Hong Kong Regulations

MERCHANT SHIPPING (BCH CODE) REGULATIONS - REGULATION 4

Survey requirements

(Past version on 01/07/2002).
(Past version on 05/11/1999).
(Past version on 30/06/1997).

For the saving and transitional provisions relating to the amendments made by
the Resolution of the Legislative Council (L.N. 130 of 2007), see paragraph
(12) of that Resolution.

(1) The structure, equipment, fittings, arrangements and materials

(other than items in respect of which a Cargo Ship Safety Construction 
Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety 
Radiotelegraphy Certificate or Cargo Ship Safety Radiotelephony  Certificate
is issued) of a chemical tanker shall be subjected to the following surveys-

   (a)  an initial survey before the Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage
        of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk is issued for the first time, which
        shall include a complete examination of its structure, equipment,
        fittings, arrangements and materials in so far as the ship is covered
        by the BCH Code; an initial survey shall be such as to ensure that the
        structure, equipment, fittings, arrangements and materials fully
        comply with the relevant provisions of the BCH Code;

   (b)  a periodical survey at intervals not exceeding 5 years which shall be
        such as to ensure that the structure, equipment, fittings,
        arrangements and materials comply with the relevant provisions of the
        BCH  Code;

   (c)  a minimum of one intermediate survey during the period of validity of
        the Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals
        in Bulk; in cases where only one such intermediate survey is carried
        out in any one certificate validity period, it shall be carried out
        not before 6 months prior to, nor later than 6 months after, the
        half-way date of the certificate's period of validity; intermediate
        surveys shall be such as to ensure that the equipment and associated
        pump and piping systems comply with the relevant provisions of the
        BCH Code and are in good working order and condition; a record of such
        surveys in the form appropriate to an intermediate survey included in
        the form entitled

"Endorsement for Annual and Intermediate Surveys" set out in the appendix to
the BCH Code shall be endorsed by the surveyor on the Certificate of Fitness
for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk;

   (d)  an annual survey within 3 months before or after the anniversary date
        of the Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals
        in Bulk which shall include a general examination to ensure that the
        structure, equipment, fittings, arrangements and materials remain in
        all respects satisfactory for the service for which the ship is
        intended; a record of such survey in the form appropriate to an annual
survey included in the form entitled "Endorsement for Annual and Intermediate
Surveys" set out in the appendix to the BCH Code shall be endorsed by the
surveyor on the Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals
in Bulk;

   (e)  an additional survey, either general or partial according to the
        circumstances, shall be made when it has been determined under
        regulation 6(3) to be necessary, or whenever any important repairs or
        renewals are made; such a survey shall ensure that the necessary
        repairs or renewals have been effectively made, that the materials and
        workmanship of such repairs or renewals are satisfactory, and that the
        ship is fit to proceed to sea without danger to the ship or persons on
        board; a record of such survey shall be endorsed by the surveyor on
        the Certificate of Fitness for the Carriage of Dangerous Chemicals
        in Bulk certifying that on completion of the survey the ship complied
        with the relevant provisions of the Code.

(2) Every such survey shall be carried out by a surveyor appointed by the
Director under regulation 2A or by the Secretary for Transport and Housing
under section 5 of the Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance ( Cap  369), and
application for such a survey shall be made by or on behalf of the owner to
the Director. (64 of 1999 s. 3; L.N. 106 of 2002; L.N. 130 of 2007) (Enacted
1987)