HSSC (HARMONIZED SYSTEM

OF SURVEY & CERTIFICATION)

Class:- Chief Mates Phase I

Presented By: Pramod K.B
Duration – 1 hrs. Faculty-Naval Architecture.
 Introduction
Pursuant to a decision of 15th ASSEMBLY, IMO convened an
International conference on Harmonized system of Survey &
Certification(HSSC)

Main purpose of this conference was to consider & adopt a

protocol 1988 relating to SOLAS 74 and a Protocol 1988 to
International Load Line Convention ‘66 in order to introduce
HSSC.

MARPOL 73/78 was later on amended ,so are the relevant codes
to be part of HSSC.

After requisite ratifications, HSSC came into force on 3rd

February,2000.
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 INSPECTION & SURVEY

The inspection and survey of ships, for enforcement of provisions of these

international regulations and granting of exemptions there from ,shall be
carried out by surveyors of Administration .Administration may, however,
entrust inspections and surveys or to recognized organizations (Ros):

Administration shall notify IMO of specific responsibilities and conditions of

authority delegated to nominated surveyors or Ro s.

Administration (FINAL RESPONSIBILITY) - Government of India

Ro s – 8 (Also member of IACS)

IRS,BV,DNV,ABS,NKK,GL,RINA

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When a nominated surveyor or recognized organisation determines that condition of
ship or its equipment does not correspond substantially with the particulars of the
certificate or is not fit to proceed to sea without danger to ship, or persons on board,
such surveyor or organisation shall immediately ensure that corrective action is
taken and shall in due course notify the Administration:

If such corrective action is not taken the relevant certificate should be withdrawn
and the administration shall be notified immediately;

In every case, the Administration shall fully guarantee completeness and efficiency
of inspection and survey, and shall undertake to ensure the necessary arrangements
to satisfy this obligation.

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Any convention has 2 issues
• Legal points- Articles or Protocols
• Annexe to individual conventions. – Regulations

Unless legal aspect of enforcement is properly

addressed it is not possible to implement
regulation in proper perspective.

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 Relevant Instruments & Codes
• Guidelines to Harmonized system of survey
and certification ,IMO Assembly Resolutions
A.746(18) and A 883(21) identifies following
instruments & codes relating to HSSC:
• SOLAS 1974 as modified by its 1988 Protocol;
• LLC 1966 as modified by its 1988 Protocol;

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• MARPOL 73/78 as amended by Resolution MEPC.39 (29)
(MARPOL 73/78/90);

Cargo specific codes

• IBC Code(International bulk chemical code) as
amended by Resolutions MEPC.40(29) and MSC.16(58) (IBC Code 83/90);
applicable to chemical tankers or other ships carrying chemicals.

• IGC Code(International Gas Carrier),as amended by

Resolution MSC.17(58) (IGC Code 83/90);
• BCH Code as amended by Resolutions MEPC. 41(29) and
MSC.18(58) (BCH Code 85/90).

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 Certificates to be carried on board ships

 International Tonnage Certificate;

 International Load Line Certificate;
 Passenger Ship Safety Certificate;
 Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate;
 Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate;
 Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate
 Cargo Ship Safety Certificate
 Safety Management Certificate
 International Ship Security Certificate
 Stability Information;
 Damage Control Information;
 Cargo Securing Manual
 Minimum safe manning document;
 Certificates for masters, officers or ratings;
 International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate;
 International Certificate for the Carriage of Noxious Liquid Substances;
 International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate;
 International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate;
 International Anti-fouling System Certificate;
 Oil Record Book;
 Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan;
 Garbage Management Plan;
 Garbage Record Book; and so on.
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 Salient Points of HSSC.
• The Harmonized system provides for:
• A One year standard interval between surveys, based on initial, annual,
intermediate, periodical and renewal surveys as approximate;
• A Scheme for providing the necessary flexibility for the execution of each
survey with the provision that :

The renewal survey may be completed within 3 months before expiry

date of the existing certificate with no loss of its period of validity.

