be months before the anniversary date, the
issued or placed aboard the ship before anniversary date may be amended to suit
the expiry date of the existing certificate, and the expiry date of the certificate
the existing certificate may be endorsed brought forward by a corresponding
and shall be accepted as the new period or, if the expiry date is to remain
certificate for a period of up to five unchanged, additional surveys, as
months from the expiry date. appropriate, carried out so that the
pattern of surveys remains the same and
f) A certificate (other than a passenger the maximum intervals between the
certificate) that has been issued initially various types of surveys are not exceeded.
for a period of less than five years may
be extended to the maximum period of (i) A new Cargo Ship Safety Certificate
five years provided that the minimum (CSSC), which includes provision for
pattern of surveys is maintained. recording all the surveys required for the
Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate,
g) Every certificate will be subject to an the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate
Annual, Intermediate or Periodical and the Cargo Ship Safety Construction
survey each year within three months of Certificate, may be issued as an
its anniversary date (the day and month alternative to the existing cargo ship
of each year corresponding to the date of safety certificates.
expiry) as follows:
(j) In general the UK will model its
instructions for guidance of surveyors on
(i) The Passenger Certificate (PC)
the Survey Guidelines under the
requires a Renewal survey each year.
Harmonised System of Survey and
Certification (IMO Resolution A.746 (18)).
(ii) The Cargo Ship Safety Radio
Certificate (RADIO) requires a 5. In complying with the provisions of
Periodical survey each year. Regulation 5(1) of these regulations as they
apply to the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate,
(iii) The International Load Line the Certifying Authority should ensure that
Certificate (LOADLINE) requires an they have in their possession declarations
Annual survey each year. of satisfactory survey before the issue of
the CSSC.
(iv) The Cargo Ship Safety Equipment
Certificate (SEC) requires an Annual Relevant UK Legislation
survey every year. On either the
second or third year this is replaced 6. The current provisions for survey and
with a Periodical survey. certification under UK legislation are
contained in the following Statutory
(v) The Cargo Ship Safety Construction Instruments :-
Certificate (SAFCON), the
International Certificate of Fitness for 19995/1210 MS (Survey and Certification)
the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Regulations;
Bulk (IGC/GC), the International
Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage *1994/2264 MS (Gas Carriers) Regulations;
of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk
*1996/3010 MS( Dangerous or Noxious
(IBC/BCH), the International Oil
Liquid Substances in Bulk)
Pollution Prevention Certificate
Regulations;
(IOPPC) and the International
Pollution Prevention Certificate for 1968/1053 MS (Load Line ) Rules;
the Carriage of Noxious Liquid
Substances in Bulk all require Annual *1996/2154 MS (Prevention of Oil Pollution)
surveys each year. On either the Regulations.

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7. To ensure full harmonisation of all the nine 10. In the case where an existing certificate has
convention certificates those regulations expired before the introduction of the
marked with * require further minor harmonised system, a new certificate using
amendment after 8 June 2000 but this should the form prescribed under the harmonised
not affect the practical application of HSSC system may be issued after the renewal
provisions in the mean time. survey has been carried out. The validity of
the new certificate shall be limited to the date
Transitional arrangements of the introduction of the harmonised system
for that ship (as set out in paragraph 6).
8. The current certificates that are on board a
particular ship on 8 June 2000 will remain in 11. On the agreed date, renewal surveys leading
force until they expire or until it is decided to the issue of a complete set of new
to implement the HSSC on that ship. certificates will be carried out and new
certificates issued under the harmonised
9. The owner, in conjunction with the system. The anniversary date common to all
administration and any recognised certificates should be specified. Renewal
organisation that issue certificates on their surveys carried out within three months of
behalf, will then agree a mutually convenient the date of the introduction of the harmonised
date on which to implement the HSSC for the system shall be valid and the extent of
ship. This will normally be the latest expiry renewal surveys to be carried out shall take
date of certificates issued under the SOLAS, account of the date and extent of the previous
Loadline and MARPOL Conventions. renewal surveys if carried out recently.
Alternatively a date may be agreed between
the shipowner or Company to coincide with 12. The survey requirements, periods of validity
the expiry date of the Cargo Ship Safety and extension provisions that form part of
Construction Certificate or with the date of the HSSC will then apply to each ship to
dry docking, refit or repair. which the new certificates have been issued.

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
MS 103/001/0214 Environment, Transport and the Regions

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 ANNEX

THE HARMONISED SYSTEM OF SURVEY AND CERTIFICATION

Diagrammatic Arrangement

Years 0 1 2 3 4 5

Months 0 9 12 15 21 24 27 33 36 39 45 48 51 57 60 63

PASSENGER R R R R R
←→ ←→ ←→ ←→ ←→

SEC A A or P P or A A R
←→ ←→ ←→ ←→ ←→

RADIO P P P P R

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←→ ←→ ←→ ←→ ←→

SAFCON A A or I I or A A R
←→ ←→ ←→ ←→ ←→

IGC/GC A A or I I or A A R
←→ ←→ ←→ ←→ ←→

IBC/BCH A A or I I or A A R
←→ ←→ ←→ ←→ ←→

LOADLINE A A A A R
←→ ←→ ←→ ←→ ←→

MARPOL A A or I I or A A R
Annex I ←→ ←→ ←→ ←→ ←→

MARPOL A A or I I or A A R
Annex II A ←→ ←→ ←→ ←→ ←→

Legend R – Renewal P – Periodical I – Intermediate A – Annual

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