#TECM2612048AFrance updates authorized classification societies for ship safety and pollution certificates
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This order updates the official list of classification societies that can carry out inspections and issue, renew, suspend or withdraw certain ship safety and pollution-prevention certificates on behalf of the French state. It mainly affects shipowners, operators, maritime compliance teams and classification societies working with cargo ships of at least 24 metres and mobile offshore drilling units. Companies should check whether their chosen classification society remains authorized for the specific certificates they need.
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Key Changes
- Updates the authorization table for recognized ship classification societies
- Clarifies which societies may handle specific safety and pollution-prevention inspections and certificates
- Applies to cargo ships of at least 24 metres and mobile offshore drilling units, with some vessel categories excluded
Obligations
What this law requires
For cargo ships with a reference length of at least 24 metres and mobile offshore drilling units, required ship safety and pollution-prevention surveys and certificates must be handled only through classification societies habilitated for the relevant certificate or visit in Annex 140-A.1.
Classification societies may study and approve plans and documents, conduct onboard visits, issue, endorse, renew, withdraw or suspend certificates on behalf of the French state only where Annex 140-A.1 marks their competence with “H” for the relevant certificate or visit.
Certificates of exemption may be issued by an authorized classification society only where Annex 140-A.1 provides competence marked “D” and only after a conforming opinion from the head of the competent ship safety centre.
Shipowners and operators must verify that their selected classification society is authorized for the specific certificate needed, including load line, cargo ship construction safety, cargo ship radio safety, cargo ship equipment safety, liquefied gas bulk carriage, dangerous chemicals bulk carriage, oil pollution prevention, and noxious liquid substances pollution-prevention certificates.
The habilitation framework in Annex 140-A.1 does not apply to passenger ships, commercial-use pleasure craft, nuclear-powered ships, or ships subject to the INF Code for carriage of irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium or high-level radioactive waste in flasks.