Extension of validity of Seafarer's Certificate and Ship's Statutory Certificates, Periodical Surveys and Audits in view of COVID-19 pandemic

qf, . {-c.6R/ GOVERNMENT OF tNDtA qff, qfc{6{ rL{IFFt / MINISTRY OF SHIPPING ir€{ qarRaeTrf,q, 1ffi DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI DGS Order 17 of 2020 File No. ENG/MrSC -29(73)t09 | oate.:yoeZOn Subject: Extension to validity o Periodical Surveys & Audits in view of covlD-l9 pandemic l. Noting that there have been difficulties faced by shipowners to meet the statutory requirements in maintaining the validity of ship and seafarer certificates, due to force majeure situation posed by COVID-19 resulting lock-down of many countries around the world including India, the Directorate vide DGS Order 6 of 2020 dated23,d March 2020, allowed extension of Ship's Statutory Certificates on a case to case basis by three months and extension of one month to the validity of Seafarer Certificate of Competency/Profi ciency/Recognition of Equivalence. 2. Noting further that the continued lock-down has resulted in non-availability of Recognized organization Surveyors, service suppliers and dry-docks, the Directorate vide Addendum No.2 to DGS order 6 of 2020 dated 2l't April2020, allowed extension of ship statutory certificates expiring on/before 3l't May 2020, beyond what is permitted by various International Conventions, subject to a Risk assessment carried out by Recognized Organization, and imposition of certain specific conditions such as enhanced monitoring of ships from shore by ship managers/owners during this period of extension. J. Even though the lock-down started easing out with effect from end May 2020,yet many ship-owners faced problems in docking their vessels, either due to continued closure of the dry-docks or inability of the ship-owners to attend his ship at dry-dock due-to non- availability of flights to foreign destinations, the Directorate vide DGS Order 13 of 2020, allowed extension of ship statutory certificates expiring on/before 30tr June 2020 under revised conditions such as ensuring attendance of the vessel by Recogni zed, organization, wherever possible, for progressing of the surveys as far as practicable. 4. Now, the Indian National Ship owner Association has requested extension of Statutory certificates expiring on/prior to 31't August 2020 citingthe prevailing waiting period at Page 1 of 5 +' Ar>L ^-s...;A*- --l n' \ \ \various dry-docks around world, which are operating at full capacity to clear pending ships requiring dry-dock. 5. Recognizing the changing situation world-wide and also noting that Recognized Organizations have started carrying out surveys at an increasing number of ports world- wide' the Directorate now reviews its procedure for grant of extension of statutory certificates to ships whose statutory surveys are expiring after 30s June 2020 but on/prior to 31't August 2020 and, the revised procedure as laid down in the following paragraphs will apply. 6' The DGS Order 13 of 2020 dated,2l't May 2020 remains applicable for ships with statutory certificates expiring on/prior 30 June 2020 and thereafter this order will replace and will be in force till 3l't August 2020. 7 ' The Risk assessment by RO, where-ever mentioned in this order, is to be based on past survey and inspection history, satisfactory continuation of past imposed Condition of Class/Statutory Condition, if any, declaration by Master and CE that they have carried out a satisfactory general examination and a declaration by DpA/Owner/Manager that there is no known defect in any part of hull, machinery, fittings and equipment 8' The revised procedure for extension of Annual/Periodical Statutory Surveys or InterimllnitialllntermediaterRenewal Audits/Inspections : a) It is to be noted that, the Convention provisions provide sufficient time ranging between 3-12 months to the ship owners to complete these surveys/inspections/audits. Therefore, all efforts should be made by all owners to offer their ships to the RO for suryeys, in case these are within the range period. b) In general, no extension shall be granted/considered unless the Recognized Otganization provides in writing that the Surveyor cannot attend the vessel due to lock-down at any port visited by the ship, after the issue of this order. c) Even if an extension is to be considered on a case to case basis, same will be after a satisfactory Risk assessment, and same shall only be granted for the period to enable the ship to reach a port where Recognized organization Surveyor can attend the vessel. Page 2 of 59. The procedure for extension of Intermediate surveys shall be: a) No extension shall be granted for a period more than 3-months after the due date of intermediate survey or 42 months since last dry-dock or the date of availabilitv of dry-dock plus 15 days, which-ever is earlier. b) This extension shall be granted only upon submission of a firm evidence of date of dry-dock availability from the selected dry_dock. c) The Surveys related to Statutory Certificates not