Answer
Procedure for transfer of class
- Application for transfer of class – The shipowner or operator submits an official application to the gaining
society requesting the transfer of class. The application includes relevant details such as the vessel’s particular, current classification and any survey status from the losing society.
- Survey and inspection –
The gaining society will request the vessel’s survey report from the losing society which includes Last special survey, Annual Intermediate and other periodic surveys, any outstanding recommendations on Cndtn Of Clss. The losing society will provide the latest survey status report, listing all completed surveys and pending items, such as COC or recommendations.
- Onboard Survey – The gaining society will conduct on board surveys & inspections to assess the vessel’s
condition. The level of inspection will depend on the current survey status & condition of ship.
For vessels under 5 year old – an annual survey equivalent
5-10 years old – a representative no. of ballast spaces are examined
10-15 years old – examination of cargo and ballast spaces
15 years or older – Full special or intermediate survey may be required including DD if overdue survey exists.
- Outstanding Recommendations or COC issued by the losing society must be addressed before or during the
transfer of class. The gaining society can review these conditions & may agree to honor them.
- Issuance of interim certificate of class – This certificate allows the ship continue trading while the full review
process is finalized & a full term class certificate is prepared.
- Issuance of Full term class certificate - The gaining society after final review & processing of all survey and
inspection report, will issue the full term class certificate to the vessel.
- The gaining society will notify the IACS at the transfer of Class. IACS ensures transparency and records the
class changes in its central database.
IACS, PR1A- Procedure for Transfer of Class
- Application
This Procedure contains procedures and requirements pertaining to transfer of class from one Society (i.e. losing Society) to another Society (i.e. gaining Society) and is applicable, unless stated otherwise, to vessels of over 100 GT of whatever type, self propelled or not, restricted or unrestricted service, except for "inland waterway" vessels.
- Definitions
- Section A:- Procedural Requirements
A.1 Obligations and reporting of the gaining Society
A.2 Obligations and reporting of the losing Society
A.3 Transfer of class at vessel’s delivery
A.4 Other Requirements
- Section B:- Technical Requirements
B.1 Plans and information
B.2 Surveys – Hull class entry survey, machinery class entry survey
- Section C:- Plans to be Submitted by the Owner to the G aining Society
C.1 Plans to be submitted
1.Main Plans – General Arrangement, Capacity Plan, Hydrostatic Curves, Loading Manual, Damage Stability Calculation.
2.Steel Plans – Midship section, scantling plan, Decks, shell expansion, transverse bulkheads, Rudder and Rudder Stock, Hatch Covers etc
3.Machinery plans – Machinery arrangement, Intermediate, thrust and screw shaft, Propeller, main
engine, propulsion gears and clutch systems, bilge and ballast piping diagram, wiring diagram,
steering gear systems piping and arrangements and steering gear
C.2 Torsional vibration calculations
C.3 Additional requirements for vessels with ice Class notation
C.4 Additional plans required for oil tankers
C.5 Additional plans required for unattended machinery space notation 1.Instrument and alarm list
2.Fire alarm system
3.List of automatic safety functions (e.g. slowdown, shutdown etc.) 4.Function testing Plan.
Section A - Procedural Requirements
A.1 Obligations and reporting of the gaining Society
A.1.1 Whenever a Society is requested by an Owner to accept an existing vessel into class, the gaining Society is to immediately notify the Owner in writing that:
.1 the relevant surveys specified in PR1A/B.2.1 are required to be satisfactorily completed for entry into class;
.2 for vessels less than 15 years of age- an Interim Certificate of Class can be issued only after the “gaining
Society” has completed:
(i)all overdue surveys and
(ii) all overdue recommendations / Conditions of class previously issued against the vessel as specified to the Owner by the losing Society;
.3 for vessels 15 years of age and over, an Interim Certificate of Class can be issued only after the “losing
Society” has completed:
(i)all overdue surveys and
(ii)all overdue recommendations / COC previously issued against the vessel.
.4 any outstanding recommendations / COC are to be dealt with by their due dates;
.6 copies of the plans are to be provided to the gaining Society as a prerequisite to obtaining a full term Class Certificate. If the Owner is unable to provide all of the required plans, the gaining Society is to request that the Owner authorise the losing Society to transfer copies of such of these plans as it may possess directly to the gaining Society upon request from the gaining Society, with the advice that the losing Society will invoice the gaining Society and the gaining Society may, in turn, charge the associated costs to the Owner.
A.1.2 Prior to issuing an Interim Class certificate the gaining Society is to obtain:
.1 from the Owner, a written request for transfer of class, containing an authorisation for the gaining Society to obtain the current classification status from the losing Society; and
.2 the current classification survey status from the Headquarters of the losing Society or one of its designated control or management centres.
A.1.3 Within two (2) working daysof receipt of a written request from the Owner for transfer of class at a Society’s Headquarters or one of its designated control or management centres, the gaining Society is to notify the losing Society and attaching the Owner’s authorization for release of the survey status. If the gaining Society does not receive the classification survey status from thelosing Society within three (3) working days from request, the gaining Society may utilise the losing Society’s survey status informationprovided by the Owner and, after complying with the other relevant requirements of this Procedural Requirement, may issue an Interim Certificate of Class.
A.1.4 The gaining Society is not to issue an Interim Certificate of Class, or other Documents enabling the vessel to trade:
1. Until all overdue surveys and all overdue recommendations / COC previously issued against the subject vessel as specified to the Owner by the losing Society, have been completed and rectified by:
a) theg aining Society, for vessels less than 15 years of age;
b) thelosing Society, for vessels 15 years of age and above; and
2. Until all relevant surveys specified in PR1A/B.2.1 have been satisfactorily completed; but in no case less than the scope of annual hull survey and machinery surveys as required in B.2.1.2;
3. before giving the opportunity to the Flag Administration to provide any further instructions within three (3) working days.
A.1.5 The validity of the Interim Certificate of Class and the subsequent Class Certificate is subject to any outstanding recommendations / COC previously issued against the vessel being completed by the due date and
as specified by the losing Society.
Any outstanding recommendations / COC with their due dates are to be clearly stated on the:
.1 Interim Certificate of Class or an attachment to the Interim Certificate of Class, and/or class survey record available on board; and
.2 survey status when the full term Class Certificate is issued.
A.1.6 The gaining Society is, within one (1) month from issuing its Interim Certificate of Class, to advise the losing Society of the date of issuing this certificate and confirm the date, location and action taken to satisfy each overdue survey and overdue recommendation / condition of class, if any, issued against the subject vessel as specified to the Owner by the losing Society.
A.2 Obligations and reporting of the losing Society
A.2.1 If an Owner advises the losing Society of an intention to transfer class, the losing Society is to immediately confirm to the Owner any overdue surveys and outstanding recommendations / COC, together with any outstanding fees.
A.2.2 The losing Society:
.1 within two (2) working days of receipt of a written request, is to notify the gaining Society the latest class details in its possession including a full list of overdue surveys and recommendations / COC - with the respective due dates - issued against the subject vessel.
For vessels under ESP, the following ESP Documents is also to be provided:
(i) the most recent Condition Evaluation Report/Executive Hull Summary Reports;
(ii) any available Survey Planning Document for the forthcoming special or intermediate survey, regardless of whether the gaining Society intends to credit or not class entry surveys as periodical surveys for maintenance of classification.