The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has issued Guidance on Inspections of Ships by the Port States in Accordance with Regulations (EU) 1257/2013 on Ship Recycling.

The guidance seeks to ensure harmonised implementation and enforcement of the provisions of the Ship Recycling Regulation and of the Port State Control Directive.

In line with the Ship Recycling Regulation, ships falling within the scope of such regulation are to have an Inventory Certificate (IC) (existing ships as from 31 December 2020) or a Ready for Recycling Certificate (RfRC), as applicable held on board.

Regardless of the presence of the IC on board, the IC loses validity if the condition of the ship does not correspond substantially with the particulars of the IC. The same applies to the RfRC.

Completion of the renewal survey within a 5 year period is also a necessary requirement in order to retain the validity of the IC.

A detailed inspection may be carried out by port State control where a ship does not carry a valid certificate, or there are clear grounds for believing: either that the condition of the ship or its equipment does not correspond substantially with the particulars of that certificate and/or Part I of the IHM; or that there is no procedure implemented on board the ship for the maintenance of Part I of the IHM.

In the event of a breach of the Ship Recycling Regulation, a ship may be warned, detained, dismissed or excluded from the ports or offshore terminals under the jurisdiction of a Member State.

Read the complete Merchant Shipping Notice 154.

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