In order to maintain and strengthen maritime safety and pursuant to the pertinent provisions of Regulation I/6 of the PMMRR, please be informed that the Maritime Industry Board (MARINA Board) in its Special Board Meeting on 11 June 1999, approved the following rules in the conduct of underwater surveys as a requirement for the extension/s of the Certificate of Inspection:

I
Scope
These rules shall apply to vessel's inspection, dry-docking and issue of certificates required under Regulation I/6 of the PMMRR 1997.

II
Definitions:
1. UNDERWATER HULL SURVEY - an inspection/survey of the ship's integral parts which are below waterline while the ship is in afloat position and maybe undertaken either of the following:

1.A Underwater Photographic Survey - primarily performed with the use of still photography prior to underwater hull cleaning and/or repairs of some sections/parts of the ship.

1.B Underwater Video Survey with CCTV - an underwater video survey with a closed circuit television (CCTV) and topside monitor recorded on National Television Systems Committee (NTSC).

2. THICKNESS GAUGING APPARATUS - an instrument used to determine the thickness of the shell plating of a ship.

3. CLASSED SHIPS - ships of commerce which are assigned the character by a classification society, depending on the design of the ship, the quality of materials employed, the scantlings of the various structural members, and the outfit and equipment, all of which should be up to the standard specified by the society's rules. To ensure that the condition and seaworthiness are maintained, classed ships are examined periodically by the class surveyors and the continuance of the class depends upon the surveyors' report and recommendation.

4. NON-CLASSED SHIPS - ships other than that as defined in classed ships but are nevertheless inspected by the safety engineer of the Administration which found them to comply with standards of safety and seaworthiness for the services they are intended.

5. ANNIVERSARY DATE - means the day and month of each year, which corresponds to the date of expiry of the relevant certificate.

6. AFLOAT SURVEY - a ship survey conducted on a ship whilst in afloat condition.

7. DRYDOCKING - is a condition in which a ship is taken out of water for cleaning and repair of hull, rudder, propeller, sea valves and sea chests.

8. CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION - means a certificate issued after inspection and survey by MARINA ship inspectors or by MARINA-accredited marine underwater surveyors to ships engaged in voyages in Philippine waters after complying with the PMMRR '97 and other safety rules issued subsequently thereto.

9. INTERIM CERTIFICATE OF INSPECTION - means a certificate issued to extend the validity of the Certificate of Inspection after a favorable result of the afloat and underwater survey/inspection by MARINA ship inspectors and/or MARINA- accredited marine underwater surveyors in accordance with the PMMRR '97 and under this circular.

III
Policy Guidelines
A. GENERAL

1. No Interim Certificate Inspection (ICI) shall be issued unless the conditions herein imposed have been complied with.
   
   
2. Underwater survey is not intended to replace the mandatory drydocking requirement imposed under the PMMRR 97.
   
   
3. Underwater surveys shall be conducted only by a MARINA accredited underwater surveying company/ies/entity/ies.
   
   
4. Underwater surveys shall be imposed in the extension of the Certificate of Inspection.
   
   
5. MARINA requires Photographic, Video and Underwater Ultrasonic Thickness Gauging in the conduct of the underwater survey as required in Section IV, 1.5.1 (classed passenger carrying vessels); 1.5.2. (classed cargo vessels); and 2.1.6 (non-classed passenger vessels).
   
   
6. The MARINA in selected cases recognizes the drydocking schedules of classed ships required by classification societies without prejudice to the exercise of its plenary power. For this purpose, shipowners/bareboat charterers/ship managers shall always provide the MARINA a copy each of the latest STATUS of CLASS SURVEYS DUE for reference and records.
   
   
7. MARINA shall enforce the drydocking schedules for non-classed ships in accordance with the PMMRR 1997, and under these rules.
   
   
8. The conduct of the underwater survey/inspection shall be performed on water with a visibility of 80% and shall be conducted in a way as not to disrupt the vessel's operations.
   
   
9. The Interim Certificate of Inspection (ICI) issued under these rules shall have a validity of six (6) months and can only be extended for a maximum of six (6) months (for classed vessels), provided that the result of the afloat inspection and underwater survey/inspection required for the extension will be satisfactory.
   
   
10. MARINA as the Administration shall exercise its prerogative to supervise the conduct of the underwater survey by the MARINA -accredited marine underwater surveying company/ies/entity/ies whenever the circumstances so warrant.
    
