ISP-002 - Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR)

TO ALL SHIPOWNERS, OPERATORS, MASTERS AND OFFICERS OF MERCHANT SHIPS AND AUTHORIZED CLASSIFICATION

SOCIETIES

SUBJECT: Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR)

References: (a) SOLAS 1974, as amended, Chapters XI-1/Reg. 5 (b) International Ship and Port Security Code

Supersedes: Marine Notice ISP-002, dated 07/20

The following changes have been included:

Editorial revisions proper numbering on the form throughout the document.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this Notice is to provide advice and guidance to owners, operators, and Masters of Liberian flag ships regarding the issuance and maintenance of the Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR).

BACKGROUND:

When the International Ship and Port Security Code was adopted on 12 December 2002, a new Regulation 5 was added to Chapter XI-1 of SOLAS 1974, as amended, requiring vessels to maintain on board a CSR containing specific information regarding the history of the vessel’s ownership, management, flag, and authority responsible for issuance of certificates. The information must be updated when it changes. Chapter XI-1, Reg 5 requires the addition of the IMO Unique Registered Owner and Company Identification Numbers on all new CSRs issued after 1 January 2009.

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

APPLICABILITY:

This requirement applies to:

• Passenger ships, including high-speed passenger craft.
• Cargo ships, including high-speed craft, of 500 gross tonnage and upwards; and
• Self-Propelled Mobile offshore drilling units (MODU).

It does not apply to:

• Government-operated ships used for non-commercial purposes.
• Cargo ships of less than 500 gross tonnage as measured by the Administration or the ITC 69, whichever is the lesser.
• Ships not propelled by mechanical means.
• Wooden craft of primitive origins.
• Private pleasure yachts not engaged in trade; and
• Fishing vessels.

Vessels not subject to mandatory compliance with the ISPS Code may do so voluntarily. However, the operators of such ships must make a written request to Vessel Certificate Department by email to: vesselcertificates@liscr.com for the issuance of a voluntary CSR. Once issued, it must be maintained in accordance with SOLAS regulatory requirements.

REQUIREMENTS:

1.0 Definitions

1.1 Administration: The government whose flag the vessel is registered to fly.

1.2 Convention: The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 as amended (SOLAS).

1.3 Company: The owner of the ship or any other organization or person such as the Manager, or the Bareboat Charterer, who has assumed the responsibility for operation of the ship from the Shipowner and who on assuming such responsibility has agreed in writing to take over.

1.4 CSR: The Continuous Synopsis Record issued by the Administration. (CSR form 1)

1.5 CSR Amendment Form: a form utilized to update information contained in the CSR. (CSR form 2)

1.6 CSR Index of Amendments: the record of amendments made to the CSR. (CSR form 3)

1.7 ISPS Code: The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code.

1.8 ITC 69: The International Tonnage Convention, 1969.

2.0 CSR File

2.1 All ships required to have a CSR shall maintain on board a permanent CSR file containing all previously issued CSR Documents.

2.2 A ship’s CSR File is comprised of:

2.2.1 All Continuous Synopsis Records (CSR form 1, see sample in Appendix I) issued to the vessel numbered sequentially for the life of the ship.

2.2.2 All Amendment Forms (CSR form 2, see Appendix II) attached to each individual CSR relating to changes made to that CSR; and

2.2.3 All Indexes of Amendments (CSR form 3, see Appendix II) listing all amendments (specified by Amendment Forms) relating to each CSR and attached to the CSR.

2.3 The CSR File onboard shall be maintained in a binder in chronological order. The Flag Administrations maintain a copy of the ship’s CSR file so that a certified copy may be transferred intact to a new flag Administration on change of flag or replaced on board the ship should the CSR be lost or destroyed. The Administration does not keep a record of CSR forms 2 and 3 for CSRs not issued by this Administration.

2.4 A vessel’s CSR file may be inspected by Port State Control Officers and other authorized persons.

3.0 Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR)

3.1 Only an Administration may issue a CSR to a ship. The first CSR issued to a ship is numbered

“1,” and subsequent CSRs will be sequentially numbered regardless of the Administration.

3.2 Each original CSR shall be sent to the ship and kept by the ship throughout its lifetime. The Administration will keep a copy of each CSR it issues to the ship.

3.3 Whenever a CSR is issued to a ship, the Administration will provide all information in box 1 to 16. If the information is not applicable, it will be labeled N/A except for boxes 15 and 16 where the box will remain empty. For example, the information regarding a vessel’s entry in the CSR as a bareboat charter registration (box 8) is only to be completed when the ship is actually bareboat chartered into the registry.

