Question 65 OSV02 - Mate - Offshore Supply Vessels

The Correct Answer is B **Explanation for Option B (Load Line Certificate):** The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is a prominent classification society. Classification societies, such as ABS, are authorized by flag states (governments) to perform statutory surveys and issue essential certificates on their behalf, ensuring compliance with international conventions. The **Load Line Certificate** is a statutory certificate required under the International Convention on Load Lines (ILLC), which specifies the maximum depths to which a vessel may be loaded. ABS routinely performs the necessary surveys (such as the initial and renewal surveys) and issues the Load Line Certificate to vessels classified by them or operating under a flag state that has delegated this authority to ABS. **Explanation of Incorrect Options:** * **A) Permit to Proceed for repairs:** This is typically an administrative document issued by port state control (PSC) authorities or the flag state administration (or an authorized recognized organization) to allow a vessel to move to a shipyard or repair facility for necessary maintenance. While ABS surveys may be involved in the repair process, they do not issue this specific administrative permission document. * **C) Certificate of Inspection (COI):** In the context of the United States, the COI is specifically issued by the **U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)** for domestic vessels, ensuring compliance with U.S. safety regulations. While ABS may perform surveys used by the USCG, ABS itself does not issue the official USCG Certificate of Inspection. * **D) Safety Equipment Certificate:** This is a statutory certificate required under the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention. While ABS, as a recognized organization, is authorized to perform the necessary surveys (GMDSS, life-saving appliances, fire fighting systems) and issue the **Safety Equipment Certificate** on behalf of many flag administrations, the question asks which certificate ABS **issues**, and the Load Line Certificate (B) is another standard statutory certificate directly issued by the classification society based on the Load Line Convention. Both B and D are technically certificates that ABS *can* issue. However, in the context of standard multiple-choice questions focusing on the definitive roles of classification societies under major conventions, the Load Line Certificate is universally associated with their statutory function. More importantly, when comparing statutory documents, the Load Line Certificate is a primary and highly definitive issuance by a classification society when acting as a Recognized Organization (RO). In most structured maritime safety testing, if both B and D are present, B is often considered the most specific and universally recognized statutory issuance associated with a classification society's core authorization.