Regulation on Firms Authorized on Behalf of Ships

"The regulation on firms authorized on behalf of ships has been published. The procedures and principles have been set for firms authorized to carry out, on behalf of the Ministry, the survey and inspection work and certification services that verify the minimum safety and performance requirements for Turkish-flagged ships during construction, modification, and operation."

The Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs, and Communications' Regulation on Firms Authorized on Behalf of Ships has been published in the Official Gazette and entered into force.

The regulation sets the procedures and principles for identifying, authorizing, auditing, and, where necessary, withdrawing authorization from firms that will carry out, on behalf of the Ministry, the survey and inspection work and the testing, survey, verification, and certification services needed to confirm the minimum safety and performance requirements for Turkish-flagged ships during construction, modification, and operation. The work is conducted under national regulations on safety of life and property at sea and prevention of marine pollution, and under the treaties, decisions, conditions, codes, circulars, and other instruments Turkey has ratified or adopted, and it is delivered on a free-service basis.

Firms applying to become authorized and firms applying for limited authorization will submit the required information, certificates, and documents to the General Directorate of Maritime and Inland Waters Regulation. Firms that meet the conditions and whose application is accepted will sign an authorization protocol with the Ministry for up to 10 years.

When a Turkish-flagged ship moves from one authorized firm to another, both the firm removing the ship from its records and the firm taking the ship on will first notify the administration.

Coordination of corrective actions on deficiencies, errors, or nonconformities identified by the previous authorized firm in relation to the ship's safety will be submitted for approval by the administration.

Authorized firms, following their authorization, will make the fleet information for recorded Turkish-flagged ships, and any changes to that information, available online for easy access by the administration.

Authorized firms providing survey and certification services to ships on domestic and international voyages will take out professional indemnity insurance of at least 5 million TL with insurance companies operating in Turkey, against damages that may arise from the services they provide within the scope of their authorization. They will maintain this professional indemnity insurance for as long as they remain authorized.

Fees payable to the Ministry

• Legally valid certificates issued to ships that sail on international voyages under the Turkish flag,
• a permanent booklet
• per certificate
• annual certificate fees
• intermediate and periodic verifications,
• mandatory coordination,
• a handbook
• approval of other documents

A fee will be paid to the Ministry for each certificate and each process, including approvals carried out in relation to corrections made to these documents.

For international-voyage ships not subject to port state inspection, commercial yachts on international voyages carrying 12 or fewer passengers, and domestic-voyage ships, the fees for the listed activities will be set between 50 and 500 TL by Ministry communique.

Applications to renew existing authorization protocols will be made within 6 months of the regulation's entry into force. Existing authorized firms will meet the stated requirements within 18 months of the regulation's entry into force.

Passenger, cargo, tug, and various service ships on international voyages, along with commercial yachts carrying more than 12 passengers, will hold a class certificate issued by an authorized firm within a 1-year period.

For international-voyage ships not subject to port state control, commercial yachts on international voyages carrying 12 or fewer passengers, and domestic-voyage ships, certification will continue to be handled by the administration or by authorized firms until the authorization protocol is signed.