Download PDF

1. Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) Guidelines requires a minimum of two inspections of the outside of the ship's bottom during any five-year period. One such inspection is to be carried out on or after the fourth annual survey in conjunction with the renewal of the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate or the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate.

2. Further, it provides that inspections of the outside of the ship's bottom should normally be carried out with the ship in dry dock. However, consideration to alternate inspections with the ship afloat may be given by the Administration.

3. In this regard, Panama Maritime Authority vide MMN -006/2022, has informed that ships meeting the requirements of IACS Recommendation No. 133 (Guidelines for Pilot Schemes of Extended Interval between Surveys in Dry-Dock - Extended Drydocking (EDD) Scheme ) may be permitted to carry out two (2) consecutive in-water surveys instead of dry docking and have a privilege to extend their dry docking period from 5 to 7.5 years, subject to the approval of Classification Society (IACS only) and Administration/Flag State and under the following conditions;

i. EDD Scheme is applicable only to ships in service up to 10 years of age since date of built.

ii. The following ship types are not eligible for the EDD scheme;

a. Passenger Ships;

b. Bulk carriers

c. Oil tankers

d. Ships subject to the Enhanced Survey Program (ESP);

e. Ships subject to the Hull Survey Requirements of IACS UR Z7.1;

f. Ships fitted with propulsion thrusters;

g. Ships where the propeller connection to the shaft is by means of a keyed taper;

h. High Speed Craft (HSC).

iii. All ships in an EDD scheme will be dis-enrolled once the ship reaches 15 years of age.

iv. No extension will be granted for the dry-docking required at the end of each extended dry docking period.

v. Following documentation are to be submitted by the owner / company representative to the Classification Society before the approval of the Flag State:

a. Provisions for carrying out maintenance required on electric/electronic sensors e.g. Echo-sounder, Doppler-Log, Speed log (propeller speed log or backpressure speed log), seawater temperature gauges, electronic draught reading, etc.;

b. Provisions for maintaining the draft marks fore, aft and midships as well as Load line marks (painted and welded figures) and all other required hull markings;

c. Maintenance required of thrusters and stabilizers, if fitted, and provision for carrying out surveys or maintenance or as required by the Classification Society;

d. Service experience to-date with hull coating system covered by manufacturer's guarantee that the underwater coatings used are designed to last for the extended period since the coating is to remain effective for the extended dry docking period;

e. Impressed cathodic protection system or provisions for renewal of external hull sacrificial anodes in the afloat condition.

vi. The Extended Dry-docking Scheme will be terminated in cases of change of the ship’s owner, management or Flag State.

vii. A ship will be dis-enroll from an EDD scheme at any time if the conditions for maintaining this extended dry-dock scheme are not fulfilled anymore. A formal written notification will be sent to the Flag State.

4. Ship Owners/ operators and masters of Panama flagged ships are advised to take note of above and accordingly approach IRS Head Office for further guidance in this regard. 

Enclosure:

• Panama MMN – 06/2022. 

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. 

                Download PDF