Q. Is there a separate Convention in respect of pollution due the bunker spill? Which ships are covered?
Certificate attesting that insurance or other financial security is in force in accordance with the provisions of the Bunker Convention shall be issued to each ship having a gross tonnage greater than 1,000. The certificate is issued after the appropriate authority of a State Party has determined that the relevant requirements of article 7, have been complied with. With respect to a ship registered in a State Party such certificate shall be issued or certified by the appropriate authority of the State of the ship’s registry. With respect to a ship not registered in a State Party it may be issued or certified by the appropriate authority of any State Party. A State Party may authorize either an institution or an organization recognized by it to issue the certificate. This compulsory insurance certificate shall be in the form of the model set out in the annex to the Convention.
Q. What certificate is provided under CLC 69? What is it for?
A certificate attesting that insurance or other financial security is in force shall be issued to each ship carrying more than 2,000 tonnes of oil in bulk as cargo. It shall be issued or certified by the appropriate authority of the State of the ship’s registry after determining that the requirements of article VII, paragraph 1, of the CLC Convention have been complied with.

Q. In case a ship is not registered in a country not party to Protocol 92, can she get a certificate under this protocol?
A certificate attesting that insurance or other financial security is in force in accordance with the provisions of the 1992 CLC (i.e. 92 protocol of CLC 69 Convention) shall be issued to each ship carrying more than 2,000 tonnes of oil in bulk as cargo. With respect to a ship not registered in a Contracting State, it may be issued or certified by the appropriate authority of any Contracting State.
Q. What is Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate?
In addition to SOLAS certificates as specified in paragraph 7 of the Preamble of the 1983 SPS Code and 2008 SPS Code, a Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate should be issued after survey in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1.6 of the 1983 SPS Code and 2008 SPS Code. The duration and validity of the certificate should be governed by the respective provisions for cargo ships in SOLAS 1974. If a certificate is issued for a special purpose ship of less than 500 gross tonnage, this certificate should indicate to what extent, relaxations in accordance with 1.2 were accepted. The 2008 SPS Code applies the every special purpose ship of not less than 500 GT certified on or after 13 May 20.

Q. What is Noise Survey Report? To which ships is it applicable?
A noise survey report should be made for each ship in accordance with the Code on Noise Levels on Board Ships. It is applicable to existing ships to which regulation 3-12 of Ch II-1 of SOLAS does not apply.
Q. What is the significance of certificate of class?
A Certificate of Class from a qualified classification society certifies a vessel is structurally sound, and verifies the reliability and function of the propulsion and steering systems, power generation and auxiliary systems like boiler, etc.
Q. Does, having a certificate of class indicate the seaworthiness of a vessel?
Though, the certificate of class states that the vessel is complying with the rules of the classification society, but it does not on its own guarantee the seaworthiness of the vessel. The vessel would not be seaworthy if any of the statutory certificate expires; the class is breeched; or the safety management certificates expire. The registration of the vessel by its flag state however, requires this certificate to prove that the vessel has been duly surveyed.

Q. Why does a ship need a Certificate of Registry?
A Certificate of Registry is a certificate required by the Merchant Shipping Act or the local regulations of a country. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, (UNCLOS 82) states that the merchant ships must be registered in a flag state and carry a Certificate of Registry. This certificate contains essential information about the registered dimensions of vessel and the owner of the vessel. The arrival documentation would usually always require this certificate. The certificate would state if the ship has any encumbrances such as loan mortgage, etc. This certificate cannot be separated from the person authorized to have its custody, not even in case of lien or arrest.
Q. What certificates are issued in respect of MLC 2006?
A ship is provided a Maritime Labour Certificate verifying its compliance with the standards in respect of employment conditions; accommodations on ships; minimum employment requirements; medical care; etc. of this convention. Flag states that have not yet ratified this convention may establish a voluntary compliance inspection program for their vessels until their legal system accepts and codifies it.
Q. What does Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance (DMLC) mean?
DMLC means a declaration summarising the national laws or regulations implementing an agreed-upon list of 14 areas of the maritime standards. The Flag State of the vessel falling under the MLC 2006 will draw up a ship-specific Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance, Part I (DMLC I). The declaration is attached to the Maritime Labour Certificate and sets out the shipowner’s or operator’s plan for ensuring that the national requirements implementing the Convention will be maintained on the ship between inspections. The shipowner or operator shall develop and implement measures to ensure compliance with the national requirements in the ship-specific Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance, Part II (DMLC II).

Q. Which ships must carry International Load Line Certificate?
Ships registered in flag states that have ratified the International Convention on Load Lines 1966, must carry an International Load Line Certificate or an International Load Line Exemption Certificate if the vessel has received an exemption.
Q. What does the certificate indicate?
The certificate, in addition to the usual information about the ship will state the type of vessel, (A, B, B60 or B100) and certifying authority, provides the load lines that must be marked on all vessels. The freeboard for these lines and any reference in respect of position of deck line is provided. Thus, the certificate also provides the maximum cargo load a ship can legally take while at the minimum freeboard. The certificate also indicates the date of issue, validity and the date of endorsement of annual survey.

Q. Why does a ship need International Tonnage Certificate?
This certificate is needed by ships trading international and are registered in a state party to International Tonnage Convention, 1969, entered into force in 1982. The Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships provides a universal system for tonnage measurement of ships. The gross tonnage (GT) representing the overall size of the ship and net tonnage (NT) on which the port dues are calculated are found by the procedure given in the convention. Thus, this certificate is crucial for international trading.
Q. What certificate is needed as per OPA 90?
The Certificate of Financial Responsibility (COFR) is required to be carried to ensure that tankers and other vessels navigating in U.S. waters should bear the ensuing cleanup costs from spills in the event of any leak.
Q. What is the new name for de-rating exemption certificate?
On May 23, 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a revised version of the International Health Regulations (IHR), effective for most countries on June 15, 2007. The new certificates, entitled Ship Sanitation Control Certificate/Ship Sanitation Control Exemption Certificate (“Ship Sanitation Certificates” or SSCC/SSCEC), replaced the previous De-rating / De-rating Exemption Certificates (DC/DEC) provided for under the IHR (1969)
Q. Which regulations govern Chain Register? What is this register about?
Chain Register’s technical, safety and administration issues are regulated by ILO and Dock Safety regulations. Chain Register deals with lifting gear such as derricks, cranes or hoists, winches and their accessories. It is a register of periodical test and examination and certificates thereof.

Q. Are the Indian flag vessel required to carry medicines and medical stores? Who can do inspection?
The Indian Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, as amended requires port health officer or such other persons as the Central Government may appoint, to inspect the medicines, medical stores and appliances on board all foreign-going Indian ships and all home-trade ships of two hundred tons gross or more and issue the certificate. The GOI vide DGS Order No. 02 of 2017, dated 22nd May 2017 has now notified that in addition to the Port Health Officer, any Medical Examiner approved under the provisions of Rule 4 of Merchant Shipping (Medical Examination) Rules, 2000 as amended, is also authorized to inspect medicines, medical stores, appliances and records on board Indian Flag vessels and issue the prescribed certificate. The list of approved Medical Examiners is listed on the DG Shipping website.

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