Article 6
Survey and certification 1. The following shall apply as regards the survey and certification of ships flying the flag of a Member State: (a) Ships of 400 gross tonnage and above, excluding fixed or floating platforms, FSUs and FPSOs, shall be surveyed and certified as from 1 July 2003 in accordance with the requirements laid down in Annex I, before the ship is put into service for the first time, or when the anti-fouling systems are changed or replaced. (b) Ships of 24 metres or more in length, but less than 400 gross tonnage, excluding fixed or floating platforms, FSUs and FPSOs, shall carry an AFS-Declaration to demonstrate compliance with Articles 4 and 5. If necessary, the Commission, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 9(2), may establish a harmonised survey and certification regime for these ships. (c) Member States may establish appropriate measures for ships not covered by points (a) and (b) in order to ensure compliance with this Regulation. 2. The following shall apply as regards the recognition of certificates, declarations and statements of compliance: (a) as from 1 July 2003, Member States shall recognise any AFS-Certificate; (b) until a year after the date referred to in point (a), Member States shall recognise any AFS-Statement of Compliance; (c) as from 1 July 2003, Member States shall recognise any AFS-Declaration. These declarations shall be accompanied by appropriate documentation (such as a paint receipt or a contractor invoice) or contain an appropriate endorsement. 3. If the AFS-Convention has not entered into force by 1 January 2007, the Commission, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 9(2), shall adopt appropriate measures in order to allow ships flying the flag of a third State to demonstrate their compliance with Article 5.