to ensure weather-tight and watertight integrity of ships
To specify maximum safe draft the ship can sail on by assigning minimum freeboards
International load line certificate:
Application:
International Load Line certificate is not required for the following ships:
New ships of load line length less than 24 m
Existing ships of less than 150 gross tonnage
Pleasure yachts not used for commercial purpose
Fishing vessels.
Survey loop:
A ship under certification for International load line certificate is subject to the following surveys
Initial survey: when the vessel is firstly certified
First annual survey: at the first anniversary date of the initial survey with a window of 3 months before or 3 months after
Second annual survey:at the second anniversary date of the initial survey with a window of 3 months before or 3 months after
Intermediate survey: normally it is due at the middle of the five years loop with a window of 6 months before or after, but practically is carried out at the third anniversary date
Fourth annual survey::at the fourth anniversary date of the initial survey with a window of 3 months before or 3 months after
Renewal survey: At the firth anniversary date of the initial survey with a window of 3 months before it, but can not be shifted after the full term certificate is expired
Procedure for certification:
Conducting of scheduled survey
Rectification of deficiency or recommendations if applicable
Issuance of Interim International load line certificate valid for 5 months (according to the International convention on load lines can be issued up to 6 months and majority of recognized organization issue the interim for only 5 months)
In most cases the interim International load line certificate is issued by the attending surveyor
Survey reports and supporting documents to be filed and sent to recognized organization head office for review
Upon satisfactory results of the review, recognized organization HO office issues full term International Load line certification valid for 5 years from the date of the survey
