Belize –Arrangements ‘to the satisfaction of the Administration’ and ‘Type approved equipment’

C23071 | 16 November 2023

Notice to: Ship Owners / Managers/ Operators / Surveyors/ Auditors

This circular is issued to the contents of International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE) Merchant Marine Notices:

• MMN-23-004 : Guidance on Arrangements “to the satisfaction of the Administration”.
• MMN-23-005 : Guidance for “Type Approved Equipment or Systems Acceptance”.

MMN-23-004

The IMO Conventions contain several instances where arrangements must be ‘to the satisfaction of the Administration”.

MMN-23-004 states that in the absence of interpretations developed and approved by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), unified interpretations approved by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS)
may be used as a basis for establishing specific requirements to comply with the provisions of the relevant international instruments.

However, if the Administration is not satisfied with any unified interpretation or no interpretation exists, its own interpretation will be established through circulars or individual statements, according to the specific case, and will be
considered on a case-by-case basis.

MMN-23-005

The IMO Conventions contain several instances where rules and regulations prescribe requirements as ‘Type Approvals’. MMN-23-005 states equipment will be considered acceptable by IMMARBE where:

1. Equipment meets the technical specifications or operating standards of the IMO. The RO must accept its us onboard Belize-registered ships.
2. Equipment not addressed by technical specifications or operating standards approved by the IMO, and where the relevant international instrument provides that the equipment must be type approved, IMMARBE will accept:
   1. Equipment approved by traditional maritime countries that are members of the IMO, which have national, regional, or international provisions for the approval of certain types of equipment; therefore, the RO must
      accept such approved equipment.
   2. Equipment approved under standards developed by specialized International Organizations and recognized by the IMO, such as the unified interpretations of the IACS for equipment or materials onboard.

Act now

All Ship Owners / Managers / Operators / Surveyors / Auditors should note the above and be guided accordingly.