Division 14.1 An Interim Document of Compliance may be issued to facilitate initial implementation of this Code when:

a company is newly established; or

new ship types are to be added to an existing Document of Compliance, following verification that the company has a safety management system that meets the objectives of paragraph 1.2.3 of this Code, provided the company demonstrates plans to implement a safety management system meeting the full requirements of this Code within the period of validity of the Interim Document of Compliance. Such an Interim Document of Compliance should be issued for a period not exceeding 12 months by the administration or by an organisation recognised by the administration or, at the request of the administration, by another contracting government. A copy of the Interim Document of Compliance should be placed on board in order that the master of the ship, if so requested, may produce it for verification by the administration or by an organisation recognised by the administration or for the purposes of the control referred to in Regulation IX/6.2 of the Convention. The copy of the document is not required to be authenticated or certified.