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1. The Maritime Administration of Tuvalu has issued Marine Circular No. MC-4/2020/1 providing instructions in respect of managing statutory surveys & certificates, audits and inspections during COVID-19 pandemic.

2. The Administration requires that all effort is to be made to maintain the validity of statutory certificates by means of physical and remote survey techniques, where possible. 

3. However, where adequate justification and supporting documentation shows that the above is not possible, the Administration, in consultation with the Recognized Organization (with exception of para 3/f), will consider taking the below measures under force majeure on a case-to-case basis.
   
   a. Statutory Surveys and Certificates:
   Postponement of survey, servicing of equipment, and/or certificate extension beyond the maximum three (3) months in the event where scheduled surveys (drydock surveys, statutory surveys including IOPP renewal survey) are unable to be performed, either by physical attendance or remote means, due to restrictions imposed by COVID-19.
   
   b. DOC (ISM Code):
   Extending the DOC where the company cannot complete the required initial or annual verifications.
   
   c. SMC (ISM Code):

   1. Extending the Interim SMC where the initial ISM shipboard audit cannot be carried out.

   2. Extending the intermediate ISM audit and authorize RO to issue Short Term SMC with the corresponding validity.

   3. Extending the SMC where the renewal ISM shipboard audit cannot be carried out.

   d. ISSC (ISPS Code):

   1. Extending the Interim ISSC where the initial ISPS shipboard verification cannot be carried out.

   2. Extending the intermediate ISPS verification and authorize RO to issue Short Term ISSC with the corresponding validity.

   3. Extending the ISSC where the renewal ISPS shipboard verification cannot be carried out.

   e. MLC (MLC 2006):

   1. Extending the Interim MLC where the initial MLC 2006 shipboard verification cannot be carried out.

   2. Extending the intermediate MLC 2006 verification and authorize RO to issue Short Term MLC with the corresponding validity.

   3. Extending the MLC where the renewal MLC 2006 shipboard verification cannot be carried out.

   f. Annual FSI:
   Extending the annual FSI or consider remote inspection techniques where possible

4. Applications for any of the above measures is to be made to the Administration at -technical@tvship.com either through the ship owner, ship manager, or RO together with supporting documentation (acceptable in electronic form) which may include following;

   1. Statement from a port authority notifying that the vessel is quarantined and/or that no one is authorized to attend the vessel; or

   2. Statement or letter from a Flag State Inspector, RO Auditor and/or RO Surveyor stating that they are unable to attend the vessel in the port where the inspection, audit or survey was scheduled to take place due to travel or port restrictions; or

   3. Statement or letter from the shipyard stating that they are unable to accommodate the vessel on the date previously agreed.

5. Ship owners/ operators and masters of Tuvalu flagged ships are advised to be guided by above.

Enclosure: 

• Tuvalu Marine Circular No. MC-4/2020/1.

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.

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