Liberia issues note about extension of statutory renewal surveys and dry-dock survey

The Liberia Maritime Authority has issued the Marine Advisory Note about the extension of statutory renewal surveys and dry-dock survey.

This document addressed to all shipowners, operators, and masters was published on December 20th, 2022.

The purpose of this Marine Advisory is to provide guidance to ensure that any request for this Administration to grant authorization for an extension of statutory renewal surveys and dry-dock survey is made on a sound basis in the International Conventions and to minimize the concern of any Port State with that authorization.

In all cases, sufficient planning for a vessel’s due renewal surveys and dry-docking is to be done in a timely manner so that in most cases, no extension of these surveys will be needed and they can be completed by their due date.

If, after due diligence has been demonstrated that all attempts to complete surveys by their due dates have been made, but due to exceptional circumstances they cannot, this Administration will consider extending the surveys.  

The extension period will be for the period necessary for the vessel to reach dry dock.

The vessel’s class society should be contacted for their requirements for the extension and their requirements along with their recommendation for the extension is to be forwarded to this office with:

1) Current Survey Status

2) Three (3) authentic shipyard letters indicating non-availability of dry-docking space (refer to appendix 1 below)

3) Confirmation of firm dry-dock booking

4) Any outstanding conditions

Upon satisfactory review, the Administration may authorize the vessel’s class society to issue a short term Safety Construction certificate after progressing the renewal survey to the maximum extent practicable.

All other statutory renewal surveys shall be completed by its due date.

Maximum Extent Practicable should be interpreted as the attendance on which all statutory items, required to be surveyed during renewal surveys, have been surveyed except for items which can only be verified in dry-dock.

Appendix 1: Non-authentic Non-availability Letters

The Administration was provided the following non-availability letter first:

Then when circumstances changed with the vessel, the Administration was provided this letter, from the same shipyard:

RELEVANT DOCUMENT (AVAILABLE ONLY TO SUBSCRIBERS):

Extension of Statutory Renewal Surveys and Dry-dock Survey