International Convention on Load Lines:

  • Adopted: 5th of April 1966
  • Entry into force: 21st July 1968
  • Main objectives:
    • 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

International load line certificate

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