As previously advised by ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-0710, AFS Convention will enter into force on 17 September 2008.

Therefore, ClassNK would like to inform you of the outline for an initial survey and the issuance of the AFS certificate as follows:

1. AFS Convention is to apply to the following ships(except any warships or others).
(1) Ships entitled to fly the flag of a Party
(2) Ships not entitled to fly the flag of a Party, but which operate under the authority of a Party, and
(3) Ships that enter a port, shipyard, or offshore terminal of a Party, but do not fall within above (1) & (2).
2. In addition, ships referred to the above para. 1. engaged in international voyages, excluding fixed or float platforms, FSUs, and FPSOs have been required as follows:
(1) Ships of 400 gross tonnage and above are to be subject to surveys and carry the AFS certificate onboard.
(2) Ships of 24 meters or more in length, but less than 400 gross tonnage carry a Declaration signed by the owner or owner's authorized agent onboard.
3. Please note that there are the regional regulations, which request to keep a Statement of Compliance (SOC) in advance (Regarding EU Regulations, please refer to ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-0528 dated 26 May 2003).
4. The following 28 States have ratified AFS Convention as of 30 April 2008. The latest list of States ratified the Convention can be confirmed through the web-site of International Maritime Organization "IMO" (http://www.imo.org/Conventions/mainframe.asp?topic_id=248).
Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Bulgaria, Cook Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Greece, Iceland, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Panama, Poland, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Tuvalu
5. An Initial Survey for AFS Convention is to be carried out the following occasion, whichever is earlier, together with Docking Survey in principle.
(1) When Anti-Fou