The UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) announced they will commence a phased return to Survey and Inspection activity in the UK from 20 July, following suspension of operations in late March.
Therefore, as of 6 July, Marine Offices will start to take bookings for 20 July onwards.
Survey activities will be carried out in accordance with the guidance outlined in MIN 623 (M+F) and Operators are strongly advised to consult this document prior to making any arrangements.
However, Marine Office front desk counter services will continue to remain closed.
Meanwhile, MCA has substantially amended MIN 612 (M+F) to reflect the increasing ability of the industry to undertake the activities previously restricted due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
The MCA says its survey and inspection team will work within Government guidance and requests for surveys required after the 20th July may be made in the normal manner, with the Application for Survey’ MSF5100 form.
Booking for oral exams, both deck and engineering will also resume although these will be carried out remotely, not face-to-face.
This is an important and necessary small step towards resuming the MCA’s work of survey and inspection. We owe a duty of care not just to our own surveyors and business support staff but also to those owners and operators whose vessels we are working on. However, we feel the time is now right to return to UK survey and inspection work as a recognition of supporting the industry and also keeping it safe,
…says Katy Ware, Director of Maritime Safety and Standards.
PSC Inspections, overseas survey work and the survey and audit of internationally trading vessels will not resume at this time but will remain under review.
In an online video meeting with IMO in April, PSC regimes expressed intention to collaborate to develop harmonized port State control practices and policies to ensure a consistent approach across the world.