requiring dry-dock (such as Safety Equipment/Radio/IOPP/IAPP etc.) shall be completed either prior extension or at the first port, where RO Surveyor can board the vessel during the period of extension. d) The extension of Surveys of Statutory Certificates requiring dry-dock(Such as load-line/Safety Construction etc.) shall be extended based on RO recommendation after satisfactory general examination of hull, machinery, fittings (structural and non- structural) and equipment, satisfactory thickness measurement, as applicable, examination of fore-peak ballast tank, aft-peak ballast tank and other representative water-ballast tanks, examination of fore-most and aft Cargo holds and one other Cargo Hold in case of Single-Hull Bulk Caniers and a CCTV examination of the underwater portion of the hull, appendages, propeller and rudder. e) The above Survey for extension is to be carried out either prior extension or at first port after extension, where RO Surveyor can board the vessel. Extension without the stated surveys' even till the next port where a RO Surveyor can attend the ship shall be granted only after a Risk Assessment. l0' Extension of Renewal surveys beyond three months from expiry date: a) For extension of renewal surveys by 3-months from expiry date or 36 months since last dry-dock, which-ever is earlier, the usual procedure for extension shall apply. b) No extension shall be granted for a period more than 6-months after the due date of renewal survey or 42 months since last dry-dock or date of availability of dry-dock plus l5 days, which-ever is earlier- c) This extension shall be granted only upon submission of a firm evidence of date of dry-dock availability from the selected drv_dock. Page 3 of 5d) The Surveys related to Statutory Certificates not requiring dry-dock shall be completed to-the extent possible either prior extension or at first port, where RO Surveyor can board the vessel during the period of extension. A risk assessment to be conducted for items outstanding to be completed at dry-dock such as 5-yearly load testing of life-boat/rescue boat and launching appliances and recommended for extension with the Risk assessment. D The Surveys of Statutory Certificates requiring dry-dock to be progressed as far as practicable. The extension shall be based on RO recommendation after a satisfactory general examination of hull, machinery, fitting (structural and non- structural), equipment's, satisfactory thickness measurement, as applicable, examination of fore-peak ballast tank, aft-peak ballast tank and other representative water-ballast tanks, examination of fore-most and aft Cargo holds and one other Cargo Hold in case of Single-Hull Bulk Caniers and a CCTV examination of the underwater portion of the hull, appendages, propeller and rudder. e) These Surveys are to be carried out either prior extension or at first port after extension, where RO Surveyor can board the vessel. Extension without the stated surveys even till the next port where a RO Surveyor can attend the ship shall be granted only after a Risk Assessment. 0 In case Service supplier for 5-yearly load test of life-boat/rescue boat and launching appliances is unable to attend due to any reason, Owner can appoint any other local Service supplier who is approved by Directorate but may not be approved by Manufacturer and the testing to be conducted in presence of RO Surveyor. 11. Exemptions from Safe Manning Document:Any dispensation from safe manning shall be on case to case basis where-in a seafarer is signed-off in an emergency and a risk assessment is submitted. 12. The waiver of applicable extension fees as applicable for surveys falling due on/before 30 June 2020 shall also be applicable to ships to which this order applies. 13' The extension of surveys beyond the IMO Convention provisions will be under the following conditions. Page 4 of 5a) If the extension is granted beyond the IMO Convention provisions, the Company, prior entering any foreign load/discharge port, will take permission from relevant Maritime Authorities for acceptance of statutory certificates. b) The Company should ensure increased monitoring of ship for safety of ship and seafarer by shore staff during this period of extension. Procedure for such monitoring to be developed and approved by DPA (for ISM/DDOC vessels) and records to be maintained for verification at next audit/FSl. 14' All Port State Control officer are hereby advised to take a pragmatic approach while inspecting foreign ships visiting India till further orders. Foreign ships with statutory Certificates, having similar extension of Annual/Periodical/ Surveys by 3-months from expiry date and Interim/Initial/tntermediate/Renewal Audit/Inspection by 3-months beyond expiry date, 42-month period since last dry-docking and renewal surveys extension by 6-months beyond expiry date may be accepted. No ship shall be detained for any other period of extension unless approved by concerned principal officer based on present condition of ship. Director General of Shipping Page 5 of 5