On December 5, the China Maritime Safety Administration issued the "International Rules for the Survey and Certification of Ocean-Going Ships (Notice of Amendment in 2023)" (the Amendment Notice), which came into effect on January 1, 2024.

International Rules for the Survey and Certification of Ocean-Going Ships is the basis for the inspection and certification of Chinese international sailing ships, and is also the main carrier for the domestic transformation of the technical requirements of the relevant conventions of IMO. In accordance with the Provisions on the Procedures for the Formulation of Technical Regulations on Ships, the China Maritime Safety Administration regularly transforms technical documents on international maritime ships, and formulates technical requirements for inspections of shore power facilities, crew cabin equipment and non-Convention ships in accordance with China's actual conditions.

It is understood that the Amendment Notice is revised on the basis of the International Rules for the Survey and Certification of Ocean-Going Ships(2014) and its amendments in 2016, 2018 and 2019.This revision maintains the original regulatory framework unchanged, adding the latest amendments to IMO conventions and regulations in recent years, including relevant resolutions and circulars of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) and the General Assembly, and adding new requirements for crew and passenger accommodation equipment in China.The main contents include inspection and certification, tonnage measurement, load line, ship safety, ship pollution prevention and energy efficiency and ballast water management, crew cabin equipment, passenger quota and cabin equipment and other 7 articles and supplementary provisions.