Deadline to obtain SoC for IMO DCS looms

The deadline for reporting fuel consumption data passed on 31 March, three months after the first year of the IMO data collection system (DCS) ended in December 2019. The verifier of the data should provide a Statement of Compliance (SoC) by the end of May. The SoC should be retained onboard together with the Confirmation of Compliance (CoC) for the SEEMP part II.

According to a statutory notice issued by class society DNV GL, Port State Control (PSC) will focus on the SoC on DCS during any upcoming routine inspections, as it is a new requirement. DNV GL adds that the CoC (SEEMP part II) and the validity of the SoC (DCS) will be checked at each periodical statutory survey.

While the SoC should be issued annually and will be valid until 31 May 2021 for most vessels, it will need to be reissued where the flag or company of the vessel changes within the period of validity.

DNV GL notes that where it is the DCS verifier and authorized by the flag administration to issue the SoC, the SoC will be available in My Services on the Veracity platform when issued.

Ship owners or managers who suspect there are any outstanding issues concerning the data reporting, or that the SoC may not be issued before the deadline, are strongly encouraged to contact their DCS verifier to avoid being noncompliant on 1 June.