INS-003 - National Safety Requirements for Miscellaneous and Non-SOLAS Vessels

1. Marine Notice INS-002
2. Marine Notice SAF-009

(d) Chapter 11 of Liberian Maritime Law RLM-107 Supersedes: Marine Notice INS-003, dated 11/24

The following changes have been included:

1. Added new reference (c) and old reference (c) made reference (d)
2. New Section 12 added on the Polar Code application to Miscellaneous and NonSOLAS Vessels

PURPOSE:

This notice clarifies the National safety requirements of the Republic of Liberia for vessels which are not covered by the international conventions and standardizes the procedures for the issuance of a "National Cargo Ship Safety Certificate" to certain categories of vessels:

APPLICABILITY:

Vessels not expressly covered by the Safety of Life at Sea Convention 1974, as amended, should generally comply with SOLAS 1974 and all subsequent amendments to the extent that this is practical. In accordance with SOLAS '74, as amended, Regulation 1 and 3 of Chapter 1, these vessels are:

Reg. 1 (a) vessels not engaged on international voyages;

Reg. 3 (ii) cargo ships of less than 500 gross tons;

(iii) ships not propelled by mechanical means; (iv) pleasure yachts not engaged in trade; and (vi) fishing vessels.

Vessels not expressly covered by the International Convention on Load Lines (LL '66), as amended, should generally conform to its requirements to the extent that this is practical.

Inquiries concerning the subject of this Notice should be directed to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Republic of Liberia, the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry, 22980 Indian Creek Drive., Suite 200, Dulles, VA 20166, USA. The most current version of all Marine Notices are available in the Online Library at: http://www.liscr.com

Pleasure yachts, fishing vessels, vessels of less than 24 meters in length, vessels of less than 150 gross tons, and vessels not engaged on international voyages are not covered by the Load Line Convention.

This Marine Notice does not apply to vessels or units provided for under the Mobile Offshore Drilling Unit (MODU) Codes or the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.0 Qualifying vessels

1.1 In order to clarify and standardize procedures, a "National Cargo Ship Safety Certificate" will be issued to the following categories of Liberian vessels:

1. all vessels of less than 24 meters but not under 12 meters in length;
2. all vessels of less than 500 gross tons but not under 20 net tons; (c) all non passenger vessels not engaging in International voyages; and (d) all fishing vessels not engaged in Liberian Coastal Trade.

1.2 A vessel not otherwise falling within sub-paragraphs (a), (b), or (c) above, but exclusively engaged in the Liberian fishery or the Liberian coastwise trade, may be issued a “National Cargo Ship Safety Certificate” upon request to the relevant Classification Society that has been accepted by the Administration as a Recognized Organization (RO) to act on its behalf.

2.0 Certification

2.1 Qualifying vessels shall be issued a Liberian National Cargo Ship Safety Certificate. All surveys necessary for issuance and maintenance of the validity of the certificate are to be carried out by the relevant RO or, if approved by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, by a duly authorized Liberian Nautical Inspector.

2.2 The title of the Certificate may be modified to reflect the type of vessel to which it is issued.

2.3 The Certificate will be issued to all vessels upon completion of an Initial Survey which is carried out concurrently with the surveys required for registration.

2.4 The Certificate will be valid for five (5) years, running concurrently with the 5 year Classification period between special surveys, but will be subject to annual verification surveys by the RO’s surveyors or, if applicable a duly authorized Liberian Nautical Inspector. The RO’s surveyor or if applicable the Liberian Nautical Inspector, upon completion of the annual verification shall endorse the Certificate accordingly. The Annual Survey should be conducted between three months before and three months after the anniversary of the Initial Survey date.

2.5 If issued by an RO on behalf of the Administration, a copy of the Certificate is to be sent to Office of the Deputy Commissioner, c/o Regulations and Standards at email: regsandstandards@liscr.com for verification and filing.

