GUIDELINES FOR PORT STATE CONTROL UNDER TONNAGE 1969
1 The International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969
(TONNAGE 1969), which came into force on 18 July 1982, applies to:
.1 new ships, i.e. ships the keels of which were laid on or after 18 July 1982;
and
.2 existing ships, i.e. ships the keels of which were laid before 18 July 1982,
as from 18 July 1994,
except that for the purpose of application of SOLAS 1974, MARPOL and STCW 1978, the
following interim schemes indicated in paragraph 2 may apply.
2 In accordance with the interim schemes adopted by the Organization,1
the Administration may, at the request of the shipowner, use the gross tonnage determined in
accordance with national rules prior to the coming into force of TONNAGE 1969 for the
following ships:
.1 for the purpose of SOLAS 1974:
.1 ships the keels of which were laid before 1 January 1986;
.2 in respect of SOLAS 1974 regulation IV/3, ships the keels of which
were laid on or after 1 January 1986 but before 18 July 1994; and
.3 cargo ships of less than 1,600 tons gross tonnage (as determined
under the national tonnage rules) the keels of which were laid on or
after 1 January 1986 but before 18 July 1994; and
.2 for the purpose of MARPOL, ships of less than 400 tons gross tonnage
(as determined under the national tonnage rules) the keels of which were
laid before 18 July 1994.
3 For ships to which the above interim schemes apply, a statement to the effect that the
gross tonnage has been measured in accordance with the national tonnage rules should be
included in the “REMARKS” column of the International Tonnage Certificate and in the footnote
to the figure of the gross tonnage in the relevant SOLAS 1974 and MARPOL certificates.
4 The port State control officer (PSCO) should take the following actions as appropriate
when deficiencies are found in relation to TONNAGE 1969:
.1 if a ship does not hold a valid International Tonnage Certificate, the ship loses
all privileges of TONNAGE 1969, and the flag State should be informed
without delay;
.2 if the required remarks and footnote are not included in the relevant
certificates on ships to which the interim schemes apply, this deficiency
should be notified to the master; and
.3 if the main characteristics of the ship differ from those entered on the
International Tonnage Certificate, so as to lead to an increase in the gross
tonnage or net tonnage, the flag State should be informed without delay.
5 The control provisions of article 12 of TONNAGE 1969 do not include the provision
for detention of a ship holding a valid International Tonnage Certificate.
1 Resolutions A.494(XII) in respect of SOLAS 1974, A.540(13) in respect of STCW 78, and A.541(13) in
respect of MARPOL.