3.4 If the ship is bareboat charter registered, the bareboat charterer will need to provide this Administration with the name and address of the underlying owner listed on the Certificate of Registry and their IMO Unique Number from the underlying flag so the information may be listed in the box on the CSR for the owner.

3.5 If there is more than one entity listed as an owner of the ship, each such entity, their address and their IMO Unique Numbers will also be listed on the CSR.

3.6 If there is more than one entity that is party to the bareboat charter, each such entity and their address will be listed on the CSR.

4.0 Amendments and Indexes completed by the Company or the Master

4.1 When any change relating to the entries listed in the CSR issued to the ship have taken place, this change (or changes) shall be included on the CSR Amendment form (CSR Form 2). The Company’s Representative or Master shall complete the Amendment Form, and the Master shall attach the original to the vessel’s current CSR file.

4.2 The details of the amendment shall be entered in the Index of Amendments (CSR Form 3), in the ship’s CSR file. A copy of the completed Amendment form and the revised Index of Amendments page shall be forwarded to the Administration either via email or uploaded in a WayPoint CSR Work Order. This will allow the Administration to expedite the issuance of a revised and updated CSR.

5.0 In case of loss of, or damage to, any ship’s CSR File

In case the CSR is lost or damaged, the Company and/or Master shall contact the Administration in writing without delay, listing the pages which were lost or damaged. The Administration will issue certified copies of the CSRs, CSR Amendment Forms and Index of Amendments available in its files.

6.0 Verification and Correcting Errors

The Administration’s Inspectors will examine the CSRs during the Annual Safety Inspection and will contact the Administration should any errors be identified in order to correct the record.

7.0 Change of Flag Requirements for vessels leaving the Liberian Flag

Along with the Request for Permission to Transfer out of the Liberian flag, a transferring owner shall be required to identify the prospective (new) flag Administration so the vessel’s CSR File may be provided to the gaining flag Administration. This must occur before the Liberian Administration will issue a Certificate of Cancellation.

8.0 Procedures for Issuing the New, Revised or Updated CSR:

The vessel’s Company Representative or Master shall submit CSR Form 2 and CSR Form 3 as soon as possible after the registration of the vessel with the Administration or any other change documented in the CSR.

8.1 Change of Flag to Liberia: In accordance with IMO MSC Resolution 198 (80) the previous Administration is required to issue a revised CSR to the ship, indicating in box 15, the date the ship ceased to be registered with that Administration. That Administration is also required to send the Liberian Administration a copy of the vessel’s complete CSR file as soon as possible and no later than one month from the date the ship ceased to be registered.

8.2 If the CSR file is not received from the previous Administration, the Master or Company representative may be requested to send a copy of the CSRs, which are on board the ship in

order that new sequentially numbered CSR can be issued by this Administration.

8.3 In instances where the previous flag State has not forwarded the CSR file of the ship covering the period during which the ship was entitled to fly its flag, within three months from the date of change of flag, the Liberian Administration in accordance with MSC Resolution 198(80), will issue a CSR based on the CSR information received from the CSR file onboard the ship.

8.3.1 The sequential number to be assigned to the CSR document to be so issued by Liberia will be the second sequential number after the sequential number shown on the last CSR document issued by the previous flag. The reason for issuing the CSR document in such a manner will be explained in box 16.

8.3.2 As stated in MSC Resolution 198(80), when reviewing the CSR files, Port State Control Inspectors should be guided by the provisions of the resolution, as well as the remarks shown in box 16 on the CSR document. In the circumstances referred to in the paragraph above, the missing sequential number should be considered as constituting a deficiency against the previous flag State, i.e. failure to provide the CSR file and fulfill the requirements of SOLAS regulation XI-1/5.

8.4 Newbuilding and vessels which have never received a Continuous Synopsis Record (eg. ships which have never been placed in service, or registered, or engaged in international voyages): The Company Representative or Master shall submit the information necessary to develop a vessel’s initial Continuous Synopsis Record by using form CSR Form 2.

8.5 Change of Ownership and Re-Registration of a Liberian Flag ship: Master or Company Representative shall complete and send a copy of the Amendment Form and the modified Index of Amendments page to the Administration for processing an updated CSR.

8.6 Change of Owner’s Name: Master or Company representative shall complete and send a copy of the Amendment Form and the modified Index of Amendments page to the Administration for processing an updated CSR.