3.0 Initial and Annual Liberian Safety Inspections

3.1 The Liberian Annual Safety Inspection procedures applicable to all Liberian Flag vessels shall be followed as defined in Marine Notices INS-001 and INS-002.

4.0 Surveys

4.1 The content of the survey is to be sufficient for the surveyor, or, if applicable, for the Liberian Nautical Inspector, to verify that the vessel and its equipment are in a satisfactory condition for the intended service.

4.2 The survey should include an inspection of fire fighting equipment, lifesaving equipment, pollution prevention equipment, and an operational check, to the maximum possible extent, of the vessel’s navigation and radio equipment.

4.3 Verification of hull integrity, watertight closing arrangements and machinery status will be covered by maintenance in Class.

5.0 Modifications and Alterations

5.1 No modifications or alterations will be required in existing approved arrangements. However, where the provision of equipment falls below generally accepted international standards or normal good shipbuilding practice, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, in consultation with the relevant RO’s and the owner, will specify the number and/or type of equipment to be carried.

6.0 Radio Equipment

6.1 All certificated vessels must comply with the requirements of Chapter IV, Regulation 4, of SOLAS '74, as amended, unless alternative arrangements are approved by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner.

6.2 All certificated vessels 300 gross tons and upward that engage in international voyages shall comply with the applicable requirements of SOLAS Chapter V regulation 19.2.4 with regards to automatic identification system (AIS), and regulation 19-1 regarding long range tracking and identification of ships (LRIT). and the requirements of Chapter IV (GMDSS) as stated in the 1988 Amendments.

6.3 All certificated vessels shall be equipped with and maintain radio equipment required by SOLAS Chapter IV, as amended, for the Sea Area in which they will operate including, if applicable, the GMDSS requirements, unless alternative arrangements are approved by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner.

6.4 The activation, deactivation, and/or modification of any maritime mobile satellite service ship earth stations installed or used onboard any Liberian flagged vessels, including all billing associated therewith, shall be carried out by the Liberian Ship and Corporate Registry (LISCR), as the Agent who has been duly designated and appointed by the Administration to administer its maritime program. Inquiries regarding activation, deactivation, and/or modification of any maritime mobile satellite service ship earth stations should be sent to Inmarsatactivations@liscr.com.

7.0 Load Lines

7.1 All certificated vessels must comply with the requirements of the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, as amended, with the sole exception of the requirements for marking and freeboard computation, unless alternative arrangements are approved by the Administration.

7.2 New vessels of 24 meters or more in length and existing vessels of 150 gross tons or over, engaged on any international voyage, will in addition to the National Cargo Ship Safety Certificate be required to carry an International Load Line Certificate.

8.0 MARPOL

All vessels will be required to comply with the requirements of MARPOL.

9.0 Lifesaving Appliances

The lifesaving equipment should meet the requirements of SOLAS Chapter III, as amended, the same as if the vessel was 500 gross tons or greater unless specifically authorized otherwise by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner.

10.0 Yachts

10.1 Pleasure yachts are included, together with fishing vessels, barges, sailing vessels and wooden ships, within the term "vessels" as used in Section 1 of this Notice.

10.2 Pleasure yachts not engaged in trade do not require SOLAS Certificates regardless of size. However, owners of pleasure yachts may, on voluntary basis, apply for full SOLAS-equivalent certification and, provided the required surveys are conducted, the relevant RO will issue an appropriate SOLAS equivalent certificate.

10.3 It should be noted that pleasure yachts should be in compliance with classification rule requirements, and with the provisions of the Load Line and SOLAS Conventions as far as reasonable and practicable, including the radio and radar requirements and the 1972 Collision Regulations as amended; and, if over 400 gross tons, yachts should also be in compliance with the provisions of MARPOL '73/'78, as applicable.

11.0 Mobile Offshore Units

All Mobile Offshore Units (MOUs) will be issued a “Liberian Mobile Offshore Unit Safety Certificate.”

