(b) For cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage or more the following certificates:
(i) A Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate valid for not more
than five years.
(ii) A Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate valid for not more
than two years.
(c) For cargo ships of 300 gross tonnage or more a Cargo Ship Safety
Radio Certificate valid for not more than one year.
Under the 1988 SOLAS Protocol which came into force in February 2000, a
cargo ship may be issued with a single Cargo Ship Safety Certificate rather
than separate construction, equipment and radio certificates.
Oil tankers of 150 gross tonnage or more and other ships of 400 gross
tonnage or more complying with MARPOL are required to have a current
International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate valid for not more than
five years.
Both passenger and cargo ships would have an International Load Line
Convention Certificate valid for not more than five years. In addition each
vessel would have an International Tonnage Certificate.
Relationship with Classification Societies
The major classification societies represented by IACS (see Chapter 4)
attends the IMO meetings on a consultative basis. Many of the member
countries of IMO have authorized different classification societies to issue
one or more of the convention certificates on their behalf. This is particularly
true in respect of assignment and issuing of Load Line Certificates
where Load Line surveys are often undertaken in a foreign port. The initials
of the assigning classification society, rather than the governmental
authority, are commonly observed on a ship’s Plimsoll mark. Smaller countries
with limited maritime technical expertise to service their governmental
authority, particularly if they have a large register of ships trading internationally,
may rely entirely on the classification societies to survey and
issue their convention certificates.
Further Reading
SOLAS Consolidated Edition, 2004, IMO Publication (IMO-110E)
MARPOL 73/78 Consolidated Edition 2002, IMO Publication (IMO-1B
520E)