MCA Instructions for the Guidance of Surveyors specifies requirements for: (1) “vessel secured alongside berth/at anchor – live ship”; and (2) “vessel secured alongside berth/at anchor – dead ship”.
(1) In the case of a “live ship”: the Safety Management Certificate (SMC) remains valid and audits are carried out as required by the ISM Code. The Safety Management System (SMS) may need to be revised to cover the activities required during the lay-up period and reactivation procedures. If the lay-up period is longer than 3 months, or a different crew reactivates the ship, an additional ISM audit will be required. (No mention is made of the International Ship Security Certificate.) (2) In the case of a “dead ship”: the SMC and International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) will be withdrawn. Procedures required for reactivation of the ship will have to be established. On reactivation the ship will be treated as a new ship to the Company and following successful interim audit, an Interim SMC will be issued. (No further mention is made by the MCA of the International Ship Security Certificate. However, Germanischer Lloyd’s website states that an interim verification audit (pre-audit) and re-approval of the SSP will be required on reactivation. The ship will then be treated as a new ship to the Company and issued with an Interim ISSC. ) See also ISM Code certification in Section D.
