May 3, 2011
The spring refit season is in full swing. With many yachts ending their Caribbean season a few weeks early, the various marinas, shipyards, and yacht facilities have seen a rush of work.
Yachts in Europe have left their winter hibernation. Everyone is catching-up on some overdue maintenance and preparing for their summer cruising grounds.
For a large number of yachts, this includes a fresh coat of paint. With the “chaos” of getting this major project completed, it is not uncommon to forget the replacement of a key maritime security item: the IMO Ship Identification Number.
What is the IMO Ship Identification Number? This unique seven-digit number is assigned to propelled, seagoing commercial vessels of 100 gross tons and above. The number is assigned by Lloyd's Register - Fairplay Ltd. on behalf of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
It consists of the three letters "IMO" followed by the seven-digit number. It is important to note that this number is separate and different from your official number. The official number is an internal control number issued by your yacht’s flag administration and cannot be used to replace the IMO number.
For background, the IMO ship identification number scheme was initiated through adoption of Resolution A.600 (15) in 1987. It was aimed as a measure to enhance maritime safety, pollution prevention and to facilitate the deterrence of maritime fraud.
The resolution assigned a permanent number to each ship for identification purposes. That number would remain unchanged upon transfer of the ship to another flag or owner and would be inserted in the ship's certificates.
When made mandatory, through SOLAS Regulation XI/3 (adopted in 1994), specific criteria for passenger ships of 100 gross tons and upwards and all cargo ships of 300 gross tons and upwards were stipulated.
For regulatory purposes, yachts that carry fewer than 12 passengers are considered cargo ships. If they carry more than 12 passengers, they are considered passenger ships.
As a result of the attack on the USS Cole, the events of 9/11, and the suicide bombing of the oil tanker Limburg, the IMO held a Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Security in December 2002. At the conference, they adopted a number of measures aimed at enhancing the security of ships and port facilities.
In addition to the creation of the well-known ISPS Code, the conference also included a modification to SOLAS Regulation XI-1/3 to require ships’ identification numbers to be permanently marked in a visible place either on the ship's hull or superstructure.
Where is the IMO number placed on the yacht? The regulation states that the ship’s identification number shall be permanently marked in two places, one exterior and one interior.
For the external marking, there are several choices. It shall be marked in a visible place on the stern; or on either side of the hull, amidships port and starboard, above the deepest assigned load line; or either side of the superstructure, port and starboard; or on the front of the superstructure; or, in the case of passenger ships, on a horizontal surface visible from the air.
For obvious reasons, the marking of such a number would be unsightly for any yacht. Because of this, most yacht registries allow the external marking to be made the same as passenger ships.
For the interior marking, it must be positioned in an easily accessible place on one of the end transverse bulkheads of the machinery spaces; or on one of the hatchways; or in the case of tankers, in the pump-room; or in the case of ships with ro-ro spaces, on one of the end transverse bulkheads of the ro-ro spaces.
For yachts, the number is almost always posted on a transverse bulkhead in the engine room.
How do we mark this IMO number? The permanent marking shall be plainly visible, clear of any other markings on the hull, and shall be painted in a contrasting color.
The height of the exterior marking shall be not less than 200mm (7.8 inches) in height, while the interior marking shall not be less than 100mm (3.9 inches) in height. The width of the marks shall be proportionate to the height.
The marking may be made by raised lettering or by cutting it in or by center punching it or by any other equivalent method of marking the ship identification number which ensures that the marking is not easily expunged.
For commercial yachts, especially those operating in Europe this summer, it is crucial to ensure the number is properly marked in both locations. With the expansion of port state control inspections to yachts, this is an item that will be verified. Its absence can be considered as a detainable offense. And this will most certainly trigger unwanted delays.
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