Annex N - Survey, Certification and Accident Investigations
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Statutory Documents - MCA Publications - Yacht Code - January 2019 Edition - Common Annexes - Annex N - Survey, Certification and Accident Investigations

Annex N - Survey, Certification and Accident Investigations

N1 - General

(1) All vessels covered by this code are required to be surveyed and certificated in accordance with the applicable international conventions and national legislation (See Annex L).

(2) Statutory work may be undertaken by surveyors of the Administration or by surveyors of a Recognised Organisation appointed by the Administration.

(3) A vessel to which the International Conventions apply shall be surveyed and, if the necessary standards are met, Convention certificates shall be issued. All requests for survey and certification shall be made to the Administration.

N2 - Survey and Certification:

(1) All ships covered by this Code are required to be surveyed and certified in accordance with the applicable requirements of the survey guidelines under the IMO Harmonized System of Survey and Certification adopted by resolution A.1053(27) as applicable to:
  • (a) passenger ships carrying not more than 36 passengers for Part B vessels

  • (b) cargo ships for Part A vessels

N3 - Use of a Recognised Organisation

(1) Statutory work may be undertaken by surveyors of the Administration or by surveyors of a Recognised Organisation appointed by the Administration. All requests for survey and certification shall be made to the Administration or the appropriate Recognised Organisation where such surveys are delegated.

(1) An authorised Recognised Organisation is aware of the extent to which responsibility has been delegated to issue Load Line Certificates and Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificates. International Conventions give specific discretion to an Administration to either make exemptions or accept equivalent equipment or arrangements. The formal agreement between the Administration and an authorised Recognised Organisation governs the relationship between the two parties.

N4 - Use of a Recognised Organisation Surveyor to act on the behalf of the Administration

(1) An exclusive surveyor from a Recognised Organisation and proposed by the Society may be appointed from time to time to act on behalf of the Administration in cases when it is impracticable for a surveyor of the Administration to make the visit necessary for the survey.

(2) When a Recognised Organisation surveyor is so appointed, actions taken shall be under direct instruction of the Administration. The Administration shall provide the appointed surveyor with detailed guidance on the scope of survey and report required.

N5 - Accident Investigations

(1) The Administration with which the vessel is registered is obliged to investigate certain accidents or incidents in accordance with the requirements of International Conventions. In addition to this requirement, an Administration may investigate any incidents where there may be important safety lessons to be learned.

(2) It may be an offence for the vessel's master, skipper or owner not to inform the appropriate authority of a reportable accident shortly after it occurs and to provide details so that an assessment of its seriousness can be made quickly. The Administration shall appoint a suitable inspector whenever an investigation is required. The Administration will receive the Inspector's report of the investigation and shall deal with the follow up action.

(3) The Administration has a duty to conduct an investigation into any very serious marine casualty occurring on any ships to which the IMO Casualty Investigation Code applies. Such an investigation may assist in determining what changes in the content of this code may be desirable. Casualty investigations are carried out in accordance with the IMO Casualty Investigation Codefootnote and any applicable national legislation of the Administration concerned.

(4) All very serious marine casualties in accordance with the IMO definition are reported to IMO through the Administration.


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