Belize – revised Policy on Paris MoU

C24005 | 13 February 2024

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

The International Merchant Marine Registry of Belize (IMMARBE) has issued Circular No. TD/IMM/GOB001r1-24 Paris MoU Policy which supersedes Circulars TD/IMM/GOOb001-17 and TD-IMM-GOB001-24.

This DBS Circular supersedes Circular C24002.

The new Policy, which takes immediate effect covers:

1. New Registration of vessels intending to operate in the Paris MoU.
2. Notice of Warning and Occasional Survey Program for vessels detained in the Paris MoU.
3. RO and Owner / Operator Responsibilities.
4. Noncompliance.
5. Vessels operating in the Paris MoU not subjected to the Occasional Survey Program.

New Registration:

IMMARBE requires that any vessel that has been detained within 24 months will only be accepted for registration if the vessel is certified by:

• an IACS member, or
• a high-performance non-IACS member, as determined by the latest Paris MoU RO Performance List.

Notice of Warning and Occasional Survey Program:

Vessels detained under the Paris MoU will be served with a Notice of Warning and undergo Occasional Surveys, equivalent to an Annual Mandatory Survey, carried out by the RO responsible for the vessel’s Statutory Certification.

The Circular provides details on:

• issuing of a Statement of Compliance (with 6-month validity),
• the timing of the Occasional Surveys, in relation to Annual, Intermediate, and Renewal Surveys.

RO and Owner/Operator Responsibilities

ROs are responsible for:

• giving owners at least thirty days’ notice of due occasional surveys,
• immediately reporting deficiencies found during the occasional survey to IMMARBE, with evidence of corrective actions
• where deficiencies cannot be rectified before the vessel’s departure:
  • establishing/proposing adequate temporary measures
  • Seeking Flag State agreement before the vessel sails to a repair location
• submitting Survey Reports and Statements of Compliance, supported by photographs to IMMARBE’s Technical Department.

Owner/Operators are responsible for making necessary arrangements to ensure their vessels are made available for the mandatory occasional surveys and to communicate the arrangements to the RO.

Non-Compliance

Any vessel that is detained whilst included in the Occasional Survey Program, or fails to complete the program will receive a fine and/or cancellation. A second detention will result in immediate cancellation.

Detentions will be attributed to the responsible RO (as per Belize Notice MSN-0012 Attribution of Detentions & Targeting of Ros) where:

• the RO fails to complete the required occasional survey, or
• if the vessel is detained within 90 days after the RO’s attendance.

Belize Notice MSN-0012 Attribution of Detentions & Targeting of Ros refers.

Vessels operating in the Paris MoU not subjected to the Occasional Survey Program

The Circular reminds that all Belize registered vessels operating within, or intending to call at Ports within the Paris MoU must comply with the latest version of:

• MMN-19-006,
• MMN-23-001,
• MMN-23-006.

Such vessels must submit to IMMARBE Technical Department (technicalservices@immarbe.com and inspections@immarbe.com) before proceeding to any Paris MoU Port.:

• PSC Checklist,
• Crew List, and/or
• PSC Inspection report (Forms A and B).

Fines:

The Circular gives guidelines on fines imposed on detained vessels trading in the Paris MoU. These are:

• $6000 to $10,000 for any vessel detained whilst included in the Occasional Survey Program.
• $11,000 to $15,000 for any vessel detained three times in twelve months in addition to cancellation.

Act now

Shipowners / Managers / Operators / Surveyors / Auditors should take note of the above and ensure that the requirements of this, and other mentioned Circulars, are followed.