33Approval of in-water inspections

33 Approval of in-water inspections

(1) The owner of a vessel may apply to AMSA for approval of an in-water inspection to replace any of the dry-dock inspections required under this Marine Order.

Note 1 For a SOLAS certificate, the effect of Regulations 7 and 10 of Chapter I and Regulation 9 of Chapter VIII of SOLAS and the Survey Guidelines under the Harmonised System of Survey and Certification is that a vessel is required to have 2 dry-dock inspections in the applicable validity period of a SOLAS certificate.

Note 2 For a non-SOLAS certificate, the dry-dock inspection requirements are specified in Division 3.

(2) The application for approval must be made in accordance with Marine Order 1 (Administration) 2013.

Note Marine Order 1 (Administration) 2013 requires a supporting statement setting out the grounds of the application. It also provides that if a fee is charged the application must be accompanied by the prescribed fee and, if a form is approved for the application, the approved form must be used.

(3) AMSA may approve inspection of the bottom of the vessel to be conducted in-water, in lieu of a dry-dock inspection, if:

(a) for a vessel that is participating in an extended dry-docking scheme — AMSA is satisfied that the scheme:

(i) is approved by the classification society for the vessel; and

(ii) complies with IACS Rec. No 133 Guidelines for Pilot Schemes of Extended Interval between Surveys in Dry-dock – Extended Dry-docking (EDD) Scheme, as amended from time to time; and

(b) for a vessel that is not participating in an extended dry-docking scheme:

(i) the vessel is not a ro-ro passenger vessel; and

(ii) for a vessel to which the ESP Code applies — the in-water inspection is not combined with the renewal survey; and

(iii) the vessel is less than 15 years old; and

(c) AMSA is satisfied that the in-water inspection is at least as effective as a dry-dock inspection.

Note for paragraph (c) For passenger vessels, AMSA may take into account MSC.1/Circ.1348 Guidelines for the assessment of technical provisions for the performance of an in-water survey in lieu of bottom inspection in dry-dock to permit one dry-dock examination in any five year period for passenger ships other than ro-ro passenger ships and as amended from time to time.

(4) The approval is subject to the following conditions:

(a) for a vessel that is participating in an extended dry-docking scheme — any condition imposed by AMSA; and

(b) for a vessel that is not participating in an extended dry-docking scheme: