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The Maritime Statutory Interval Reference
Every recurring obligation a ship's safety management system has to satisfy — drills, tests, surveys, certificates and record retention — in one searchable table, each row mapped to the convention article it comes from and the evidence a Port State Control officer or ISM auditor will ask to see. 45 entries, compiled from SOLAS, MARPOL, the ISM Code, the ISPS Code, MLC 2006, the Load Line Convention and the BWM Convention.
Showing 45 of 45 entries.
| Requirement | Interval | Reference | Evidence to retain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abandon ship drillDrill | Each crew member monthly; within 24 hours of leaving port if more than 25% of the crew have not taken part in the previous month | SOLAS Ch. III Reg. 19.3.2 / 19.3.3 | Drill entry in the official log book: date, muster time, scenario, participants, deficiencies raised |
| Fire drillDrill | Each crew member monthly; scenarios varied so different fire situations are covered | SOLAS Ch. III Reg. 19.3.2 / 19.3.4 | Log entry with scenario, boundary cooling and BA teams deployed, equipment used |
| Lifeboat launch and manoeuvre in the waterDrill | Each lifeboat launched with its assigned operating crew and manoeuvred in the water at least every 3 months as part of an abandon ship drill | SOLAS Ch. III Reg. 19.3.3.3 | Log entry naming the boat, the crew aboard and the time in the water |
| Free-fall lifeboat drillDrill | Free-fall launch with the assigned crew at least every 6 months; where that is impracticable, simulated launching at that interval and a free-fall launch at least every 12 months | SOLAS Ch. III Reg. 19.3.3.4 | Log entry distinguishing free-fall launch from simulated launch |
| Rescue boat drillDrill | Launched monthly so far as is reasonable and practicable, with the assigned crew aboard, and manoeuvred in the water | SOLAS Ch. III Reg. 19.3.3.6 | Log entry; where the drill could not be held, the reason recorded |
| Enclosed space entry and rescue drillDrill | At least every 2 months | SOLAS Ch. III Reg. 19.3.6 | Log entry covering permit review, atmosphere testing, rescue equipment and casualty recovery |
| Emergency steering drillDrill | At least every 3 months | SOLAS Ch. V Reg. 26.4 | Log entry showing steering from within the steering gear compartment and communications with the bridge |
| Ship security drillDrill | At least every 3 months; and within 1 week where more than 25% of the ship's personnel have changed at one time with personnel who have not taken part in a drill on that ship in the previous 3 months | ISPS Code Part B 13.6 (recommended practice giving effect to Part A 13) | Security drill record retained with the ship security records, signed by the SSO |
| Ship security exerciseDrill | At least once each calendar year, with no more than 18 months between exercises | ISPS Code Part B 13.7 | Exercise report naming participating parties (CSO, port facility, administration where involved) |
| On-board training in the use of life-saving appliances for newly joined crewDrill | Within 2 weeks of joining the ship | SOLAS Ch. III Reg. 19.4.1 | Familiarisation record signed by the crew member and the training officer |
| Damage control drill (tankers and applicable ships)Drill | Company SMS defines the interval; commonly quarterly, aligned with the shipboard emergency plan | ISM Code 8.2 (drills and exercises to prepare for emergency actions) | Drill record referencing the emergency plan scenario exercised |
| Oil pollution emergency (SOPEP/SMPEP) drillDrill | Company SMS defines the interval; commonly monthly or quarterly, and required to be exercised under the plan | MARPOL Annex I Reg. 37 read with ISM Code 8.2 | Drill record referencing the SOPEP scenario, spill response equipment deployed and reporting chain tested |
| Steering gear test before departureTest & inspection | Within 12 hours before departure | SOLAS Ch. V Reg. 26.1 | Bridge log entry recording the test of main and auxiliary steering, remote control and rudder angle indicators |
| Weekly inspection of survival craft, rescue boats and launching appliancesTest & inspection | Weekly; lifeboat and rescue boat engines run for at least 3 minutes; general alarm tested | SOLAS Ch. III Reg. 20.6 | Weekly inspection record with engine running times and alarm test |
| Monthly inspection of life-saving appliances against the checklist, including lifeboat equipmentTest & inspection | Monthly | SOLAS Ch. III Reg. 20.7 | Completed inspection checklist retained on board with the inspection report |
| Servicing of inflatable liferafts, inflatable lifejackets and hydrostatic release unitsTest & inspection | At intervals not exceeding 12 months, extendable to 17 months where the administration permits; extended service intervals up to 30 months only under an approved scheme | SOLAS Ch. III Reg. 20.8 | Servicing certificate from the approved station retained on board |
| Overhaul of lifeboat on-load release gear and operational testing of launching appliances under loadTest & inspection | At each renewal survey and at intervals not exceeding 5 years, with annual thorough examination | SOLAS Ch. III Reg. 20.11 and MSC.1/Circ.1206 series guidance | Report of the authorised service provider plus the annual thorough examination record |
| Inspection and testing of fire protection systems and appliancesTest & inspection | Weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual items per the maintenance plan required by the convention | SOLAS Ch. II-2 Reg. 14 and MSC.1/Circ.1432 (as amended) | Maintenance plan records for each system with dates and responsible officer |
| Emergency source of electrical power testTest & inspection | No convention interval. Weekly running test and periodic on-load test are set by the vessel's SMS and the maker's instructions; class and flag guidance asks only for periodic testing | SOLAS Ch. II-1 Reg. 42/43 require the emergency source and its capability; they set no test interval. The interval is the SMS's under ISM Code 10 | Engine room log entry with load and running time |
| Ballast water treatment system self-monitoring and functional checksTest & inspection | Per the approved Ballast Water Management Plan and the manufacturer's schedule, with class surveys annually, intermediately and at renewal | BWM Convention Reg. E-1 and Reg. B-1 | Ballast Water Record Book entries plus BWMS operating and calibration logs |
| Cargo Ship Safety Construction CertificateSurvey & certificate | Renewal survey at intervals not exceeding 5 years, with annual and intermediate surveys within ±3 months of each anniversary date | SOLAS Ch. I Reg. 10 and Reg. 14 | Certificate with survey endorsements and the survey report file |
| Cargo Ship Safety Equipment CertificateSurvey & certificate | Renewal survey not exceeding 5 years, with annual and periodical surveys within the anniversary window | SOLAS Ch. I Reg. 8 and Reg. 14 | Endorsed certificate plus the Record of Equipment (Form E) |
| Cargo Ship Safety Radio CertificateSurvey & certificate | Renewal survey not exceeding 5 years, with periodical surveys at intervals not exceeding 12 months | SOLAS Ch. I Reg. 9 and Reg. 14 | Endorsed certificate plus the radio survey report and GMDSS logbook |
| International Load Line CertificateSurvey & certificate | Renewal survey not exceeding 5 years, with annual surveys within ±3 months of the anniversary date | Load Line Convention 1966 as modified, Art. 14 and Art. 19 | Endorsed certificate and load line survey report |
| IOPP Certificate (oil pollution prevention)Survey & certificate | Renewal survey not exceeding 5 years, with annual and intermediate surveys | MARPOL Annex I Reg. 6 and Reg. 10 | Endorsed certificate with the Supplement (Form A or B) matching the fitted equipment |
| IAPP Certificate (air pollution prevention)Survey & certificate | Renewal survey not exceeding 5 years, with annual and intermediate surveys | MARPOL Annex VI Reg. 5 and Reg. 9 | Endorsed certificate, Supplement and the NOx Technical File for each applicable engine |
| ISPP Certificate (sewage pollution prevention)Survey & certificate | Renewal survey at intervals not exceeding 5 years | MARPOL Annex IV Reg. 4 and Reg. 7 | Endorsed certificate and sewage plant survey report |
| Safety Management Certificate (SMC)Survey & certificate | Valid 5 years, with at least one intermediate verification between the second and third anniversary date | ISM Code Part B 13 and 13.8 | Certificate endorsed at the intermediate verification plus the audit report and NC close-outs |
| Document of Compliance (DOC)Survey & certificate | Valid 5 years, verified annually within ±3 months of the anniversary date | ISM Code Part B 13.2 and 13.4 | Endorsed DOC held by the company with a certified copy on board |
| International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC)Survey & certificate | Valid 5 years, with at least one intermediate verification between the second and third anniversary date | ISPS Code Part A 19.1 | Endorsed certificate plus the ship security assessment and approved SSP |
| Maritime Labour CertificateSurvey & certificate | Valid 5 years, with an intermediate inspection between the second and third anniversary date | MLC 2006, Standard A5.1.3 | Certificate with the Declaration of Maritime Labour Compliance Parts I and II |