There is a window period of 6 months from 3 months before to 3

months after the anniversary date of the certificate for annual,
intermediate and periodical surveys;

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 Salient Points of HSSC.
• A maximum period of validity of five years for all certificates for
cargo ships;
• A maximum period of validity of 12 months for the passenger ship
safety certificate;

• A system for the extension of certificates limited to three months

to enable a ship to complete its voyage or one month for ships
engaged on short voyages;

• The period of validity of the new certificate starting from the

expiry date of the existing certificate before its extension, when an
extension has been granted;

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 Salient Points of HSSC.
• A flexible system for inspection of the outside of the
ships bottom on the following conditions:
 A minimum of two inspections during any five year period;
 The interval between any two such inspections shall not exceed 36
months;

• A provision for a cargo ship safety Certificate under

SOLAS 74/88 as an alternative to separate Cargo Ship
Safety Construction, Cargo Safety Equipment and
Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificates;
• A flexible system concerning frequency and period of
validity of certificates, provided that the minimum
pattern of surveys is maintained;
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 Salient Points of HSSC.
• Principal changes have been made to survey and
certification requirements of SOLAS 74.88 are:
 Unscheduled inspections are no longer included and annual surveys
are mandatory for cargo ships;
 Intervals between periodical surveys of equipment covered by
Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate are alternatively at
intervals of two and three years (Choice given to owner!!!) instead of
two years:
 Intermediate surveys are required for all sips under the Cargo Ship
Safety Construction Certificate;
 Inspections of the outside of the ships bottom are required for all
cargo ships;
 Intermediate surveys for the Cargo ship safety Construction are
held within three months of either the second or third anniversary
date;

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 All Cargo Ship Certificates may be issued for any period of validity upto
and including five years;

 There is provision for a cargo ship Safety Certificate;

 The extension provisions have been reduced from five months to three
months to enable a ship to complete its voyage and the extension for one
month for a period of grace is limited to ships engaged on short voyages;

 With regard to ILLC 66/88 , principal changes to

requirements for survey and certification are the
introduction of similar extension provisions and
linking of the new certificate to the expiry date of the
previous certificate.

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 Salient Points of HSSC.

• With Marpol 73/78/90 and the IBC code 83/90 and

the IGC Code 83/90, main changes are the linking of
period of validity of new certificate , holding of the
intermediate survey within three months of the
second or third anniversary date and introduction of
same extension provisions.

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 Conventions & Codes References
Initial Surveys.
• Implementation of any convention requires clarity on legal
authority.
• SOLAS 74/88 – Chapter I
• ILLC 66/88 ,Article 14(1)(a).
• MARPOL 73/78/90, ANNEX I , Regulation 4(1)(a);
(oil tankers)
• MARPOL 73/78/90,Annex II,Regulation 10(1)(a);
(Chemical Tankers)
 IBC Code 83/90,Regulation 1.5.2.1.1
 IGC Code 83/90,Regulation 1.6.2.1.1

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PERIODICAL SURVEYS
SOLAS 74/88 , chapter I, Regulation 8(a) (iii);
Regulation 9(a)(iii),
RENEWAL SURVEYS
- SOLAS 74/88, CHAPTER 1, REGULATION 7(a)(ii):
REGULATION 8(a)(ii);
REGULATION 9(a)(ii);
REGULATION 10(a)(ii);
LLC 66/88 ARTICLE 14(1)(b)
MARPOL 73/78/90,ANNEX I, REGULATION 4(1)(b)
MARPOL 73/78/90,ANNEX II, REGULATION 10(1)(b)
 IBC Code 83/90,Regulation 1.5.2.1.2
 IGC Code 83/90,Regulation 1.6.2.1.2

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DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS
TYPES OF SURVEY

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 INITIAL SURVEYS

Frequency: Initial survey as required by relevant regulations,

should be held before ship is put into service and appropriate
certificate is issued for the first time;

General: Initial survey should include a complete inspection ,

with tests when necessary, of the structure ,machinery and
equipment to ensure that requirements relevant to particular
certificate are compiled with and that the structure, machinery
and equipment are fit for service for which ship is intended.

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 INITIAL SURVEYS
• Initial survey should consist of:
 An examination of the Plans, Diagrams, specifications,
calculations and their other technical documentation to verify
that structure, machinery and equipment comply with
requirements relevant to particular certificate;

 An inspection of structure, machinery and equipment to

ensure that the materials, scantlings, construction and
arrangements, as appropriate , are in accordance with
approved plans, diagrams, specifications, calculations and
other technical documentation and their workmanship and
installation are in all respects satisfactory;

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 INITIAL SURVEYS
A check that all certificates, record books, operating manuals and
other instructions and documentation specified in requirements
relevant to particular certificate have been placed on board the
ship;
An application for an initial survey should be accompanied by plans
and designs as appropriate, together with:

The particulars of the ship;

Any Exemptions sought;
Any special Conditions.

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 ANNUAL SURVEYS:

Frequency: Annual survey, as required by the relevant

regulations should be held within three months before or
after each anniversary date of certificate.

General: An annual survey should enable Administration

to verify that condition of the ship, its machinery and its
equipment is being maintained in accordance with
relevant requirements.

