Mar Law

STCW Code Table A-II/1

Navigation at the operational level
Maritime Law

CAPT. EUTIQUIO G. MIRASOL

Instructor, College of Maritime Education
Declaration:
This learning module is an exclusive property of Dr. Yanga’s Colleges, Inc., as an essential part of the
REIMAGINED Learning Program for the Academic Year 2020-2021, and shall only be used by and for
DYCIans. No part of this learning module shall be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, and/or sold, without the
consent of DYCI.
 << Week No. 16 >>
<<IMO Convention Required Documents >>

This module is intended for you 3rdyear BS Marine Transportation Students the Maritime Law, its introduction, histo
.

At the end of this module, you are expected to:

1. differentiate the documents required onboard by the international conventions.

Certificates and Documents for Merchant Ships

Ships must carry various certificates and documents on board to operate legally and to trade freely both nation
Jump to a section:

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Cargo Record Book
Oil Record Book
*International tonnage certificate
*Minimum safe manning document certificate
*Medical fitness certificate
*Compliance and Safety Management Certificate (ISM Code)
*International Load Line Certificate
*International load line exemption certificate
Dangerous Cargo Carrying Certificate
*International Oil Prevention certificate
*Cargo ship safety radiotelegraphy and radiotelephony certificates or GMDSS
Certificate of fitness for carriage of liquefied gases in bulk
Certificate of fitness for carriage of noxious liquid substances in bulk
Passenger ship safety certificate
Reports of previous s
*Shipboard Oil Pollution Emergency Plan
Cargo Securing Manual
Cargo loading and unloading plans
Garbage record book and garbage management plan
Ballast water management plan
Document of operational limitations in case of passenger ships
Muster List
Reports on previous surveys apart from PSC
Fire control and safety plan
Special purpose ship safety certificate
Engine room and deck log book
A/A Max Certificate for Ro-Ro Ships
Records of tests and drills
High Speed Craft Safety and Operational Certificate in case of high speed craft
*Certificate of Ship’s hull strength and machinery installation issued by the classification society
*Ship crew’s certificate of competency for dangerous goods endorsement
Certificate for carrying of dangerous chemicals in bulk
*Cargo ship safety certificate
Intact stability booklet with damage calculations
Stowage plan
Record of oil discharge monitoring and control system for oil tankers
Mobile offshore drilling safety certificate for offshore drilling vessels
Documentation of authorization for carrying of particular cargo
SAR Cooperation plan for passenger ships
*Cargo Ship safety certificate for ship’s construction and equipment
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Do Merchant Ships Need to Bring Regulation Documents With Them?
Regulations govern procedure, behavior and standards within an industry, and are designed to meet the statutory or legal require
Regulatory documents such as certificates for merchant ships are often “mandatory” in that it is a requirement to carry them on b
What Documents Are Needed?
Ships conducting international trade may need to carry more than 50 documents on board. The specific documents a ship should
The IMO has standardized documents some countries may accept, per the , but it is also common for countries to require a crew
How Are Laws and Regulations Different?
Legal or statutory requirements legally mandate the standards of construction, safe operation and management of ships. A count
A vessel that does not meet the standards is non-compliant with the regulation, and might be breaking the law, depending on the
may not be allowed to operate until they fix the problem;
may require further inspections to determine the extent of the problem;
the solution may get deferred until a later date, such as in cases where the infraction is minor or when a port or shipyard
may resolve the issue by sending corrected documentation to authorities; or
the violation may be severe enough to warrant civil or criminal action, such as in cases of fraud, collusion or falsificatio

Flag states enforce their standards and regulations upon ships operating within or visiting their countries, but they may not choos

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The certificate states that the vessel is complying with the rules of the classification society, but the document does not a
2. Certificate of Registry
A Certificate of Registry is a statutory certificate required by local law and the . Merchant ships must be registered in a f
Ship owner particulars: Details about the ship owner or owners, including their name, address, percent of
ownership and other information
Ship particulars: Details about the vessel, including its length, breadth, depth, gross tonnage and where the ship was bu
Ship engine particulars: Details about the ship’s engine, including the make and model and a description of the engine
Ship owners must meet specific requirements set by the flag state to qualify for a Certificate of Registry. These requirem
. Ships can receive a Certificate of Registry from government or private agencies called registries.
3. SOLAS Certificates
One of the most impactful international treaties governing merchant ships is the . The IMO first adopted the SOLAS Convent
International Ship Safety Equipment Certificate: This certificate verifies the operational readiness of all
ship safety equipment under SOLAS Chapter III. Form E, detailing all safety equipment required to be on
board, must also accompany the certificate.
Minimum Safe Manning Certificate: This certificate lists the minimum number of onboard crew required to
safely operate a vessel, as established under SOLAS Chapter V.
International Ship Construction Certificate: As required by SOLAS Chapter II-1, this certificate verifies
safe and secure ship construction. Various documents must also accompany this certificate, including
construction drawings, damage control plans and a coating technical file, among others.
International Ship Safety Radio Certificate: SOLAS Chapter IV requires cargo ships and passenger ships
to carry appropriate radio equipment on international voyages. This certificate verifies a vessel has the
necessary equipment and that it is in good working condition.
Safety Management Certificate (SMC): This certificate verifies that a ship complies with the International
Safety Management Code, which outlines standards for safe operation and management of vessels while at
sea. The SMC lasts for five years, with verification of compliance performed between the second and third
year.

