Technical Circular No: 101/2020
Download PDF1. The Marshall Islands Administration vide Marine Safety Advisory No. 24-20 has provided guidance as detailed below on maintaining the validity of statutory certificates under the force majeure conditions caused due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2. A reasonable case for force majeure due to COVID-19 includes the ship being quarantined, or if there are travel or quarantine restrictions preventing the necessary surveyor(s), essential superintendents, technicians or service teams attending, and the limitation of any specialized equipment, facility, or essential spares being delivered to the ship.
3. Extending the period between surveys and validity of certificates for up to three months:
When a ship is not in a port where it can be surveyed, at the first opportunity according to the ship’s voyage itinerary, it is to be attended by a surveyor for the purpose of either completing the survey or performing an extension survey. When physical attendance is not possible or feasible, the Administrator may accept alternative arrangements such as a remote survey with live video streaming where this is available through the RO.
4. Extending the period between surveys and the validity of certificates by more than three months:
a. When a survey cannot be completed within an initial three month extension then, the six steps as part of the guiding principles for considering a statutory certificate extension beyond three months outlined in the Annex of IMO Circular Letter No. 4204/Add.19 may be followed
b. Extensions to surveys beyond three months will only be considered when any expiring conditions of Class or Statutory Authority can be satisfactorily assessed and extended. Such extensions must not be granted to ships with substandard conditions onboard.
c. Alternative compliance methods can be considered provided there is supporting evidence that the intent of the Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) (IMO Assembly Resolution A.1140 (31)) can be met. The survey should be progressed as far as practical, and any extension survey that took place during the initial three-month extension may be taken as contributory in effect.
d. For dry-docking extensions due to extreme extenuating circumstances, provided there is evidence suggesting best efforts have been made to secure dry-dock space, the Administrator will consider extensions to intermediate and renewal dry-docking beyond three months.
The operator is to apply to the RO for an extension and prepare the ship to allow a survey to the maximum extent possible while out of a dry-dock. The extent of this preparation must be agreed with the RO prior to commencement of surveys.
All Class and statutory surveys must have been progressed as far as practicable while afloat, leaving only the minimum pending items to be checked in dry-dock. Where it is relevant to the age and type of ship, and safe to do so, the scope of the survey should also consider the enhanced survey program. Any minor deficiencies can be recorded as Conditions of Class, or Statutory Conditions, as appropriate, with due date until dry-docking. Major deficiencies must be rectified. Class and short-term statutory certificates is to be issued to reflect the pending items that remain to be tested and surveyed.
For the extension to be agreed, the ship’s Class must also be willing to consider the validity of the main Class certificate, since in accordance with IMO Circular MSC-MEPC.5/Circ.1, “the extension period of the relevant statutory certificate(s) should not exceed the period of validity of the certificate which may be issued to document compliance with the structural, mechanical and electrical requirements of the recognized classification society.”
5. Ships experiencing problems installing and commissioning Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS):
When the date for D-2 compliance for a ship has passed and there are issues with respect to installation and commissioning of BWMS, the ship must maintain an approved plan for conducting a D-1 ballast water exchange. A remark should be made in the Ballast Water Record Book that the BWMS is not operational and covered by a short-term certificate.
The below are some specific scenarios; others may be dealt with in a similar manner.
a. The ship cannot enter a drydock. Consider part holding the International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) renewal survey and postponing the IOPP certificate renewal. Maintain the current D-1 Ballast Water Management option on International Ballast Water Management Certificate (IBWMC).
b. The ship can enter a drydock but is not able to install the BWMS because the equipment is in another location with quarantine restrictions.
i. Consider continuing with the drydock and preparing the ship to receive the BWMS and complete the installation without going back to dry-dock. The RO may issue a short term IBWMC, valid for three months, indicating the D-1 Ballast Water Management method. The certificate should be annotated with text to the effect: “The BWMS could not be installed due to COVID-19. Prior to any ballast discharge the relevant coastal State must be contacted to discuss contingency measures, guidance on these can be found in IMO Circular BWM.2/Circ.62. The ship has a ballast water exchange method approved to the D-1 standard and the Administrator has no objections to D-1 exchange being used in-lieu of the BWMS, however concurrence from the coastal State must be obtained before this option can be used.”
ii. Alternatively, consider delaying the drydock (as per ‘5 a’ above).
c. The ship is able install the BWMS, but due to travel restrictions/quarantine is unable to commission the BWMS: Complete the drydock and BWMS installation, and renew all certificates. The RO may issue a short-term IBWMC, valid for three months, indicating only the D-2 Ballast Water Management method. The certificate should be annotated with text to the effect: “The BWMS is not functional. Prior to any ballast discharge the relevant coastal State must be contacted to discuss contingency measures, guidance on these can be found in IMO Circular BWM.2/Circ.62. The ship has a ballast water exchange method approved to the D-1 standard and the Administrator has no objections to D-1 exchange being used in-lieu of the BWMS, however concurrence from the coastal State must be obtained before this option can be used.”
6. Ship owners/ operators and Masters are advised to be guided by above and take appropriate measures when calling any Australian ports.
7. This Technical Circular supersedes and revokes earlier Technical Circular No. 059/2020, dated 21st April 2020.
Enclosure:
Disclaimer:
This Technical Circular and the material contained in it is provided only for the purpose of supplying current information to the reader and not as an advice to be relied upon by any person. While we have taken utmost care to be as factual as possible, readers/ users are advised to verify the exact text and content of the Regulation from the original source/ issuing Authority.