The Harmonised System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) seeks to standardise the period of validity and the intervals between surveys for the nine main convention certificates to a maximum period of validly for all certificates except a passenger ship safety certificate to five years. In so doing it aims to simplify the survey and certification process. Following a period of transition, the streamlined format of the HSSC will bring benefits to the industry in terms of flexibility of survey schedule, reduced numbers of surveyors, survey time and paperwork, all therefore reducing costs.