Survey required while changing vessel's flag

 The change of the flag state can happen if  

1. The ship owner or manager decides to shift to another state or 

2. When a ship is sold to another party, which has a different flag state preference.

 

Few points about changing the flag state of a vessel

 

1.       The certificates of last flag state  cease to be valid upon transfer of Flag State.

2.    After the change of flag, the ship starts operating under interim certificates

2.       It is required that the new Flag State should not issue new certificates until it is fully satisfied 

       that the ship is being properly maintained and that there have been no unauthorized changes 

       made to the structure, machinery and equipment

3.       When so requested, the former Flag State is obliged to forward as soon as possible to the new 

        Flag State copies of all old certificates and, if available, copies of relevant survey reports and 

        records, such as record of safety equipment and conditions of assignment for load line

4.       When fully satisfied by an inspection that the ship is being properly maintained and that there 

       have been no unauthorized changes, in order to maintain the harmonization of surveys the new 

       Administration may give due recognition to initial and subsequent surveys carried out by old 

      Administration and issue new certificates having the same expiry date as the certificates that 

      ceased to be valid because of change of Flag.

5.  The official entry into the shipping register of the new flag state for sea-going ships will happen 

     only after the ship has been deleted from the previous flag state register.