Operational Guide · Registers & Logbooks

# Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC)

Before 1999 every certificate ran on its own independent calendar: the HSSC synchronizes everything into a single five-year cycle, so the ship is not constantly 'in survey' for something.

HSSC survey certification five-year cycle

## Operational Explanation

The Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) aligns the survey time windows required by SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Line and other conventions into a single five-year cycle, removing the need for continuous, uncoordinated surveys for each individual certificate. Before its introduction, every convention imposed independent survey cycles, often out of step with one another.

The typical cycle provides for a Renewal Survey every 5 years, an Intermediate Survey (between the second and third year) and an Annual Survey in the other years. The 2023 Survey Guidelines under HSSC (Resolution A.1186(33)), reissued with editorial amendments on 22 March 2024, are the current reference for practical application of the system.

Assembly 34 update (December 2025), in force from 1 January 2026: the Survey Guidelines have been further amended to include survey items specific to the IP Code (Industrial Personnel) and to the examination of certificates and records, including the AFS (Anti-Fouling System) certificate. In parallel, a Guide on remote surveys received final approval at MEPC 84 (April-May 2026) and MSC 111 (May 2026), extended also to ISM Code audits and ISPS Code verifications: a step toward greater flexibility in how certain surveys are conducted, without fully replacing traditional physical inspection — covered in depth in the dedicated "Remote Survey Guidance" topic.

## Regulatory Reference

IMO Resolution A.1186(33) (2023 Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification, reissued 22 March 2024, further amended by Assembly 34 in December 2025, in force from 1 January 2026): defines survey windows, certificate extension rules (up to 3 months, or 1 month for ships on short voyages), the maximum 5-year validity for most certificates (except the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, renewed annually), new survey items for the IP Code and the AFS certificate, and the Guide on remote surveys (finally approved at MEPC 84/MSC 111, 2026).

## Scope of Application

Every ship subject to SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Line and other applicable convention certification, for the entire life cycle of the ship's certification.

## Procedure / How to Complete It

1. Map the ship's HSSC calendar, identifying the Annual, Intermediate and Renewal Survey windows for each certificate.
2. Coordinate survey planning with scheduled dry dock entries, when the cycle requires it.
3. When a certificate extension is needed, verify that the request falls within the permitted limits (up to 3 months, with the new validity calculated from the original expiry date, not from the actual renewal date).
4. Track Intermediate Survey windows with the same attention as Renewal deadlines, since failure to complete the survey within the required window can invalidate the certificate.
5. Update the HSSC calendar after every completed survey, checking consistency across all of the ship's certificates.
6. Check whether the ship falls under the new survey items introduced by Assembly 34 (IP Code, AFS certificate), in force from 1 January 2026.
7. Consult the Guide on remote surveys (approved at MEPC 84/MSC 111, 2026) to understand its scope for surveys, ISM audits and ISPS verifications.

### Diagram: the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) five-year cycle

## Practical Example

Sample calendar: a certificate with Renewal Survey completed in January 2024 (5-year validity to January 2029), Intermediate Survey to be completed between the second and third year (2026-2027), Annual Survey in the other years of the cycle.

## Real Cases

A poor understanding of the HSSC extension rules (in particular the fact that the new certificate is always dated from the original expiry date, not from the actual renewal date) has in several cases led to incorrect planning of the following cycle, with a consequent risk of overlapping or misaligned deadlines.

## Common Mistakes Mistake Library

Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it
--- | --- | ---
Intermediate Survey window not tracked with the same priority as Renewal | Certificate invalidated if the survey is not conducted within the specific window | Track all survey windows (Annual, Intermediate, Renewal) with equal priority in the calendar
Certificate extension requested beyond the maximum 3-month limit | Request non-compliant with the Survey Guidelines, possible refusal | Always check the applicable extension limits before requesting one
HSSC calendar not updated after a survey completed earlier or later than originally scheduled | Planning of the following cycle based on incorrect dates | Systematically update the calendar after every completed survey

## PSC Observations

PSCOs verify the validity of all certificates against the HSSC calendar, including any extensions granted; a certificate surveyed outside the expected window, even if not yet formally expired, can raise doubts that lead to a more thorough inspection.

## Operational Tips

- Keep a single master calendar covering all HSSC windows for all of the ship's certificates, not separate calendars per convention.
- Always coordinate survey planning with dry dock entries, when the cycle requires it.
- Remember that an extension does not shift the 'true' expiry date: the new certificate remains dated from the original expiry.

## Checklist

- Complete, up-to-date HSSC calendar for all certificates
- Intermediate Survey windows tracked with equal priority to Renewal
- Extensions requested within the permitted limits (max 3 months)
- Survey planning coordinated with dry dock entries
- Calendar updated after every completed survey

## FAQ

What is the maximum validity of most certificates under HSSC?
5 years, except for the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, which is renewed annually.
By how much can a certificate's validity be extended to complete the Renewal Survey?
Up to 3 months (or 1 month for ships on short voyages); the new certificate is still dated from the expiry of the certificate in force before the extension, not from the date the survey is actually completed.
Does HSSC apply to all types of certificates?
It covers the main statutory certificates arising from SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Line and other applicable conventions, harmonizing their survey windows into a single coordinated five-year cycle.
What changes with the Assembly 34 update to the Survey Guidelines?
In force from 1 January 2026, it introduces new survey items specific to the IP Code (Industrial Personnel) and to examination of the AFS certificate, as well as a Guide on remote surveys extended also to ISM audits and ISPS verifications, finally approved at MEPC 84/MSC 111 (2026).
🎬 Additional photos, videos and interactive diagrams for this topic will be available in a future version of the platform.

## Related Topics

Annual Survey Renewal Survey and Certificate Renewal

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