8.7 Change of Vessel Name: Master or Company Representative shall complete and send a copy of the Amendment Form and the modified Index of Amendments page to the Administration for processing an updated CSR.

8.8 Change of Class: Master or Company Representative shall complete and send a copy of the Amendment Form and the modified Index of Amendments page to the Administration for processing an updated CSR.

8.9 Change of Safety Management Company’s Name: The vessel operator shall, in addition to the relevant required documents, ensure that the Master or Company Representative completes an Amendment Form, and the Master adds the original Amendment form to the ship’s CSR file. The Master shall submit a copy of the completed Amendment Form and the modified Index of Amendments page to the Administration for processing an updated CSR.

8.10 Change of Recognized Organization issuing the Company’s Document of Compliance and/or the vessel’s Safety Management Certificate: The vessel operator acting on behalf of the owner shall, in addition to the relevant ISM documents, ensure that the Master or Company Representative will complete and send a copy of the Amendment Form and the modified Index of Amendments page to the Administration for processing an updated CSR.

8.11 Change of the Recognized Security Organization (RSO) or Administration issuing the vessel International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) with respect to the ISPS Code: The Master or Company Representative will complete and send a copy of the Amendment Form and the modified Index of Amendments page to the Administration for processing an updated CSR.

9.0 The forms mentioned in this Marine Notice as Appendixes II to IV are available on the

Administration’s web site as follows: www.liscr.com Maritime Tab/Documents/Marine Notices / ISP-002 and can be filled out electronically.

Forms completed according with the previous sections should be submitted via WayPoint. Alternatively, they may be sent by e-mail to: vesselcertificates@liscr.com or a regional office for timely processing. Back-up copy files may be maintained electronically, but the original CSR and complete CSR File must be maintained on board the vessel by the Master.

* * * * *

APPENDIX I – CSR form 1

THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

Liberia MARITIME AUTHORITY

CONTINUOUS SYNOPSIS RECORD

Document Number:

For the ship with IMO Number:

	Information
1	This document applies from (date):
2	Flag State:
3	Date of registration with the State indicated in 2:
4	Name of ship:
5	Port of registration:
6	Name of current registered owner(s): Registered address(es):
7	Registered owner identification number:
8	If applicable, name of current registered bareboat charterer(s): Registered address(es):
9	Name of Company (International Safety Management): Registered address(es): Address(es) of its safety management activities (if different):
10	Company identification number:

^{RL 5000} The Republic of Liberia Official Number:

11

Name of classification society with which the ship is

classed:

12

Administration/Government/Recognized Organization

which issued Document

o

f Compliance:

Body which carried out audit (if different):

13

Administration/Government/Recognized Organization

which issued Safety Management Certificate:

Body which carried out audit (if different):

Administration/Government/Recognized Organization

which issued International Ship Security Certificate:

14

Body which carried out verification (if different):

Date on which ship ceased to be registered with the

State indicated in 2:

15

16

Remarks (insert relevant information as appropriate)

:

THIS IS TO CERTIFY that this record is correct in all respects.

Margaret Ansumana

Senior Deputy Commissioner

Issued at:

Date of Issue:

Of Maritime Affairs

Republic of Liberia

This was received by the ship and attached to the ship’s CSR file on the following date (fill in):

Signature:

^{RL 5000} The Republic of Liberia Official Number:

APPENDIX II – CSR form 2 and CSR form 3

THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

LIBERIA MARITIME AUTHORITY

☐ Application for Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR) Document Number 1 ☐ Amendment to the Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR) Document Number ____

Vessel IMO Number: __________

Note: Please enter dates in the following format: Day - Name of month - Year (e.g. 11 July 2023)

THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT this record is correct in all respects:

Issued by the Company or Master: ______________ Signature of authorized person: ______________________

Date of issue: ____________ Name and Title of authorized person: ____________________________

FR CER-008-01 Rev: 09/24

THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

LIBERIA MARITIME AUTHORITY

INDEX OF AMENDMENTS TO THE CONTINUOUS SYNOPSIS RECORD (CSR)

FOR THE SHIP WITH IMO NUMBER: IMO ________

DOCUMENT NUMBER: _____

After this CSR was issued, the following amendments to entries on the have been made by the Company or the Master, have been attached to the ship’s CSR file and have been notified to the Administration:

NOTE: If more amendments are issued than allowed for in the above table, add copies of this table as Appendices to this page. Such Appendices should be numbered from 1 and upwards.

When relevant, indicate as follows: Appendix no. ____ has been added to this page.

___________________________________________

FR CER-008-01 Rev: 09/24