In accordance with the provisions of Marine Notice TEC-009, Mobile Offshore Unit is a manned vessel which can be readily relocated, and which can perform an industrial function involving offshore operations or activities such as:

• Construction
• Maintenance (including the maintenance of wells)
• Lifting operations
• Pipe-laying and related operations
• Emergency/contingency preparedness, including firefighting
• Production systems
• Accommodations - Storage systems.

12.0 Polar Code

SOLAS Chapter XIV has been amended to apply the Polar Code to:

1. Fishing vessels of 24 metres in length overall and above;
2. Pleasure yachts of 300 gross tonnage and upwards not engaged in trade; and,
3. Cargo ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards but below 500 gross tonnage.

Therefore, if any of these vessels operate in polar waters, they will need to comply with applicable requirements of the Polar Code, be surveyed and issued a Polar Ship Certificate. Refer to Marine Notice SAF-009 for further details.

Attachment:

1. National Cargo Ship Safety Certificate (Form RLM-122)
2. Record of Equipment for the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate (Form RLM- 123)

* * * * *

THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

LIBERIA MARITIME AUTHORITY

NATIONAL CARGO SHIP SAFETY CERTIFICATE

This certificate shall be supplemented by a Record of Equipment (Form RLM-123)

Issued under the authority of the Liberia Maritime Authority, Republic of Liberia by (Insert applicable RO)

Name of Ship:

Distinctive number:

Port of registry:

IMO Number:

Gross tonnage:

Service area:

Type of Ship:

Date on which keel was laid or the ship was at a similar stage of construction _______________________

(Insert applicable RO) CERTIFIES:

1. That the ship has been surveyed in accordance with the requirements of the Liberia Maritime Authority, Republic of Liberia and with the applicable articles of this Society.

1. That the survey showed that the ship complied with the relevant provisions of the Flag Administration and with the applicable articles of this Society as regards as stated below:

• 1. the structure, main and auxiliary machinery, boilers and other pressure vessels;

• 1. fire safety systems and appliances and fire control plans;

• 1. the life-saving appliances and the equipment of the lifeboats, life rafts and rescue boats;

• 1. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) and a line throwing device;

• 1. radio communication installations (apply to non-propulsion cargo ships, and self-propelled cargo ships with gross tonnage less than 300);

• 1. shipborne navigational equipment and nautical publications;

• 1. lights, shapes, means of making sound signals and distress signals;

• 1. means of embarkation for pilots

This certificate is valid until subject to the periodical surveys in accordance with the requirements of the Flag Administration or this Society.

Issued at by

Issued on

RLM-122

ENDORSEMENT

THIS IS TO CERTIFY that the ship has been surveyed in accordance with the provisions of the Flag Administration or concerned articles of this Society.

survey

Place

Surveyor to

Date (Insert applicable RO)

survey

Place

Surveyor to

Date (Insert applicable RO)

survey

Place

Surveyor to

Date (Insert applicable RO)

survey

Place

Surveyor to

Date (Insert applicable RO)

The validity of this certificate is extended until , upon survey and according to relevant requirements.

Place

Surveyor to

Date (Insert applicable RO)

RLM-122

RECORD OF EQUIPMENT FOR THE

CARGO SHIP SAFETY CERTIFICATE (FORM RLM-123)

RECORD OF EQUIPMENT FOR COMPLIANCE WITH

THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE LIBERIA MARITME AUTHORITY

REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA^{1 2}

I. PARTICULARS OF SHIP

Name of ship

Distinctive number

Gross Tonnage

Ship Type IMO NO.

RLM-123

RLM-123

RLM-123

VI Others:

THIS IS TO CERTIFY that this Record is correct in all respects

Issued at

( )

Issued Surveyor to (Insert applicable RO) on

------------------------------------------------------- Note:

1. This Record shall be attached to the National Cargo Ship Safety Certificate
2. In case where alternative means of meeting a requirement have been allowed they shall be specified on the attached page.

RLM-123