🔍 Key Concepts

• Special survey vs. annual survey vs. intermediate survey – know how they differ in purpose and interval • How class societies and statutory regulations schedule hull and machinery surveys over a 5‑year cycle • Meaning of “anniversary date of construction or last special survey” in survey planning

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: is a special survey something that happens frequently like annual inspections, or is it a major, less frequent examination of the vessel? • Think about the typical class cycle: within one 5‑year period, which survey is the big, full‑scope one, and how often would that realistically be done? • Consider whether the timing should reset after each special survey, or stay tied forever to the original construction date.

✅ Before You Answer

• Clarify the difference between annual, intermediate, and special surveys in your notes or study material. • Verify how often the full structural and machinery examination (the most comprehensive survey) is scheduled over a vessel’s service life. • Check whether the regulations say the special survey is linked to the original construction date only, or to the most recent special survey date.