Circular 4204/Add.7 Coronavirus COVID-19 Guidance on unforeseen delays in ship delivery.
INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION
4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT, LONDRES SE1 7SR
Telephone: +44(0)20 7735 7611 | Facsimile: +44(0)20 587 3210
Subject: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Guidance on unforeseen delays in ship delivery
The Secretary-General, having received communications from Member States regarding the difficulties faced by shipbuilders, equipment suppliers, shipowners, surveyors and maintenance technicians with respect to the timely delivery of ships due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and taking into account that the current situation is due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the shipbuilder and the shipowner, wishes to bring to the attention of Member States and international organizations the unified interpretations approved by the Maritime Safety Committee
Procedure for Acceptance of Ships
To ensure that ships accepted by the Administration under the interpretations on unforeseen delays are also accepted as such by the port State, Administrations are recommended to apply the following procedure:
| Item | Recommended action |
|---|---|
| .1 | The Administration should carefully consider applications on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the various circumstances. In the case of ships built abroad, the Administration may require an official report from the authorities of the country in which the ship was built, stating that the delay was due to unforeseen circumstances beyond the control of the builder and the owner. |
| .2 | When a ship is accepted by the Administration, it should be stated, in a footnote to the delivery date on the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate or the Cargo Ship Safety Certificate, that the ship is accepted by the Administration under the provisions of this interpretation on unforeseen delays in the delivery of ships. |
| .3 | The Administration should communicate to the Organization the identity of the ship and the grounds on which the ship has been accepted under the provisions of this interpretation on unforeseen delays in the delivery of ships. |
