The Merchant Shipping (Gas Carriers) Regulations 1994

Issue of International Certificate of Fitness

5.—(1) Upon satisfactory completion of an initial or periodical survey the Secretary of State shall issue to a ship which complies with the relevant requirements of the IGC Code a certificate called an International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk, the model form of which is set out in the appendix to the IGC Code.

(2) A certificate shall cease to be valid—

(a) if any survey required by regulation 4(1)(c) or (d) is not completed within the period specified for that survey;

(b) if any survey required by regulation 4(1)(e) is not completed within such reasonable time as the surveyor may specify; or

(c) upon transfer of the ship to registry in another State.

(3) In either of the cases specified in sub-paragraph (a) or (b) of paragraph (2) the owner shall deliver up the certificate issued in relation to the ship to the Secretary of State on demand.

(4) In the case of a ship which has transferred from registry in another State to registry in the United Kingdom the Secretary of State may, subject to such requirements as to survey or otherwise as he may think fit, if he is satisfied that, notwithstanding that the surveys were not carried out as required by regulation 4(2)—

(a) the ship has already been subjected to a satisfactory initial or periodical survey and to any intermediate, annual or additional surveys required; and

(b) the ship was issued by or on behalf of the Administration of that other State with a certificate of fitness which would, but for the change of registry, have remained valid; and

(c) the condition of the ship and its equipment has been maintained in conformity with the provisions of the IGC Code; and

(d) since completion of the surveys referred to in sub-paragraph (a) no change has been made in the structure, equipment, fittings, arrangements and materials covered by those surveys, without the sanction of the Administration of that other State or of the Secertary of State, except by direct replacement;

issue to that ship an International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk for a period to be determined by the Secretary of State, but not extending beyond the expiry date of the certificate referred to in sub-paragraph (b).

(5) The International Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Liquefied Gases in Bulk shall be kept on board ship and shall be available for inspection at all reasonable times.