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Survey, port state control and compliance courses

Statutory surveys, flag and class, ISM, ISPS and MLC audits, port state control and the environmental equipment MARPOL asks for.

  • 3 courses, 19 lessons
  • About 4 h 44 min in all
  • Free certificate

Lesson 1 takes 15 min. It is open to everyone, no account needed.

Try a lesson, no account needed Statutory certificates and the survey windows (HSSC) Lesson 1 of Surveys, audits and PSC · 15 min

Courses in this topic

In the order we suggest

Interactive

Surveys, PSC and complianceStart here

Surveys, audits and port state control

How surveys, safety and labour audits and port state inspections work, and how a ship gets ready for them.

7 lessons1 h 45 minPractical

Interactive

Surveys, PSC and compliance

Flag, class and port state control

How surveys, class approval, flag rules and port state inspections shape lifeboat work on a managed fleet.

6 lessons1 h 30 minAdvanced

Interactive

Surveys, PSC and compliance

Environmental compliance equipment

Oily water separators, bilge alarms, the Oil Record Book and ballast water systems, ready for inspection.

6 lessons1 h 29 minPractical

What you will be able to do

After the courses in this topic.

  • Work out which statutory certificates fall due in each survey window
  • Explain who does what between the flag, class and recognised organisations
  • Prepare the ship and its records for ISM, ISPS and MLC audits
  • Test an oily water separator and 15 ppm alarm and keep the Oil Record Book right
  • Know what port state inspectors look at first and what gets ships detained

Questions people ask

What exactly is the anniversary date?

The day and month of each year that correspond to the certificate’s expiry date. It is not the date the certificate was issued.

Can we do the annual survey early to suit the schedule?

Yes, within the window it is simply an annual survey. Doing it before the window opens may have consequences for the anniversary date and later surveys, so agree it with the RO and flag first.

Does the radio periodical survey move with the equipment periodical?

No. The safety radio periodical survey is due within three months of every anniversary date, every year.

The ship is in dry dock in year two. Is that enough for both bottom inspections?

No. You need a second one in the five-year period, and one must be on or after the fourth annual survey with the renewal, with no more than 36 months between them.

Is a remote survey an option if no surveyor can attend?

Only in extraordinary circumstances and with the flag’s case-by-case approval. Normal schedule pressure is not enough.