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Home › Compliance & inspections › Surveys
Compliance & inspections

Surveys

Illustrative statutory and class survey calendar, with explicitly scoped bottom-inspection rules.

Source of record. This page is a cross-cutting overview. Each linked topic contains the detailed regulatory reference, revision stamp and content fingerprint. If a summary and its linked topic differ, the linked topic governs.

Illustrative HSSC timeline

  1. 0Renewal / cycle start
  2. 1Annual 1
  3. 2Annual or Intermediate 2
  4. 3Intermediate or Annual 3
  5. 4Annual 4
  6. 5Renewal 5

Certificate-specific provisions govern windows and content.

The cycle is only an example for five-year certificates: not every certificate has Annual and Intermediate surveys. Passenger Ship Safety Certificate renewal normally follows an annual cycle. Where an Intermediate survey is required at the second or third anniversary, its window is ±3 months around the selected anniversary, not a continuous interval between both windows. Also distinguish periodic surveys required for certain certificates.

Annual

Typical window
±3 months from anniversary
Scope/conditions
General verification and endorsement
Annual →

Intermediate

Typical window
Second or third anniversary window
Scope/conditions
Replaces the Annual in the selected window
Intermediate →

Renewal

Typical window
Under the certificate provision
Scope/conditions
Complete examination and new cycle
Renewal →

Bottom inspection

Typical window
Cargo: at least 2 / 5 years, max 36 months
Scope/conditions
Scope below the waterline
Bottom inspection →

In-water inspection

Typical window
Only where authorised and applicable
Scope/conditions
Conditional, not automatic, alternative
In-water inspection →

Dry-dock / class survey

Typical window
Under class plan and approvals
Scope/conditions
Hull, appendages, sea inlets and work
Dry-dock / class survey →
Bottom surveys and IWS. For cargo ships subject to the relevant SOLAS chapter I survey provisions, at least two inspections of the ship's bottom are required in each five-year period and the interval between any two must not exceed 36 months. Whether an in-water inspection may replace a dry-dock inspection depends on SOLAS, the Administration's authorization, ship age/type, class rules and any applicable enhanced survey requirements.
Extended Dry-Docking

Some classification-society and flag-State programmes may permit an extended interval between dry dockings, potentially using consecutive approved in-water surveys, subject to ship eligibility, enhanced monitoring and prior approval. This does not alter the applicable maximum interval between required bottom inspections and must not be presented as an automatic 7.5-year entitlement.

Planning of afloat annual and intermediate surveys should be coordinated with bottom, docking and approved in-water inspections; Annual and Intermediate surveys are not IWS.

Use limitations. This overview supports learning and preparation; it does not replace procedures, authority decisions, Company instructions or verification of current source material.

Review sources: IMO — HSSC 2025

Last substantive revision: 16 September 2026 · page fingerprint a3f7741b57d2