**Executive Summary**
This Engineering Circular No. 04 of 2015 announces India's ratification of the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention). The circular states that the Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2014 came into force on April 1st, 2015, and India acceded to the AFS Convention on April 24th, 2015, with the Convention taking effect on July 24th, 2015. Stakeholders must replace existing Statements of Compliance (SOC) with Convention Certificates by July 24th, 2016.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Ratification and Enforcement:**
* India ratified the International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention).
* Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2014 came into force on April 1st, 2015.
* India acceded to the Convention on April 24th, 2015, and it takes effect on July 24th, 2015.
* **Statement of Compliance (SOC) Replacement:**
* Existing Statements of Compliance (SOC) for the AFS Convention must be replaced with Convention Certificates.
* Replacement should be done at the first occurrence of the following after July 24th, 2015, but no later than July 24th, 2016:
* Any statutory periodical survey
* Endorsement of records towards AFS Survey
* Change of flag survey
* Re-issue of certification for AFS Convention
* Owner’s request
* Initial surveys of newly constructed vessels
* **Convention Certificates:**
* All Recognized Organizations must govern the issuance of Convention Certificates relating to the AFS Convention.
* Owners/Managers of vessels already registered with the Indian Maritime Administration are advised to approach the Recognized Organizations to replace SOC with Convention certificates as per Annexure-1 prior to 24th July 2016.
* **Indian Anti-Fouling System Certificate:**
* Indian ships not engaged in international voyages will be issued an Indian Anti-Fouling System Certificate as per the format in the Merchant Shipping Rules.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** All Concerned Stakeholders
* **Impact:** Need to be aware of the enforcement of the AFS Convention in India.
* **Action Required:** Replace existing Statements of Compliance (SOC) with Convention Certificates.
**Stakeholder:** Recognized Organizations
* **Impact:** Must adhere to the requirements for issuing Convention Certificates related to the AFS Convention.
* **Action Required:** Ensure the issuance of Convention Certificates is in line with the AFS Convention requirements.
**Stakeholder:** Owners/Managers of Vessels Registered with Indian Maritime Administration
* **Impact:** Must comply with the new certification requirements under the AFS Convention.
* **Action Required:** Approach Recognized Organizations to replace Statements of Compliance with Convention Certificates before the deadline (July 24th, 2016).
Key Entities Referenced
International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention): The primary international agreement this circular concerns, regulating anti-fouling systems on ships to prevent harm to the environment.
Merchant Shipping (Amendment) Act, 2014(31 of 2014): Indian law amending the Merchant Shipping Act, bringing it in line with the AFS Convention.
Ministry of Shipping: The Indian government ministry responsible for implementing the AFS Convention and related regulations.
Statement of Compliance (SOC): Existing certificates that need to be replaced with Convention Certificates.
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Engineering Circular No.04 of 2015
No : ENG lursc-zg (r2) / 2orz Dated: 09u' June, 2Ol5
Subject: Ratification and enforcement of the International Convention on
the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships' 2001.
(AFS Convention)
All concerned stake-holders may take note that the Government of lndia vide Ministry of
Shipping Notification S.O.521(E) dated 16th February, 2015 has appointed 1't April,
20'15 as the date on which the Merchant Shipping(Amendment) Act, 2014(31 of 20141
shall come into force.
Further it is also informed that India has acceded to the International Convention on the
Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (AFS Convention) on24th April,
2015 and this will come into force with effect from 24tn July,2Q15 in accordance with
article 18(3) of the Convention.
In view of the above mentioned notification and accession by India to the AFS
Convention and considering that the rules are yet to be notified, as in interim measure it
is hereby informed to all stake holders that the existing Statement of Compliance (SOC)
issued to vessels in respect to the AFS Convention are required to be replaced with
of
Convention Certificates in line with the formats as specified in Annexure-1 this
circular at the first of the following occurring after 24th July , 2015 but not later than 24th
Jufy, 2016
:
a. At any statutory periodical (Annual/lntermediate/Renewal) survey undertaken on
board the vessel after 24th July ,2015.
b. At the time of Endorsement of records towards AFS Survey;
c. At Change of flag surveY;
d. Re-issue of certification for AFS Convention due to possible changes to technicalrequi!'ements, certification details/entries, etc;
e. At Owner's request;
f.
