IMMARBE – General PSC Occasional Survey Policy

C25030 | 01 June 2025

Notice to: Ship Owners / Managers / Operators / Surveyors

The International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE) has issued Circular TD-IMM-GOB001-25, which supersedes Circular Letter No. TD-IMM-GOB001-24 & TD-IMM-GOB002-24 (Paris and Tokyo MoU Policy) and provides comprehensive instructions to all operators and ROs/RSOs of Belize-flagged ships subject to PSC Inspections, irrespective of the MoU trading Area.

Points to Note:

Exemptions

The following vessels are exempt from the requirements of the Circular:

• Vessels registered for single delivery voyages
• Ships not propelled by mechanical means
• Pleasure Yachts not engaged in trade
• Mobile Offshore Drilling |Units (MODUs)
• Fishing Vessels

New Registrations

A SOLAS class vessel less than 25 years old with no more than one detention in the preceding 36 months may be accepted for registration if the vessel is certified by an IACS member or a High-Performance Non-IACS member.

A vessel with two detentions in the preceding 36 months, but no more than one detention in any 12 months, may be accepted for registration provided it is entered into IMMARBE’s Occasional Survey Program for 24 months.

Vessels more than 25 years old, with no PSC detentions in the preceding 36 months, may be considered for registration on an individual basis, following a pre-registration Flag State Inspection (FSI) and approval from the Administration.

Notice of Warning and Occasional Survey Program (OSP)

Any vessel detained will receive a Notice of Warning and immediately enter the Occasional Survey Program (OSP) for 24 months, starting from the date of the detention.

Occasional Surveys will be conducted by the RO in charge of Statutory Certification (if more than one RO, then the RO in charge of the Statutory Certificates will oversee the Occasional Survey program).

The first occasional survey is to be completed at the Port of Detention. In exceptional circumstances, the Administration may allow the surveys to be completed at the next port of call.

The second occasional survey will be combined with the mandatory survey, if this is due after the detention. If it was completed before the detention, then the second occasional survey will be performed 6 months after the last mandatory survey. Subsequent occasional surveys will be conducted every 6 months thereafter.

The scope of the occasional survey is equivalent to an Annual Mandatory Survey. Any deficiencies found must be reported immediately by the RO to IMMARBE, together with evidence of corrective actions. If deficiencies cannot be rectified before departure, the RO is to follow the guidance in MMN-24-003 (Guidance for Issuance of Short-term, Provisional, Extended Certificates.

On satisfactory completion of an Occasional Survey, the RO issues a Statement of Compliance (SoC) valid for six months.

Operator Responsibility – Reporting Obligations

Operators/owners must make their vessels available for the occasional surveys well in advance of the due date and advise the RO. Any expenses associated with the occasional surveys are to be covered by the owner/operator.

RO Responsibilities

ROs are to ensure vessels under the OSP are inspected every six months, and to issue a Statement of Compliance (SOC), submitting a copy and the Survey Report, supported with photo reports to inspections@immarbe.com.

ROs are to establish mechanisms to be notified of each occasional survey due date, and to inform the owners at least 30 days beforehand.

The RO is to report to the Administration if an Occasional Survey cannot be completed by the due date, or if the owners/operators do not cooperate in arranging the survey at least 15 days before the due date.

Noncompliance

Failure to comply with the OSP, or detentions while included in the program, are subject to disciplinary actions (as per Statutory Instrument 56 of 1999, Disciplinary Regulations):

As per MMN-25-005 “Attributing Port State Control Detentions to Recognised Organizations”, detentions will be attributed to the RO if the RO fails to complete a required occasional survey, or if the vessel receives a detention within 90 days of the RO’s attendance.

Act now

Ship Owners/ Managers/ Operators/ Surveyors are to take note of the contents of the Maritime Circular and ensure its provisions are enforced on vessels registered with IMMARBE.