Ensign is the MCA's brand name for the MCA's Large Yacht Services, which are used by operators of large yachts in many countries. Ensign can: (1) survey any vessel for which the MCA Large Commercial Yacht Code is relevant, and issue a certificate on satisfactory completion of survey; and (2) provide a service to owners, builders and designers for the examination of, and comment upon, any vessel projects for compliance with the Code.

(1) On ships without a crew agreement (i. e. ships owned by general lighthouse authorities, ships of less than 80 NT on coastal voyages, pleasure yachts on coastal voyages, or on other voyages if no more than 4 crew are paid) it should be returned 6 months after making the first entry in the OLB. (2) On all other ships it should be returned to an MCA Superintendent in the UK, or to a Proper Officer abroad, within 48 hours of closing the crew agreement.

Appendix 1: Standards specifications referred to in this Code; Appendix 2: Bibliography.

In Annex 17 to Safety of Navigation - Implementing SOLAS Chapter V, 2002.

The majority of the 64 shares in a British ship may only be owned by persons eligible to own a British ship, so the applicants must prove their eligibility.

A crew agreement which expires at the end of one round voyage, e. g. from a UK port to Far East ports, and back to the UK. Until the 1970s, Voyage Agreements were commonly used in numerous UK ships on liner services to and from UK ports, but are now much less common, most crews being employed under Running Agreements.

A document on which the shipper of a consignment of goods provides information to the carrier, and which accompanies the goods to the place of shipment (e. g. port, a freight forwarder's depot or an inland container depot).

The International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners, which promotes and protects the interests of dry bulk shipowners. Website: www. intercargo. org

Yes, every 5 years. The original STCW Certificate of Competency must first be revalidated with the issuing Administration and sent to the RSS with a valid Medical Fitness Certificate.

Unless otherwise agreed, shipowners must provide and pay for agents at loading and discharge ports; 

The Merchant Shipping (Dangerous Goods and Marine Pollutants) Regulations 1997, as amended. They give effect in the UK chiefly to SOLAS chapter VII (Carriage of dangerous goods) and to MARPOL Annex III (Harmful substances in packaged form).

MGN 36 (Document of Compliance for Ships Carrying Dangerous Goods in Packaged or Dry Bulk Form).

A person (which includes a company, such as shipowners or ship operators) who agrees to carry goods or persons from one place to another.

According to para. 2.2.1 of MSN 1767, it is taken to mean a person, employed either directly by a shipping company or through a manning agency, whose usual place of work is on board a seagoing ship, and includes masters and crew members, and resident entertainers and franchise employees on passenger ships. Boatmaster's Licence holders on sea-going passenger vessels (carrying more than 12 passengers) are also "seafarers".

To Category 2 and Category 3 oil tankers. In order for these tankers to operate beyond 2010 to their mandatory phase-out date under IMO rules, the CAS requires that they are satisfactorily surveyed and certified.