Regulation 8 Initial, periodical and annual surveys
A United Kingdom ship shall be subject to the surveys specified below:
An initial survey before the ship is put into service, which shall include a complete inspection of its structure and equipment as required by these Regulations. This survey shall be such as to ensure that the arrangements, materials and scantlings comply fully with the requirements of these Regulations.
A renewal survey at intervals not exceeding five years, which shall be such as to ensure that the structure, equipment, arrangements, materials and scantlings comply fully with the requirements of these Regulations.
An annual survey within three months either way of each annual anniversary date of the load line certificate, to ensure that no alterations have been made to the hull or superstructures which would affect the basis on which the position of the load line had been assigned and that the fittings and appliances for the protection of openings, the guard rails, the freeing ports and the means of access to crew’s quarters are maintained in an effective condition.
The owner and master shall ensure that after any of the surveys referred to in paragraph (1) has been completed, no material alteration is made to the ship, its structure and equipment, without the approval of the Assigning Authority.
After a satisfactory annual survey referred to in paragraph (1)(c), the surveyor shall endorse the International Load Line Certificate (1966) or, as the case may be, the United Kingdom Load Line Certificate, accordingly.