To whom it may concern
The attached "Instructions of the Malta Maritime Authority (MMA) to its Recognised Organizations" has been issued by the Malta Maritime Authority. The instructions have been issued with the intention of enhancing the control of the Flag State over the safety standards of Malta ships.
The Malta Maritime Authority has requested ClassNK to implement surveys and audit on Malta flag ships from 1 November 2004 in accordance with the instructions.
Contents of the instructions and measures by ClassNK on these instructions are as follows.

1. Change of flag surveys to Maltese flag.
Regardless of whether the managing company changes or not, permission to register and/or operate is to be left to the judgement of the Malta Maritime Authority in cases where outstanding recommendations remain against the ship.
The scope of the survey at the flag Change survey is as follows.
(1) In cases where the flag change survey is carried out in the survey due range of the statutory intermediate, periodical, annual or renewal surveys, regardless of whether a change of the managing company is accompanied by the flag change survey or not.
(I) The relevant surveys are requested to be carried out at the flag change survey.
(ii) In case where the flag change survey is carried out in the survey due range of renewal survey, the renewal survey should be carried out at the flag change survey to the extent possible, and the case should be referred to the Malta Maritime Authority for consideration and relevant instructions.
In addition, an inspection using the ILO check sheet is to be carried out at the surveys (I) and (ii) above. The inspection is carried out with the intention of the Malta Maritime Authority to examine whether spaces for crews like crew accommodation spaces and machinery spaces and so on are properly maintained referring to the relevant parts in the ILO Convention established by International Labour Organization.
(2) In cases where the flag change surveys are carried out outside of the survey due range of the statutory intermediate, periodical, annual or renewal surveys.
(I) In case where a change of the managing company is not accompanied by the flag change survey, and the surveys are to be carried out to the extent of annual surveys. In addition, an inspection using the ILO check sheet is to be carried out at the survey.

(To be continued)