# The Merchant Shipping (Survey and Certification) Regulations 1995, Regulation 7: Survey requirements for the structure, machinery and equipment of cargo ships


The structure, machinery and equipment, excluding the radio installations and safety equipment to which regulations 5 and 6 apply, of cargo ships of 500 tons or over shall be subjected to the following surveys pursuant to these Regulations:
(a) a survey before the ship is put in service. This survey shall ensure that the arrangements, materials and scantlings of the structure including the sea connections, overboard discharge valves and other ship side fittings, the boilers and other pressure vessels and their appurtenances (other than domestic boilers having a heating surface of 5 square metres or less and a working pressure of 3.5 bar gauge or less and other domestic pressure vessles having such a working pressure), main and auxiliary machinery including steering gear and associated control systems, electrical installation, structural fire protection and special measures for tankers and other equipment comply with the relevant regulations applicable to the ship, are in a satisfactory condition and are fit for the service for which the ship is intended and that the required stability information is provided. The survey of the outside of the ship’s bottom, the sea connections, overboard discharge valves and other ship side fittings and the rudder shall be carried out whilst the ship is in dry dock. The survey shall also, in the case of tankers, include an inspection of the pump rooms, cargo and bunker piping systems, vent piping, pressure/vacuum-valves and flame arresting screens;
(b) a periodic survey before the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate or the United Kingdom Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate may be renewed, which shall be such as to ensure that the arrangements, materials and scantlings referred to in sub-paragraph (a) comply with the relevant regulations applicable to the ship, are in a satisfactory condition and are fit for the service for which the ship is intended. The survey shall also, in the case of tankers, include an inspection of the pump rooms, cargo and bunker piping systems, vent piping, pressure/vacuum-valves and flames arresting screens;
(c) in the case of a tanker of ten years of age or over, at least one intermediate survey during the period of validity of the certificate. Where there is only one such survey, it shall be held not more than six months before, nor later than six months after, the half way date of the period of validity of the certificate. In no case shall the period between the surveys so required exceed three years. Such surveys shall include an inspection of the arrangements, materials and scantlings of the structure provided in compliance with the relevant regulations applicable to the ship and the steering gear and associated control systems, cargo and bunker piping systems on deck and in the pump rooms, vent piping, pressure/vacuum-valves, flame arresting screens and the electrical installation in hazardous zones to ensure that they remain satisfactory for the service for which the ship is intended;
(d) an annual survey within three months before or after each anniversary date of the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate or the United Kingdom Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate, except that an annual survey shall not be required in respect of a tanker of ten years of age or over in any year in which it has been surveyed in accordance with sub-paragraph (c) within three months before or after the anniversary date of the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate or the United Kingdom Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate. Such surveys shall include a general inspection of the arrangements, materials and scantlings of the structure provided in compliance with the relevant regulations applicable to the ship to ensure that they are being maintained in accordance with regulation 8(1)(a) and that they remain fit for the service for which the ship is intended;
(e) a minimum of two surveys of the lower areas of the hull, including the sea connections, overboard discharge and other ship side fittings and the rudder with the ship in dry dock during any five year period, provided that in all cases the interval between any two such surveys shall not exceed 36 months. Such surveys shall be such as to ensure that they remain satisfactory for the service for which the ship is intended;
(f) an additional survey, either general or partial, according to the circumstances, to be made after a repair resulting from an investigation prescribed in regulation 8(2), or whenever any repairs or renewals are undertaken which could materially affect the safety and condition of the ship. The survey shall be such as to ensure that the necessary repairs or renewals have been effectively made, that the material and workmanship of such repairs or renewals are in all respects satisfactory, and that the ship complies in all respects with the relevant regulations applicable to the ship.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/1210/regulation/7 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/merchant-shipping-survey-and-certification-regulations-1995/regulation-7
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.