China MSA clarifies service supplier localisation exemption

The China Maritime Safety Association (MSA) has clarified that foreign service suppliers who only conduct services on foreign-flagged ships are exempt from requirements to be a “registered company in China” or issue certificates through the China MSA web-based system.

This exemption only applies to service providers which do not require a fixed location workshop, such as thickness measurement, non-destructive testing, or life saving appliance (LSA) servicing on board.

Other service providers in the ports and waters of China are required to be official registered companies in China. Classification societies are required to record recognised service suppliers on the web-based database of the China Marine Safety Administration (MSA).

These requirements entered effect from 1 August 2019 and apply to the following categories and equipment:

1. LSAs: inflatable liferafts, inflatable rescue boats, marine evacuation systems (MES), inflatable life jackets, immersion suits and lifeboats/rescue boats, launching appliances, release gear, hydrostatic release units (HRU);

2. Firefighting equipment: fixed fire detection and alarm systems, fixed fire extinguishing systems, portable/wheeled fire extinguishers, self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), emergency escape breathing devices (EEBD);

3. Safety of navigation and radio communication equipment: radio devices, navigation warning receivers, EPIRBs, ship earth stations, search and rescue transponders, two-way portable radios, ship security alert system (SSAS), automatic identification system (AIS), voyage data recorders (VDR);

4. Thickness measurement of a ship’s structure and non-destructive testing: radiography, ultrasonic testing, magnetic particle inspection, dye penetrant inspection;

5. Ship noise measurement; and,

6. Other equipment required to be serviced by IMO Conventions or Codes.