    
11. Vessels which are cargo-passenger carrying shall comply with the requirements for passenger ships.
    
    
12. The latest shell expansion plan shall be submitted to MARINA for evaluation.

IV
Specific Guidelines
1. CLASSED VESSELS

1.1	Ships classed by a classification society recognized by the Administration shall be class-maintained and drydocked in accordance with the schedule prescribed by the rules of the said classification society.
1.2	No extension of drydocking is allowed beyond the two (2) mandatory drydockings.
1.3	Passenger ships shall undergo underwater survey on the first anniversary of last drydock by recognized underwater surveying company. If the result of the underwater survey is favorable, a CI for one (1) year will be issued.
1.4	A vessel may be issued an ICI for a maximum period of six (6) months and shall be assessed the corresponding fees for the whole six (6) months equivalent to the aggregate amount if issued on a monthly basis. The charges to be paid for ICI issuance shall include the charges for survey/inspection, if required.
1.5	The following schedules must be observed:

1.5.1. FOR PASSENGER SHIPS
 

			--------------Range for Dry-docking-------
								Next
								Mandatory
								DD
	AS/USI	AS/USI			AS/USI
x-------------x-----------x----------------x----------x-----------x-----------x--------------x----------------------x
0	12	24/1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
	mos.	mos.ext.	ext.	ext.	ext.	ext.	ext.

Legend:

AS - Afloat Survey
USI - Underwater Survey/Inspection
UUTG - Underwater Ultrasonic Thickness Gauging
DD - Drydocking

2. NON-CLASSED VESSELS

2.1 PASSENGER SHIPS

2.1.1 All non-classed passenger ships shall be drydocked every year.

2.1.2 The ships shall undergo underwater survey by a MARINA accredited marine underwater surveying company.

2.1.3 Extension of CI may be granted to a maximum period of three (3) months with a validity of one (1) month for every issuance of ICI, if found to be meritorious

2.1.4 The conduct of Underwater Ultrasonic Gauging test shall always be for the sole account of the shipowners, shipmanagers, and/or bareboat charterers. When required by the Administration, no issuance of ICI shall be made without this test, showing ship's good condition.

2.1.5 There shall be no further issuance of ICI's to non-classed passenger ships after the expiration of the 3rd extension of the ICI.

2.1.6 The following schedules must be observed:

			-------Range for Dry-docking-------
Last	UUTG			Mandatory
DD	AS/USI			DD
0	12/1st	2nd	3rd

2.2 CARGO AND FISHING VESSELS

2.2.1 Non-classed Cargo and Fishing Vessels shall be dry-docked once every two (2) years, and if classed, shall be drydocked in accordance with the class drydocking schedules.

2.2.2 The validity of the Full Term Certificate of Inspection shall be one (1) year and may be renewed/extended after a satisfactory result of the underwater and afloat survey.

2.2.3 The vessel shall undergo an underwater survey with the use of Photograph and Video by a MARINA-accredited marine underwater surveying company/entity.

2.2.4 The conduct of Underwater Ultrasonic Gauging measurement shall be for the sole account of the shipowners/operators/company/bareboat charterers. No ICI shall be issued without this test, if required.

2.2.5 A maximum of six (6) validity of the ICI (for classed vessels) may be issued, subject to the satisfactory result of the afloat and underwater survey prior to the issuance of the 1st and 4th extension.

2.2.6 Vessels shall immediately proceed to a drydocking facility on the day the 6th extension of the Interim Certificate of Inspection expires.

2.2.7 The interim Certificate of Inspection (ICI) issued to vessels in this section shall have a validity of thirty (30) days per issuance.

2.2.8 The diagram shown below illustrates the schedule and must be observed:

					--------------Range for Dry-docking----------
							Next
							Mandatory
	AS/USI		AS/USI		AS/USI		DD
x--------	x--------	x--------	x--------	x--------	x--------	x--------	x--------
0	12	24/1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th
	mos.	mos.ext.	ext.	ext.	ext.	ext.	ext.

Legend:

AS - Afloat Survey
USI - Underwater Survey/Inspection
DD - Dry-docking
UUTG - Underwater Ultrasonic Thickness Gauging

3. The conduct of the underwater survey/inspection shall be on water visibility of 80%.

V
Fees and Charges
Supervision Fee (if supervision is required) for Underwater Survey:

499.99 GT and below - minimum of P2,000.00
500.00 GT and above - minimum of P3,000.00

or the equivalent of the hull fees of MC No. 119, whichever is higher, provided that the actual travel expenses of the MARINA ship inspector(s) who supervises the survey shall be borne by the applicant.

VI
Repealing Clause
This Memorandum Circular repeals Administrative Order Nos. 05-97 Sections II paragraph C sub-paragraph 4, Section IV paragraph 1 and 3, and Section V paragraph 2; 08-98; 08-98-A; 22-98; and all other issuances that are inconsistent herewith.

VII
Effectivity
This Memorandum Circular shall take effect ten (10) days after publication in a newspaper of general circulation.

Adopted: 11 June 1999

(SGD.) AGUSTIN R. BENGZON
Administrator