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International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC): The ISSC verifies that a ship complies with maritime
security regulations outlined in SOLAS Chapter XI-2 and Part A of the International Ship and Port Facility
Security Code. As of October 2018, the 1974 SOLAS Convention had , which
accounted for over 99 percent of the global gross tonnage of merchant ships. Therefore, SOLAS certificates
are statutory for the vast majority of cargo ships and other seafaring vessels.
4. MARPOL Certificates
The , called the MARPOL Convention, is one of the most significant international maritime treaties addressing environmental prot
International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Certificate: This certificate, required under MARPOL Annex I,
includes standards for oily water separation, filtering equipment and oil discharge monitoring equipment. The
IOPP Certificate is a necessity for oil tankers, ships carrying oil as cargo and ships carrying bunker oil as
fuel.
International Pollution Prevention Certificate for the Carriage of Noxious Liquid Substances in
Bulk: Also called the NLS Certificate, this document verifies that ships carrying noxious liquid substances in
bulk comply with standards for discharge of residues that contain pollutants.
International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate: MARPOL Annex IV requires ships to control
marine pollution from sewage. This certificate details a vessel’s sewage holding tank and its capacity or a
vessel’s sewage treatment plant, depending on which equipment the vessel has, and lists how many people
the sewage system is certified for.
International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate: This certificate verifies compliance with MARPOL
Annex VI requirements for air pollution, including limits on the emission of volatile organic compounds,
nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and other pollutants, as well as regulations regarding incinerators, fuel quality
and exhaust gas cleaning systems.
International Energy Efficiency Certificate (IEEC): The IEEC, added to the MARPOL Convention in
2011, verifies that a ship meets requirements for energy efficiency. This certificate is specific to each vessel
and is subject to inspections and audits.
MARPOL certificates are statutory for ships registered in one of the 158 contracting states and are mandatory
for ships seeking to trade with MARPOL party nations. As of 2019, ships from MARPOL contracting states
accounted for over 99 percent of world tonnage.
5. International Anti-Fouling System Certificate
Another maritime certificate aimed toward environmental protection is the International Anti-Fouling System Certificate. It is a m

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6. International Load Line Certificate
The  establishes regulations for determining ship load lines, accounting for seasons and zones as well as factors of the sh
Summer
Tropical
Winter
Winter North Atlantic
Fresh Water
Tropical Fresh Water
Cargo ships carrying timber must have a second set of load line markings that correspond with each season.
The load lines this convention requires represent the maximum cargo load a ship can hold while maintaining the minimu
7. International Tonnage Certificate
Adopted in 1969 and entered into force in 1982, the  established a universal system for tonnage measurement of ships. S
A ship’s GT allows for the calculation of safety rules, regulations for safe manning and registration fees. Both GT and N
8. Certificates for Masters, Officers and Ratings
The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) requires
Certificates required by the STCW are statutory for ships registered to party nations of the convention and mandatory fo
9. Maritime Labor Certificates
All commercial ships in international trade must carry a Maritime Labour Certificate issued by the  and the IMO. By req

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 Name: _____________________________________________ Rating: _____________________
Year and Section:_____________ Professor / Instructor:________________________________
Due of Submission: _____________________________
<< Week No. 16 >>
<< IMO Convention Required Documents >>

1. What are the certificates and documents need for merchant ships on board?

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3. What primary regulatory or statutory certificates should seafarers be familiar with?

4.

5. What is Minimum Safe Manning Certificate?

6. What is Annex I of MARPOL 73/78?

7. Define International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Certificate?

8. What is Annex IV of MARPOL 73/78?

9. Define International Sewage Pollution Prevention Certificate?

10. What is the certificate that the seafarers sometimes called the 'Seafarers' Bill of Rights'.

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REFERENCES:

1. Table A-II/1 of the 1978 STCW Code as amended, Function: Navigation at the operational
level
2. Maritime Labor Convention 2006
3. United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
4. Protection & Indemnity Insurance
5. Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) (over view only)
6. International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
7. STCW as amended
8. Admiralty law
9. Maritime Commerce /Shipping Contract/Claims
10. Annex A of CMO No. 67, S. 2017 : Revised PSG for BSMT and BSMarE Programs

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