| International Ballast Water Management CertificateSurvey & certificate | Renewal survey not exceeding 5 years, with annual, intermediate and additional surveys | BWM Convention Reg. E-1 | Endorsed certificate plus the approved Ballast Water Management Plan |
| Internal safety management audit (ship and shore)Audit & verification | At intervals not exceeding 12 months; exceptionally extended by not more than 3 months | ISM Code 12.1 | Audit plan, audit report, non-conformity records with root cause and verified close-out |
| Management review of the safety management systemAudit & verification | Periodically as defined by the company; annual review is the established practice | ISM Code 12.2 and 12.6 | Minuted review covering audit results, incidents, non-conformities and objectives |
| Master's review of the SMS and report to the companyAudit & verification | Periodically per the SMS; commonly annual | ISM Code 5.1.5 | Signed master's review submitted ashore with the company's documented response |
| Navigational audit / bridge assessmentAudit & verification | Not set by convention; commonly annual under company SMS and vetting expectations | ISM Code 7 (shipboard operations) and industry vetting regimes | Audit report with observations, passage plan review and close-out |
| Oil Record Book Part I (machinery space operations)Record & report | Entry on each operation; the book retained on board for 3 years after the last entry | MARPOL Annex I Reg. 17 | Completed book signed by the officer in charge of each operation and by the master per page |
| Oil Record Book Part II (cargo/ballast, oil tankers)Record & report | Entry on each operation; retained on board 3 years after the last entry | MARPOL Annex I Reg. 36 | Completed book with tank-by-tank entries signed by the officer in charge and the master |
| Garbage Record BookRecord & report | Entry per discharge or incineration; retained on board 2 years after the last entry | MARPOL Annex V Reg. 10 | Book entries plus garbage receipts from reception facilities |
| Ballast Water Record BookRecord & report | Entry per ballast operation; retained on board 2 years, then with the company 3 years | BWM Convention Reg. B-2 | Signed entries for uptake, circulation, treatment, discharge and exchange |
| Fuel oil changeover record for ECAsRecord & report | Recorded on each changeover before entry into and after exit from an emission control area | MARPOL Annex VI Reg. 14.6 | Changeover log with volumes, times and position, plus bunker delivery notes |
| Bunker Delivery Notes and representative fuel samplesRecord & report | BDN retained 3 years from delivery; the MARPOL sample retained until the fuel is substantially consumed and in any case not less than 12 months from delivery | MARPOL Annex VI Reg. 18.6 and 18.8 | BDN file with matching sealed samples and their labels |
| SEEMP Part II data collection and Part III CII planRecord & report | Fuel oil data collected per voyage and reported annually; CII rating determined annually with a corrective action plan where rated D three years running or E | MARPOL Annex VI Reg. 27 and Reg. 28 | Statement of Compliance for the reporting year and the approved SEEMP on board |
| Records of hours of work and restRecord & report | Recorded monthly per seafarer, endorsed by the master and the seafarer | MLC 2006 Standard A2.3 and STCW Code Section A-VIII/1 | Signed monthly rest-hour tables with any non-conformity explained |
| Inventory of Hazardous Materials Part I maintenanceRecord & report | Kept up to date throughout the ship's operational life, with survey at renewal | Hong Kong Convention and EU Ship Recycling Regulation 1257/2013 | Current IHM Part I with material declarations for every new item brought aboard |
How to read this table
- Intervals shown are the convention minimum. Flag administrations, class societies, charterers and the company's own SMS frequently require more, and the stricter requirement always governs.
- Convention text is amended regularly. Verify each entry against the current consolidated text and the vessel's own certificates before relying on it — this reference is a planning aid, not a legal instrument.
- The evidence column is what auditors and PSC officers actually ask for. A drill held but not recorded with scenario, participants and outcome is, in inspection terms, a drill not held.
Cite or republish this reference
Released under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Journalists, training providers, class societies and ship managers are free to reproduce the table, in whole or in part, on paper or online, provided the source is credited with a link.
Full Ahead Maritime (2026). "The Maritime Statutory Interval Reference." https://fullaheadmaritime.com/maritime-statutory-interval-reference (CC BY 4.0).
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