(1) The owner of every new ship shall make an application to the National Authority for a certificate on inventory of hazardous materials for the purposes of this Act and such certificate shall be specific to each ship:
     Provided that the existing ships on the date of commencement of this Act and for which the certificate on inventory of hazardous materials had not been issued, the owner of such ship shall make an application to the National Authority within a period of five years from the date of commencement of this Act:
     Provided further that a certificate on inventory of hazardous materials issued by any Administration shall be valid for the purposes of this Act.
     (2) The terms and conditions, the format and the manner for granting the certificate on inventory of hazardous materials shall be such as may be prescribed.
     (3) The certificate on inventory of hazardous materials shall be properly maintained and updated throughout the operational life of the ship, reflecting the new installations containing hazardous materials and relevant changes in the ship structure and equipment.

     Explanation.--For the purposes of this sub-section, the expression new installation includes systems, equipment, insulation or other material installed on a ship after the date of coming into force of this Act.

     (4) The certificate on inventory of hazardous materials shall be endorsed by the National Authority after successful completion of an additional survey conducted in accordance with clause (c) of sub-section (1) of section 7.
     Explanation.--For the purposes of this section, the expressions--
             (i) "existing ship" means a ship which is not a new ship;
            (ii) "new ship" means a ship,--
         (a) for which the building contract is placed on or after the date of coming into force of this Act; or
         (b) other than the ship referred to in sub-clause (a), the keel of which is laid or which is at a similar stage of construction after six months from the date of coming into force of this Act; or
         (c) which is to be delivered after thirty months from the date of coming into force of this Act, and which is intended to be registered in India.