Safety construction intermediate and renewal survey windows issued by Liberia

Liberia Maritime Authority has published a marine advisory note for safety construction intermediate and renewal survey windows.

The document was published on 10 April 2023.

This Marine Advisory aims to bring attention to and provide guidance on the Safety Construction Intermediate and Renewal Survey Windows. SOLAS amendments to Chapter XI-1 added the following new regulation:

Regulation 2-1 - Harmonization of Survey Periods of Cargo Ships Not Subject to the ESP Code

For cargo ships not subject to enhanced surveys under regulation XI-1/2, notwithstanding any other provisions, the intermediate and renewal surveys included in regulation I/10 may be carried out and completed over the corresponding periods as specified in the 2011 ESP Code, as may be amended, and the guidelines developed by the Organization, as appropriate.

This regulation allows for Safety Construction Intermediate Survey to be carried out and completed anytime within the second or third annual survey or between these surveys, effectively providing an 18 month window to complete this
survey.

The regulation also allows for Safety Construction Renewal Survey to be commenced at the fourth annual survey and progressed during the succeeding year with a view to completion by the fifth anniversary date, effectively providing a 15
month window to complete this survey.

And as a survey of the ship’s bottom is part of the Intermediate and Renewal Surveys, the bottom survey (in-water or in dry-dock) can be carried out anytime within these windows. It only needs to be ensured that there are a minimum of two bottom surveys during the five-year period of the Safety Construction certificate. In all cases, the maximum interval between bottom surveys is not to exceed 36 months.

Using these windows to carry out the necessary surveys, including a ship’s bottom survey, should eliminate the need for any extension of these surveys, and eliminate the possibility of a vessel being detained by a port state. The Recognized Organization should be contacted for proper planning and endorsement of the certificate.

In the very rare case where an extension may be needed, one should refer to MA 28/2022 for guidance.

For more information, please see the documents below (available only to subscribers):

RELEVANT DOCUMENTS:

Safety Construction Intermediate and Renewal Survey Windows

Extension of Statutory Renewal Surveys and Dry-dock Survey