REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS OFFICE OF THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATOR

TO:

Marine Notice No. 2-015-2 Rev. 4/09

ALL SHIPOWNERS, OPERATORS, MASTERS AND OFFICERS OF MERCHANT SHIPS, AND RECOGNIZED ORGANIZATIONS Procedures for Obtaining Multiple Load Line Assignment. International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, as amended, (Convention) MI-108, 2.15.3

SUBJECT:

References: (a) (b)

PURPOSE: This Notice contains the procedures to obtain approval for a vessel to operate with more than one (1) load line. It also outlines the process by which a Multiple Load Line Assignment Book (Assignment Book) shall be issued by the Administration and the instructions and conditions for its use. This Notice supersedes Rev. 8/06.

APPLICABILITY: This Notice is directed to Marshall Islands flag vessels that need to operate or are operating with more than one (1) freeboard assignment under applicable international conventions to meet charter commitments.

REQUIREMENTS: 1.0 1.1 Policy It is Administration policy to permit more than one (1) load line freeboard assignment. However, only one (1) load line freeboard mark may be displayed at any time. Additionally, the maximum number of load lines that may be requested by a vessel owner/operator at any one time is five (5). Once authorization is given by the Administration for the assignment of more than one (1) load line and copies of the current International Load Line Certificates (ILLCs or Certificates) are received from the Classification Society, the Administration shall issue an Assignment Book. The Assignment Book will apply only to full term (5-year) ILLCs, not to single voyage certificates. 1 of 4
Inquiries concerning the subject of this Notice should be directed to the Office of the Maritime Administrator, Republic of the Marshall Islands, c/o Marshall Islands Maritime and Corporate Administrators, Inc., 11495 Commerce Park Drive, Reston, VA 20191-1507 USA.
MI-01, 8/06

1.2

2.0 2.1

Obtaining Approval for Multiple Load Lines To obtain approval for more than one (1) load line, an owner/operator must make a request in writing to the Maritime Services Group, Technical Services in Reston, Virginia, USA. The request should indicate the number of additional load lines being sought and the reduced freeboard deadweight measurements. An electronic email submission to technical@registeriri.com is permitted and encouraged. The request will be evaluated, and if acceptable, an approval letter issued. The Classification Society of the vessel will be authorized to carry out the necessary geometric, strength, and stability calculations and perform the required surveys. The Classification Society shall then issue Certificates for each load line freeboard assignment and forward to the Administration a copy of each full term ILLC accompanied by a single cover letter indicating the owner/operators request. The submission should be sent to Technical Services at technical@register-iri.com, preferably as a scanned email attachment. If the certificates are available on-line, then the Classification Society shall inform the Administration by email of their availability. Please do not submit short-term or interim certificates as the Administration cannot issue an Assignment Book based on these documents. Assignment Book General On the basis of the information received from the Classification Society, Technical Services shall produce and issue an Assignment Book with instructions to the owner/operator and Master. An Assignment Book will be issued only after Technical Services has been provided with a copy of the full term Certificates. An Assignment Book will contain the relevant data pertaining to the current freeboard assignments, pages for endorsement by the Classification Society surveyor and instructions to be followed when changing from one (1) load line freeboard assignment to another. Nothing in the procedures for issuance of an Assignment Book alters the requirements contained in Article 14 of the Convention to carry out Annual or Periodic Surveys of the structure, equipment, arrangements, material and scantlings and to ensure that there have been no modifications affecting the validity of the calculations performed.

2.2

2.3

3.0 3.1 3.1.1

3.1.2

3.1.3

3.1.4

Rev. 4/09

2 of 4
The Republic of the Marshall Islands

2-015-2

3.2 3.2.1

Instructions and Conditions for Use An Assignment Book must be placed on board a vessel for use by a Classification Society surveyor in verifying any changes to the marks and for the Master to verify that the ILLC which is being placed into service has been authorized by the Administration. The following instructions and conditions apply: .1 Once issued, it shall be the responsibility of the shipowner/operator to maintain the Assignment Book, keeping it complete and updated. The Master must ensure that the freeboard marks for the intended voyage are exhibited and all others are obliterated before the loading of cargo begins. The new marks are to be verified by a Classification Society surveyor who, when satisfied with the alterations and the condition of the vessel, will sign the Assignment Book and indicate the Certificate in use. The Classification Society surveyor shall ensure that the correct ILLC is in service for the load line marked, and that all others are placed in a sealed envelope in the Masters safe. Wherever the ship is in port where a Classification Society surveyor is not available, the Master may perform the procedures for changing the load line after obtaining approval from Technical Services in Reston, Virginia, USA by emailing them at technical@register-iri.com. When the Master effects a load line change in the absence of a Classification Society surveyor, the event must be recorded in the deck log rather than the Assignment Book. A Classification Society surveyor must verify the marks, vessel condition, and ILLC in service at the first port of call where a surveyor is available. Upon satisfactory completion of this verification, the surveyor shall endorse the Assignment Book and ensure that all other Certificates are placed in a sealed envelope in the Masters safe.

.2

.3

.4

.5

.6

3.2.2

ILLCs are the property of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. The sealed envelope housing them may only be opened by a Classification Society surveyor, or the Master when authorized by the Administration, in accordance with the procedures noted above. Copies Five (5) copies of the Assignment Book will be prepared and distributed as follows: .1 Ship Owner/Operator: one (1) vessel copy to the operator for placement on board the ship and one (1) office copy for the owner/operators file; Classification Society: one (1) copy to the vessels Classification Society; and 3 of 4
The Republic of the Marshall Islands

3.3 3.3.1

.2 Rev. 4/09

2-015-2

.3 3.4 3.4.1 3.5 3.5.1

Administration: two (2) copies will be retained by the Administration.

Validity An Assignment Book is valid for as long as the ILLCs to which it pertains remain valid. Reissuance A request by a shipowner/operator for reissuance of the Assignment Book must be made to the Administration when load line freeboard assignments are added, deleted, or changed and when existing ILLCs are renewed. The steps outlined in 2.0 and 3.0, above, shall be followed, the differences being that: 1) the shipowner/operators request must indicate that that a reissuance is being sought; and 2) the Classification Society must indicate that reissued Certificates are being forwarded for reissuance of the Assignment Book.

3.5.2

Rev. 4/09

4 of 4
The Republic of the Marshall Islands

2-015-2