Passenger ships must be subject to renewal surveys at intervals of a maximum of 12 months, calculated from the last renewal survey.
In the regulations on the scope of surveys laid down by the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA), it is stated that a renewal survey must include an examination of the outside of the ship’s bottom. This bottom survey is in general required to be carried out while the ship is in dock.
However, on a number of occasions, the DMA has permitted every second bottom survey to be carried out with the ship in the water. On the basis of the experience gained, the DMA will, for passenger ships that must be subject to bottom surveys every year, in general permit the bottom surveys to be carried out in accordance with the guidelines stated in Resolution A.1053(27), Survey guidelines under the harmonized system of survey and certification and MSC.1/Circ. 1348.
5.10 Inspection of the outside of the passenger ship’s bottom (HSSC, General)
5.10.1 A minimum of two of the inspections of the outside of the ship’s bottom during any five-year period should be conducted in dry-dock. In all cases, the maximum in- terval between any two dry-dock bottom inspections should not exceed 36 months.
5.10.2 Where acceptable to the Administration, the minimum number of inspections in dry-dock of the outside of the bottom of a passenger ship (which is not a ro-ro pas- senger ship) in any five-year period may be reduced from two to one. In such cases the interval between consecutive inspections in dry-dock should not exceed 60 months.
Note: The definition of “any five-year period” is the five-year period of validity of the International Load Line Certificate.
5.10.2 Inspections of the ship’s bottom required for the renewal survey that are not conducted in dry-dock may be carried out with the ship afloat. The bottom inspection, regardless of method, should be carried out within the allowable time window for the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate renewal survey (i.e. within the 3 months time win- dow before the expiry date of the certificate). Additionally, inspections of the outside of the ship’s bottom conducted afloat should only be carried out when the conditions are satisfactory and the proper equipment and suitably qualified staff is available. Rudder bearing clearances specified in (PR) 5.2.2.1 need not be taken at the afloat inspections.
5.10.4 Special consideration should be given to ships 15 years of age or over before being permitted to credit inspections afloat.
5.10.5 If a survey in dry-dock is not completed within the maximum intervals referred to above, the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate should cease to be valid until the survey in dry-dock is completed.