Merchant Ships

Our Approach

Cayman maintains a dynamic Survey and Audit programme involving ship-owners, operators, managers, crew, classification societies, and our own staff.

In order to control quality and ensure that Flag surveyors see Cayman ships, certain surveys and audits are carried out by Cayman surveyors. These normally include pre-registration surveys (if required), ISM, ISPS, Safety Equipment, MARPOL Annex 1 (initial and renewal surveys), ILO Convention 178 (deals with the working and living conditions of seafarers), Safe Manning certification and the approval of equivalencies and exemptions from international Conventions.

Delegation to Class

Cayman generally delegates all other surveys to 7 recognised classification societies under a formal survey agreement between Cayman and each of the respective societies. Depending on the safety record of a particular vessel, owning company and other factors (such as the location of a vessel and the degree of urgency) Cayman may delegate further in a particular case.

Cayman also has a structured delegation regime called the Alternative Compliance Scheme (ACS) and plans to introduce a more integrated approach to survey and audit delegation and to financial aspects under a “pilot scheme’” called the Consolidated Compliance Scheme (CCS), which is scheduled to be implemented on July 1 2006.

Certificate of Registry

In order for a vessel to operate under the Cayman Flag it must carry a current Certificate of British Registry issued by Cayman along with valid statutory certificates issued by Cayman or by one of the 7 authorised classification societies. These include certificates such as Cargo Ship Safety Construction, Cargo Ship Safety Equipment, Cargo Ship Safety Radio, International Load Line, International Oil Pollution Prevention and various other certificates issued under MARPOL Annexes, International Tonnage Certificate, International Ship Security Certificate, Safety Management Certificate, as applicable according to the vessel’s size and type (other certificates include but are not limited to International Noxious Liquid Substances Pollution Prevention, Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, Certificate of Fitness, Minimum Safe Manning Document, International Air Pollution Prevention, again as applicable according to the ship’s size and type).