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General scope of annual survey should be as follows:
 It should consist of certificate examination, of a visual
examination of a sufficient extent of ship and its
equipment and of certain tests to confirm that their condition is
being properly maintained;

 It should also include a visual examination to confirm that no

unapproved modifications have been made to the ship and its
equipment;
Content of each annual survey is given in the respective
guidelines. The thoroughness and stringency of survey should
depend upon condition of the ship and its equipment:

Should any doubt arise as to maintenance of condition of the

ship or its equipment ,further examination and testing should be
conducted as considered necessary.
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 INTERMEDIATE SURVEYS:

• Frequency : Intermediate survey , as required by relevant

regulations should be held within three months before or
after second anniversary date or within three months before
or after third anniversary date of appropriate certificate and
should take the place of one of the annual surveys;

• General : Intermediate survey should be an inspection of

items relevant to particular certificate to ensure that they are
in a satisfactory condition and are fit for service for which ship
is intended.

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 INTERMEDIATE SURVEYS:

• When specifying items of hull and machinery

for detailed examination , due account should
be taken of any continuous survey schemes
that may be applied by members of IACS.

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 PERIODICAL SURVEYS :

• Frequency: Periodical survey , as required by

relevant regulations should be held within
three months before or after second
anniversary date or within three months
before or after three anniversary date in case
of cargo ship equipment certificate and should
take the place of as one of the annual surveys
and within three months before or after each
anniversary date in the case of cargoship
Safety Radio Certificate;
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 PERIODICAL SURVEYS :

• General : Periodical survey should consist of an inspection

tests when necessary , of equipment to ensure that
requirements relevant to particular certificate are complied
with and that they are in a satisfactory condition and are fit
for the service for which the ship is intended;

• Periodical survey should also consist of a check thatall

certificates , record books, operating manuals and other
instructions and documentation specified in requirements
relevant to particular certificate are on-board the ship.

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 RENEWAL SURVEYS :
• Frequency : Renewal survey , as required by relevant
regulations should be held before appropriate certificate is
renewed;
• General : Renewal survey should consist of an inspection,
with tests when necessary , of structure, machinery and
equipment to ensure that requirements relevant to particular
certificate are compiled with and that they are in a
satisfactory condition and are fit for service for which ship is
intended
• Renewal survey should also consist of a check that all
certificates , record books, operating manuals and other
instructions and documentation specified in requirements
relevant to particular certificate are on board the ship.
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 Inspection of ships bottom of cargo ships:

Frequency: There should be a minimum of two inspections of outside of ships bottom

during any five year period except where SOLAS 74/88 or reg.I/14(f) is applicable. Where
cargo ship safety certificate has been extended under SOLAS 74/88 reg. I/14€ or (f) this
five year period may be extended to coincide with extended period of validity of the
certificate. In all cases interval between any two such inspections should not exceed 36
months.

General : Inspection of ships bottom outside and survey of related items should include
an inspection to ensure that they are in a satisfactory condition and fit for the service for
which the ship is intended.

Inspections of outside of ships bottom should normally be carried of ships bottom should
normally be carried out with ship in a dry dock. However, consideration may be given to
alternate inspections being carried out with ship afloat. Special consideration should be
given before ships of 15 years of age and over are permitted to have such surveys afloat.

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• Inspections with the ship afloat should only be
carried out when conditions are satisfactory
and proper equipment and suitably trained
staff are availabile.

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 Additional Surveys

Whenever an accident occurs to a ship or a defect is discovered which affects safety

or integrity of ship or efficiency or completeness of its equipment, the master or
owner should make a report at earliest opportunity to the Administration,
nominated surveyor or recognized organization responsible for issuing relevant
certificate, who should then initiate an investigation to determine whether a survey
, as required by regulations applicable to particular certificate is necessary. This
additional survey, should be such to ensure that repairs and any renewals have
been effectively made and that ship and its equipment continue to be fit for service
for which ship is intended.

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 COMPLETION OF SURVEYS:

If a survey shows that condition of ship or its equipment is unsatisfactory or the

recognized organization should be guided by the requirements of SOLAS 74/88
MARPOL 73/78/90 (3) (d), MARPOL 73/78/90 annex II, the IBC Code & the IGC Code.
These instruments require that corrective action be taken immediately and
Administration notified in due course. In cases where corrective action has not been
undertaken , relevant certificate should be withdrawn and Administration notified
immediately. If the ship is in port of another party, appropriate authorities of port state
should also be notified immediately;

Although LLC 66/88 does not contain specific requirements , if a load line survey shows
condition of ship or its equipment is unsatisfactory surveyor or recognised organization
should nevertheless be guided by relevant provisions.

