Multiple Load Line Certificates


Multiple Load Line certificates may be directly issued to a ship by the Recognised Organisation upon authorisation from BMA. BMA shall be notified of such requests and advised of the ship's highest deadweight tonnage.

 

When a ship is issued with multiple Load Line certificates:

 

  • For paper certificates, the unused certificates must be placed in a sealed envelope and kept in the custody of the Master (NOT in the current certificates file).
  • For electronic certificates, both the active and inactive certificates shall be displayed on the Recognised Organisation’s database and shall be capable of being verified. Preferably the system should highlight which certificate is active.

 

The following must be verified for issuance or change of Load Line certificates:

 

  • The ship must comply fully with all statutory requirements appropriate for a ship of the maximum deadweight corresponding to the minimum freeboard assigned in the certificates issued;
  • There must be no reduction in safety standards when sailing at an increased or decreased deadweight;
  • Only one set of Load Line permanent marks shall be on display at any time corresponding to the current Load Line certificate, and the other sets shall be obliterated by paint;
  • The Master must ensure, with a Recognised Organisation surveyor in attendance, that the correct set of marks are displayed together with the corresponding Load Line certificate, that the other sets of marks are properly obliterated, and that the other Load Line certificates are in safekeeping and not on display. In the case of Recognised Organisation surveyor unavailability, the change of Load Line may be carried out on the Master’s instructions, provided that arrangements for verification at the next available port have been agreed with the Recognised Organisation;
  • The Master is to make an entry in the ship’s Official Logbook on every occasion that the Load Line marks are changed;
  • The Recognised organisation is to ensure that all marks are verified, and all corresponding Load Line certificates endorsed at each subsequent Load Line survey.


[Bahamas National Requirements Para 9.1]

  

Multiple SOLAS and/or MARPOL Certificates for ships with multiple Load Lines

 

Only one set of SOLAS and/or MARPOL certificates shall be in use denoting the maximum deadweight for the vessel. 

 

However, where owners request statutory certificates to display the additional permitted deadweights for commercial reasons, multiple SOLAS and/or MARPOL certificates may be directly issued to a ship by the Recognised Organisation without specific BMA authorisation. However, the BMA shall be notified of such cases.

 

The SOLAS and/or MARPOL certificates in use must correspond with the Load Line Certificate that is currently in use. 

 

When a ship is issued with multiple SOLAS and/or MARPOL certificates:

 

  • For paper certificates, the unused certificates must be placed in a sealed envelope and kept in the custody of the Master (NOT in the current certificates file).
  • For electronic certificates, both the active and inactive certificates shall be displayed on the Recognised Organisation’s database and shall be capable of being verified. Preferably the system should highlight which certificate is active

 

When a ship has been issued with multiple SOLAS and/or MARPOL certificates and if a statutory condition has been imposed on one of the certificates or  a certificate has been issued as conditional or short term, the Recognised Organisation shall ensure that ALL copies of that certificate for all deadweights are short term or conditional, replicating the same statutory condition. .

 

For clarity, the following example refers.

 

A ship may have been issued with multiple Load Line certificates denoting 5 different DWT values. Upon the owners request a similar set of 5 different IOPP certificates stating the same DWT values have been issued. In case of Oily Water Separator breakdown which will necessitate imposing an Outstanding Statutory Recommendation and issuing a Short Term IOPP Certificate with a temporary dispensation to MARPOL Annex I, Regulation 14 Requirements, all 5 IOPP Certificates with different DWT shall be issued as Short Term replicating the similar dispensation text.


[Bahamas National Requirements Para 9.2]