The Republic of the Marshall Islands has issued technical circular to promulgate the RMI Maritime Administrator policies on the BWM Convention, specifically with respect to the early renewal survey of the International Oil Pollution Prevention (IOPP) Certificate.
The Administrator allows for early renewal and decoupling of the IOPP renewal survey from other statutory surveys and certificates covered in IMO Assembly Resolution A.883(21). No special authorization from the Administrator is required to carry out an early IOPP renewal survey, or to issue the new certificate.
In line with International Convention of the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) I regulation 10, paragraph 7, the Administrator authorizes ROs to issue certificates that are not dated from the date of expiry of the existing certificate. In all cases, the new certificate shall be valid to a date not exceeding five (5) years from the date of completion of the renewal survey.
In cases of early renewal of the IOPP Certificate, ROs are instructed to:
- follow IMO Assembly Resolution A.1104(29), Survey Guidelines Under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC), 2015, and in particular, Annex 3, Section 1 which contains the detailed requirements for MARPOL Annex 1 surveys; and
- apply MARPOL I, regulations 9 (Form of certificate) and 10 (Duration and validity of certificate).
The IOPP certificate expiry date can be recoupled with other certificates by performing a further renewal survey and assigning a validity date to the new certificate which aligns with the other certificates. In all cases, the new certificate shall be valid to a date not exceeding five (5) years from the date of completion of the IOPP renewal survey.
In order for the IOPP renewal survey to not trigger BWM Convention D-2 compliance, then the renewal survey must be completed before 08 September 2017.
Noting that the BWM Convention is set to enter into force on 08 September 2017, ROs are instructed, upon satisfactory completion of the required survey, to issue an IBWM Certificate, taking into account the provisions of IMO Circular BWM.2/Circ.40, Issuance of Ballast Water Management Certificates prior to entry into force of the BWM Convention and Ballast Water Management Plans approved.
The validity of such certificates shall commence upon the date of entry into force and remain valid for a period not exceeding five years, subject to successful completion of the required periodical surveys.
Find out more by reading the circular below
Source: RMI
