The UK has said it will begin a “phased return” to survey and inspection activity from 20 July as the country continues to emerge from lockdown.
Survey and inspection teams will “work within government guidance” and requests for surveys required may be made in the normal manner, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said.
In addition, it said bookings for oral exams, both deck and engineering, will also resume, although these will be “carried out remotely, not face-to-face”.
As the restrictions on the maritime industry — necessary due to the coronavirus pandemic — are steadily eased, details of the UK’s latest approach to survey and certification are laid out in a new marine information note (MIN).
"As the national and international restrictions put in place as a result of the pandemic ease, there is a clear need to set out a framework for the resumption of survey, inspection and audit of UK registered vessels, developed with due regard to the resources available and the risks associated with the ongoing operation of un-surveyed vessels," the MCA said.
It adds that the return to such activity will be done using a “risk-based process”, recognising that it “may not be feasible to immediately return to survey and inspection activity” in some cases.
Katy Ware, director of maritime safety and standards, said: “This is an important and necessary small step towards resuming the MCA’s work of survey and inspection.
“We owe a duty of care not just to our own surveyors and business support staff but also to those owners and operators whose vessels we are working on.
“However, we feel the time is now right to return to UK survey and inspection work as a recognition of supporting the industry and also keeping it safe.”
Port-state-control inspections, overseas survey work and the survey and audit of internationally trading vessels will "not resume at this time but will remain under review", the MCA said.
“The MCA continues to work with its recognised organisations to find alternative ways of surveying the international fleet,” it added.