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On the left-hand side of each item to be surveyed may be found two letters in
brackets, the first indicating the certificate to which the survey relates, as follows:

(E) for the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate;

(C) for the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate;
(R) for the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate;
(L) for the International Load Line Certificate;
(O) for the International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate;
(N) for the International Pollution Prevention Certificate for Carriage of Noxious
Liquid Substances in Bulk;
(S) for the International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate;
(A) for the International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate;
(D) for the International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous
Chemicals in Bulk or the Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of
Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk;
(G) for the International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied
Gases in Bulk;
(P) for the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate;

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the second for the type of survey, as follows:

(I) for the initial survey;

(A) for the annual survey;

(In) for the intermediate survey;

(P) for the periodical survey;

(R) for the renewal survey;

(B) for inspection of the outside of the ship's bottom;

(Ad) for additional survey.

Consequently, for example, "(EI)", "(OIn)" and "(PR)" indicate the initial survey for the
Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, the intermediate survey for the International Oil
Pollution Prevention Certificate and the renewal survey for the Passenger Ship Safety
Certificate

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 SUNDRY RELATED MATTERS:

Related items:
Related items means those items which may only be inspected when the ship is in
dry-dock or undergoing an in-water examination of the outside of its bottom.

For oil tankers , chemical tankers and gas carriers, this may mean that the ship has
to be specially prepared by, for example being cleaned and gas-freed. Then the
survey of items such as the internal examination of cargo tanks may be undertaken
at the same time.

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Extending to five years a certificate issued for less than five years:

Where a certificate has been issued for a period of less than five years, it is permissible
under these regulations or article to extend the certificate so that its maximum period of
validity is maintained. This means that, for example, if a request is made to extend a two
year Cargo ship Safety Equipment Certificate to five years, then a periodical and two
further annual surveys would be required.

This permits period of five years in which two inspections of the ships bottom are to be
carried out to be extended when Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate is extended.
However ,no extension should be permitted on the period of 36 months between any
two such inspections .If the first ships bottom inspection is carried out between 24 and 27
months then the 36 month limitation may prevent the certificate from being extended.

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 Application of “Special Circumstances:”

The purpose of these regulations or article is to permit Administrations to waive

requirement that a certificate issued following a renewal survey that is completed after
expiry of the existing certificate should be dated from expiry date of existing certificate,
Special circumstances when this could be permitted are where ship has been laid up or
has been out of service for a considerable period because of a major repair or
modification. Whilst Renewal survey would be as extensive as if ship had continued in
service, Administration should consider whether Additional surveys or examinations are
required, depending on how long ship was out of service and measures taken to
protect hull and machinery during this period. Where this regulation is invoked, it is
reasonable to expect an examination of outside of ships bottom to be held at same
time as renewal survey when it would not be necessary to include any special
requirements for cargo ships for continued application of SOLAS 74/88 reg. I/10(a0(v).

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 Revalidation of Certificates:

A certificate ceases to be valid if periodical , intermediate or annual survey ,as

appropriate or inspection of outside of the ships bottom is not completed within the
periods specified in relevant regulation or article. Validity of certificate should be
restored by carrying out appropriate survey, which , in such circumstances ,should
consist of requirements of survey that was not carried out, but its thoroughness and
stringency should have regard to time this survey was allowed to lapse. Administration
concerned should then ascertain why survey was allowed to lapse and to consider
further action.

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 Meaning of any five year period:

Any five year period is period starting from completion of inspection of outside of
ships bottom and it is not linked to five year period of validity of the Cargo Ship
Safety Construction Certificate. As maximum interval between two such
inspections is 36 months should advantage be taken of this maximum interval
then the next inspection must be held not more than 24 months after first
inspection.

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 Surveys required after transfer of ship to
flag of another state:

The certificates cease to be valid when a ship transfers to flag of another state to
which ship transfers shall not issue new certificates until it is fully satisfied that ship
transfers shall not issue new certificates until it is fully satisfied that ship is being
properly maintained and that there have been no unauthorized changes made to
structure, machinery and equipment . When so requested ,Government of the state
whose flag ship was formerly entitled to fly is obliged to forward,as soon as possible
,to new Administration copies of certificates carried by ship before transfer and, if
available, copies of relevant survey reports and records, such as record of safety
equipment and conditions of assignment for load line .When fully satisfied by an
inspection that ship is being properly maintained and that there have been no
unauthorised changes, in order to maintain harmonization of the surveys new
Administration may give due recognition to initial and subsequent surveys carried
out by , or on behalf of, former Administration and issue new certificates having
same expiry date as certificates that ceased to be valid because of change of flag.

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