Maintenance of class:

1. The ship’s hull (including equipment) and machinery (including electric installations) are subject to various surveys in accordance with the requirements of CCS classification rules to ensure that their technical conditions are in compliance with the specifications regarding the assigned class characters and additional class notations or the validity of the certificates. These surveys mainly include special survey, intermediate survey, annual survey, docking survey, propeller shaft and stern tube shaft surveys, boiler survey, continuous survey, occasional survey, alteration or conversion survey, etc.

2. The ship’s hull (including equipment) and machinery (including electric installations) should be well maintained and managed according to the specifications regarding the assigned class characters and additional class notations or the validity of the certificates, including distribution of cargo loading and ballast, maneuvering speed and course of the ship under bad weather conditions.

3. The operation of ships should abide by the loading conditions and other prescribed navigation conditions, including those restrictions set out by additional class notations.

4. Cargo stowage and stacking should be conducted in accordance with the requirements of the loading manual and/or loading instrument and cargo securing manual (including containers and unit cargoes) approved by CCS. If there is any change of the above-mentioned stowage and stacking, the loading manual and/or loading instrument (if any) and cargo securing manual should be changed correspondingly and sent to CCS for approval.

5. If there are any damages, breakdowns, fractures or groundings and repairs that may affect the assigned class characters and additional class notations or the validity of the certificates, the master should inform CCS without delay, and CCS will assign surveyors to carry out a survey and put forward relevant requirements and recommendations for repair.

Suspension of class:

1. When a ship is operating beyond the limitations defined by its class characters and additional class notations or any other additional conditions as approved, its class will be suspended and its classification certificate will be invalidated.

2. Any damage, defect, failure or grounding that may lead to the invalidation of the assigned class may, if not reported to CCS without inappropriate delay or agreement of CCS prior to foreseen repairs not obtained, lead to suspension of the class and invalidation of the classification certificate.

3. Suspension of the class and invalidation of the classification certificate will occur in any of the following cases, unless the Surveyor has boarded the ship for completion of these surveys:

1) When any outstanding recommendation or condition of class specified by CCS is overdue, and no extension is granted by CCS;

2) When continuous survey item(s) due or overdue at the time of annual survey have not been dealt with, and no extension is granted by CCS;

3) When surveys after construction other than annual, intermediate or special surveys are overdue, and no extension is granted by CCS;

4) When repairs of any damage, defect, failure or grounding have not been completed and surveyed as specified;

5) When the shipowner fails to arrange for the unscheduled surveys as required in the Rules for Classification of Sea-going Steel Ships.

4. Automatic suspension of the class and invalidation of the classification certificate will occur in any of the following cases:

1) When an annual survey has not been completed within 3 months of the due date of the anniversary, unless the ship is under attendance for completion of the annual survey;

2) When an intermediate survey has not been completed within 3 months of the due date of the third annual survey in the five-year special survey period, unless the ship is under attendance for completion of the intermediate survey;

3) When a special survey has not been completed within the period of time specified by CCS and no extension is granted by CCS, unless the ship has been under attendance for completion of the special survey prior to resuming trading, by the due date.

a. Under exceptional circumstances, CCS may grant an extension not exceeding 3 months to allow for completion of the special survey, provided that the ship is attended and the attending Surveyor so recommends upon satisfactory survey to the following extent:

(a) Annual survey;

(b) Re-check of outstanding recommendations/conditions of class;

(c) Progression of the special survey as far as practicable;

(d) Where the docking survey is due prior to the expiry date of the extension, an underwater survey is to be carried out by an approved underwater survey company. Such underwater survey may be unnecessary in the case of extension of docking survey not exceeding 36 months from the last docking survey provided that the ship is without any outstanding recommendation/condition of class regarding underwater parts.

b. In the case that the classification certificate will expire when the ship is expected to be at sea, the shipowner has submitted a written application to CCS for an extension to allow for completion of the special survey prior to the expiry date of the certificate, and positive arrangements have been made for attendance of the Surveyor at the first port of call, when CCS believes that there is technical justification for such an extension, the completion of the special survey can be extended to be done at the first port of call after the expiry date of the certificate. However, if owing to exceptional circumstances, the special survey cannot be completed at the first port of call, the subparagraph a. above may be followed, but the total period of extension shall in no case be longer than 3 months after the original due date of the special survey.

5. If, due to circumstances reasonably beyond the control of the shipowner or CCS, the ship is not in a port where the overdue surveys can be completed at the expiry of the periods allowed above, CCS may allow the ship to sail, in class, directly to a discharge port, and if necessary, hence, in ballast, to a port at which the survey will be completed, at request of the shipowner and provided that:

1) Relevant records are examined;

2) The due and/or overdue surveys and examination of outstanding recommendations/class conditions are carried out by CCS at the next port of call when there is an unforeseen inability of CCS to attend the ship at the present port;

3) Upon review of the ship’s history and survey at the present port, the attending Surveyor believes that the ship is in a condition appropriate to sail for one trip to a discharge port and if necessary, hence, in ballast to a repair facility, and this is to be confirmed by the Headquarters of CCS. Where there is an unforeseen inability of CCS to attend the ship at the present port, the master is to confirm that his ship is in condition to sail to the nearest port of call.

If class has already been automatically suspended in such cases, it may be reinstated subject to the conditions prescribed above.

6. Where a ship has been detained following a Port State Control inspection on two occasions in one year or three occasions in two years, with serious deficiencies found, then the class will be liable to be suspended, at the discretion of CCS, and a corresponding note will be given in the Register of Ships.

Reinstatement of class:

The class of a ship may be reinstated in any of the following cases:

1. The class of a ship will be reinstated upon satisfactory completion of the overdue surveys. Such surveys are to be credited as of the original due date. However, the ship has no class from the date of suspension until the reinstatement date;

2. The class of a ship will be reinstated upon verification that the due or overdue continuous survey items have been satisfactorily dealt with;

3. The class of a ship will be reinstated upon verification that due or overdue outstanding recommendations have been satisfactorily dealt with. 

Withdrawal of class:

1. The class of a ship will be withdrawn in any of the following cases:

(i) At the request of the shipowner;

(ii) The circumstances leading to suspension of class are not corrected within the time specified;

(iii) The class of a ship will be withdrawn immediately when the ship proceeds to sail without having completed recommendations or conditions of class which were required to be dealt with before sailing;

(iv) When the class of the ship has been suspended for a period of six (6) months due to overdue annual, intermediate, special surveys or other surveys after construction as required by the Rules and/or overdue outstanding recommendations/conditions of class. A longer suspension period may be granted for ships which are either laid up, awaiting disposition of a casualty or under attendance for reinstatement;

(v) Where hull, equipment or machinery (including electrical installations) is so badly damaged or in other conditions (e.g. sinking, scrapping, etc.) that continuing operation of the ship is confirmed as not possible;

(iv) When the payment of survey fees is not made in time.;

2. Where a ship has been detained following a Port State Control inspection on two occasions in one year or three occasions in two years, with serious deficiencies found, then the class will also be liable to be withdrawn, at the discretion of CCS, and a corresponding note will be given in the Register of Ships.