1 The International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969
(TONNAGE 1969), which came into force on 18 July 1982, applies to:
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.1 new ships, i.e. ships the keels of which were laid on or after 18 July
1982; and
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.2 existing ships, i.e. ships the keels of which were laid before 18 July
1982, as from 18 July 1994,
except that for the purpose of application of the SOLAS
1974, MARPOL and STCW 1978, the following interim schemes indicated in
paragraph 2 may apply.
2 In accordance with the interim schemes adopted by the
Organization,footnote the Administration may, at the request of the
shipowner, use the gross tonnage determined in accordance with national rules prior
to the coming into force of the TONNAGE
1969 for the following ships:
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.1 for the purpose of SOLAS
1974:
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.1 ships the keels of which were laid before 1 January 1986;
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.2 in respect of SOLAS 1974 regulation IV/3, ships the keels of which were laid on
or after 1 January 1986 but before 18 July 1994; and
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.3 cargo ships of less than 1,600 tons gross tonnage (as
determined under the national tonnage rules) the keels of which were
laid on or after 1 January 1986 but before 18 July 1994; and
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.2 for the purpose of MARPOL, ships of less than 400 tons gross tonnage (as determined
under the national tonnage rules) the keels of which were laid before 18
July 1994.
3 For ships to which the above interim schemes apply, a statement to the
effect that the gross tonnage has been measured in accordance with the national
tonnage rules should be included in the "REMARKS" column of the International
Tonnage Certificate and in the footnote to the figure of the gross tonnage in the
relevant SOLAS 1974 and MARPOL certificates.
4 The port State control officer (PSCO) should take the following actions
as appropriate when deficiencies are found in relation to TONNAGE
1969:
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.1 if a ship does not hold a valid International Tonnage
Certificate, the ship loses all privileges of TONNAGE
1969, and the flag State should be informed without delay;
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.2 if the required remarks and footnote are not included in the
relevant certificates on ships to which the interim schemes apply, this
deficiency should be notified to the master; and
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.3 if the main characteristics of the ship differ from those
entered on the International Tonnage Certificate, so as to lead to an
increase in the gross tonnage or net tonnage, the flag State should be
informed without delay.
5 The control provisions of article 12
of TONNAGE 1969 do not include the provision for detention of a ship holding a valid
International Tonnage Certificate.