The procedure for supervision shall be determined by Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 439 of 07 June 2011 “Regulations on the Implementation of Flag State Supervision of Ships” and Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 248 of 28 March 2006 “Regulations on Safety of Sea Fishing Vessels”, as well as the relevant regulations of recognised classification societies.
Fishing vessels may be subject to a pre-registration survey carried out by the Maritime Safety Inspectorate of the Maritime Administration of Latvia prior to registration in the Register of Ships of the Maritime Administration of Latvia.
For fishing vessels up to 24 metres in length, Vessel Monitoring is based on a five-year cycle, according to which
- an in-depth inspection of the vessel is carried out every five years, referred to as a renewal survey, while
- an annual survey is carried out every year, and
- an intermediate survey is carried out at the dock between the second and third annual surveys in accordance with Chapter 1.4.3 “Surveys of fishing vessels of less than 24 metres in length” of Regulation No 248 of the Cabinet of Ministers of 28 March 2006 on the Safety of Sea-going Fishing Vessels.
For fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over, the inspection of
- the fishing vessel’s structures and machinery at the dock shall be carried out every four years,
- the inspection of the fishing vessel’s equipment – every two years,
- the inspection of radio equipment (including the inspection of life-saving appliances) – once a year in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 1.4.2 “Inspections of fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over” of Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 248 of 28 March 2006 “Regulations on Safety of Sea Fishing Vessels”.
After the surveys with the appropriate certificates shall be issued and/or approved for the fishing vessel in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 1.5 “Issue or approval of certificates” of Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 248 of 28 March 2006 “Regulations on Safety of Sea-going Fishing Vessels”. The originals of the certificates shall be carried on board of the fishing vessel and shall be available during any inspection or survey of the fishing vessel.
Certificates become invalid if the fishing vessel
- has not undergone the required inspections, or if
- the certificates have not been duly endorsed, or if
- is registered under the flag of another State.
Certificates may be renewed upon inspection of the vessel in accordance with the requirements of paragraph 47 of Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 248 of 28 March 2006 on the Safety of Sea-going Fishing Vessels.
At the choice of the shipowner, supervision is carried out by a recognised classification society or by the Maritime Safety Inspectorate. If the owner chooses to be supervised by a classification society, the Maritime Safety Inspectorate shall carry out additional inspections of the ship every year in accordance with paragraph 9.1 of the Cabinet of Ministers Regulation No 439 of 07 June 2011 “Regulations on the Implementation of Flag State Supervision of Ships”.
