Maritime Law, Conventions and Flag State Requirements: Certificates and Compliance
What this domain tests
This domain tests the legal framework a chief mate applies daily: the major IMO conventions, flag state and port state control, certification validity, hours of rest, and carriage documents.
Core rules
- SOLAS covers ship structure, fire protection, life-saving appliances, radio and safety management; MARPOL has six annexes; STCW governs training and watchkeeping; MLC 2006 covers living and working conditions; Load Line, Tonnage, COLREG, BWM and AFS complete the core set.
- ISM Code applies to passenger ships and cargo ships of 500 GT and above on international voyages: DOC to the company, SMC to the ship. Both are valid five years with intermediate verification; interim DOC 12 months, interim SMC 6 months.
- STCW A-VIII/1: minimum 10 h rest in any 24 h and 77 h in any 7 days, in no more than two periods, one of at least 6 h, with intervals between rest periods not exceeding 14 h.
- MLC 2006 applies to ships of 500 GT and above engaged in commercial activity; it sets the same rest minima and requires a maritime labour certificate.
- Flag state (in Iran, the Ports and Maritime Organization) issues certificates; port state control inspects under regional MoUs.
Worked example
A planned rest schedule gives 0600-1000 rest, 1000-2000 work, 2000-2200 rest, 2200-2400 work and 0000-0200 rest, totalling only 8 h rest in 24 h, split across three periods. It breaches the 10 h minimum, the two-period maximum, and the 14 h interval rule. Re-plan to give at least 10 h in no more than two blocks.
Traps
- Confusing the DOC (company) with the SMC (ship).
- Assuming an expired certificate is cured by a PSC detention being lifted.
- Quoting MLC rest hours but forgetting the STCW structure requirements.