¹[303. Duration of certificates.--(1) A passenger ship safety certificate, a qualified passenger ship safety certificate, a special trade passenger ship safety certificate and a special trade passenger ship space certificate issued under this Part shall be in force for a period of twelve months from the date of its issue or for such shorter period as may be specified in the certificate.
     (2) A cargo ship safety equipment certificate, a qualified cargo ship safety equipment certificate, a cargo ship equipment certificate, a qualified cargo ship equipment certificate, a cargo ship safety construction certificate, a qualified cargo ship safety construction certificate, a cargo ship construction certificate, a qualified cargo ship construction certificate, a cargo ship safety radio certificate, a qualified cargo ship safety radio certificate and a cargo ship radio certificate issued under this Part shall be in force for a period of five years from the date of its issue or for such shorter period as may be specified in the certificate.
     (3) An exemption certificate issued under section 302 shall be in force for the period for which the certificate to which it relates remains in force or for such shorter period as may be specified in the exemption certificate.
     (4) Notwithstanding the requirements of sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) when the survey is completed within three months before the expiry date of the existing certificate, the new certificate may be valid from the date of completion of the survey,--
         (a) for a passenger ship, a date not exceeding twelve months; and
         (b) for a cargo ship, a date not exceeding five years,
from the date of expiry of the existing certificate.
     (5) The Central Government or any person authorised by it in this behalf may grant an extension of any certificate issued under this Part in respect of an Indian ship--
         (a) where the ship is not in a port in which it is to be surveyed, on the date when the certificate would, but for the extension, have expired, for such period not exceeding three months from the said date as may be sufficient to enable the ship to complete its voyage to the port in which it is to be surveyed;
         (b) where the ship is engaged on a short voyage and whose certificate has not been extended under clause (a), for a period up to one month from the date when the certificate would have expired:
     Provided that any extension granted under clause (a) shall cease to be operative upon the ship's arrival at the port referred to in that clause:
     Provided further that no extension shall be granted under clause (b) in respect of a certificate extended under clause (a).
     (6) Where an existing certificate of a ship has been extended under sub-section (5) and when survey is completed, the new certificate shall be valid up to,--
         (a) for a passenger ship, a date not exceeding twelve months; or
         (b) for a cargo ship, a date not exceeding five years,
from the date of expiry of the existing certificate.
     (7) In special circumstances where the Central Government so determines, a new certificate, need not be dated from the date of expiry of the existing certificate, shall be valid up to,
         (a) for a passenger ship, a date not exceeding twelve months;
         (b) for a cargo ship, a date not exceeding five years,
from the date of completion of the survey.
     (8) Where a certificate referred to in sub-section (2) is issued for a period of less than five years, the Central Government or any person authorised by it in this behalf may extend the validity of the certificate beyond the expiry date to the maximum period specified in sub-section (2) if appropriate surveys, applicable when a certificate is issued for a period of five years, are carried out.
     (9) If a survey has been completed and a new certificate cannot be issued or placed on board the ship before the expiry date of the existing certificate, the Central Government or any person authorised by it in this behalf may endorse the existing certificate and such certificate shall be in force for a further period which shall not exceed five months from the expiry date of the existing certificate.
     (10) If annual, intermediate or periodical surveys in the manner as specified in the Safety Convention or in cases where such specified manner is not applicable, in such manner as the rules made in this behalf prescribe, as the case may be, are completed before the period stipulated therefore, then--
         (a) the anniversary date mentioned on the relevant certificate shall be amended by endorsement to a date which shall not be more than three months later than the date on which the survey was completed;
         (b) the subsequent surveys shall be completed at the stipulated intervals using the new anniversary date so endorsed;
         (c) the expiry date may remain unchanged provided one or more annual, intermediate or periodical surveys, as the case may be, are carried out so that the maximum stipulated intervals between the surveys are not exceeded.
     (11) A certificate issued under section 299A, section 300 or section 301 shall cease to be valid,--
         (a) if the relevant surveys specified in the Safety Convention or in cases where such specified manner is not applicable, in such manner as the rules made in this behalf prescribe, as the case may be, are not completed within the stipulated period;
         (b) if the certificate is not endorsed; or
         (c) if the ship ceases to be an Indian ship.]