Initial surveys of vessels newly constructed.
All Recognized Organizations are advised to be governed by the above requirement
in respect of the issuance of Convention Certificates relating to the AFS Convention.
/
5 All Owners Managers of vessels which are already registered with the Indian
Maritime Administration are advised to approach the Recognized Organizations and
ensure that the existing AFS Statement of Compliance are replaced with the
convention certificates as per Annexure-1 of this circular as applicable prior to 24h
Jufy 2016.
,
6. Indian ships as referred to in Section 356 S (3) of the Merchant Shipping .Act, not
engaged in international voyages shall be issued an Indian Anti-Fouling System
Certificate as per the format prescribed in the Meichant Shipping Rules which wilf be
notified in due course.
7. This issues with the approval of the competent authority
(Aniruddha Chaki)
E & SS cum DDG (Tech)
To,
o
1. The Principal Officers/ Mercantile Marine Department, Mumbai/Kolkata/ Chennai/
Kandla/Cochin.
2. The Surveyor-in-charge, Mercantile Marine Department, Goa/Jamnagar/Port Blair
Msakhapatanam /Tuticorin /Delhi lHaldiat Paradip /Mangalore.
3. All Recognised Organizations.
4. Indian National Shipowners Association (INSA), Mumbai
5. All Shipping Companies
6. CS/NA/CSS/JI.DG
:
T. Hindi Cell
file.
8. Guard :
9, Computer Cell\
ANNEXURE- 1
I NTE RNATI O NAt ANTI- FO U tI N G SYSTEM C ERTI FI CATE
(This certificate shall be supptemented by a Record of Anti'fouling Systems) :
lssued under the
lnternational Convention on the Control of HarmfulAnti-Fouling Systems on Ships
Under the authority of the Government of India
by
..(person or orlanization authorized)
When a Certificate has been previously issued, this Certificate replaces the ce-rtificate dated ...............
Particulars of ship
.......!;..,.................. ........:...........:.........
Name of ship.... ...;.......:,.......
Distinctivenumberor|etters...............
Port of registry...
Gross tonnage..
IMO number:..........
An anti-fouling system controlled under Annex t has not been applied during or after construction x
of this ship
An anti-fouling system controlted under Annex t has been applied on this ship previously, but has T
been removed by .......... .. (insert name of the facilityl on.......,....... ..(datel
An anti.fouling system controlled under Annex t has been applied on this ship previously, but has
T
been covered with a sealer coat applied by .........:............,..;..........:.. (rhsert name of the facility)
..........................................:....................i.....on....... .........'...(datel
An anti-fouling system controtled under Annex 1 was applied on this ship prior 1o........... .ldotel! ,
but must be removed or covered with a sealer coat prior to .......... .,(datelz
THIS ISTO CERTIFY THAT:
I
the ship has been surveyed in accordance with regulation 1 of Annex 4 to the Convention;,and
2 the survey shows that the anti-fouling system on the ship complies with the applicable
requirements of Annex t to the Convention.
Completion date of the survey on which this certificate is based:
ssued a1............ ...(Ploce of issue of Certificatel
f
q1:...:............(Date of issue)
(Signature of authorized official issuing the Certificate)
lrorlrrri-r-.....4..........
(Official Seal)
1.
Date of entry into force of the control measare.
2. Date of expiration of any implementatlon peiod spe:cified in article 4(2) or Annex 1
Page Lof 4 Annexure-1 to Engineering Circula r 4 of 2OL5I
RECORD OF AIfTI,FOUIING SYSTEMS
' This Record shall be permanently attached to the International Anti-Fouling System Certificate.
Particularc of ship
THIS lS TO CERTIFY that this Record-is correct in all respects.
.'-i
:
' i
lsued ot.............,,1pldce of ,issue of.Reeordl
o11,................(Date of issue)
. ; (Signature of authorized official issuing the Record)
, - ' ':, ". ,..., :.
:
(fficial
Seal)
:Annexure-l
Page 2of 4 to'Engineering Circular 4 of 2015-
(Official Seal)
\
2. Date'of completion Of the suruey on which this *ndorsernent is made.
Page 3of 4(Date)
(Date)
\: