IMO resolutions MSC.91(72) and MSC.92(72) which prescribe that "Bulk carrier" is to be added as one of "Type of Ship" in the forms for the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate and Cargo Ship Safety Certificate (hereinafter referred to as SC, SE and SF certificates) will enter into force on 1 Jan. 2002. This amendment to these certificate forms is to be applied to all ships which hold those certificates on board. An explanation of how to deal with these amendments is as follows.

1. The difference between existing SC, SE and SF certificates and amended SC, SE and SF certificates
"Bulk carrier" has been added as one of "Type of Ship" in the forms for amended SC, SE and SF certificates. There is no difference in entry between existing and amended SC, SE and SF certificates except that "Bulk carrier" is to be selected as type of ship in amended SC, SE and SF certificates for any vessel which is defined as a Bulk carrier in accordance with Chapter IX of the SOLAS convention.

2. Procedure of our Society for this amendment (For Non-Japanese Flag vessels)
(a) For vessels where "Type of Ship" is defined as "Other Cargo Ships" in their existing SC,SE and SF certificates on board, a note to show whether the vessel is a Bulk carrier or Non-bulk carrier is entered, and an endorsement for the entry of the note is made on their SC, SE and SF certificates at the first periodical survey (Annual Survey, Intermediate Survey or Periodical Survey) on or after 1 Jan. 2002.
(b) When a SC, SE and/or SF certificate is issued, an amended certificate is issued for all these vessels at the first Initial Survey or Renewal Survey on or after 1 Jan. 2002.
(c) In cases where SC, SE and/or SF certificates are issued at any survey other than those above (b), or the vessels' owner or shipbuilder requests the issueing of amended certificates, the existing certificates on board are replaced with the amended certificates issued at that time.

3. Issueing of a statement showing a vessel to not be Bulk carrier according to the SOLAS convention
There are vessels which are NOT described as Bulk carriers in their amended SC, SE and/or SF certificates in accordance with Chapter IX of the SOLAS convention, although the vessels are described as "Bulk carrier" in Class Notations of their Classification certificates in accordance with the Regulations for the Classification and Registry of Ships of our Society. When amended SC, SE and/or SF certificates are issued to these vessels after completion of a survey at our local office, in cases where those vessels' owner or shipbuilder requests a statement showing that the vessel is a Bulk carrier in the Classification certificate but not a Bulk carrier in SC, SE and/or SF certificates, in order to prevent Port State Control Officers and so on from pointing out this discrepancy, a statement is issued at the local office free of charge.


For any questions about the above, please contact the Classification Department (Tel : +81-43-294-5784 / Fax : +81-43-294-5449)