The Law of Ships Article 23

For inspection of a ship, there are special inspection, periodical inspection and additional inspection.Scope of the ship inspection shall include the following:1. Structural strength of various parts of the ship.2. The major and auxiliary machines or tools for propulsion of the ship.3. Stability of the ship.4. The load line mark, except for ships without technical need for assigning a load line pursuant to the provision of Article 51.5. Subdivision of the ship bilge compartment, except for ships without need for such subdivision pursuant to the provision of Article 36.6. Fireproof construction of the ship, except for ships without need for fireproof construction pursuant to the provision of Article 35.7. Ship's marks.8. Ship equipment.Ships shall not sail unless having passed the inspection and arranged the equipment properly according to regulations.The competent authority shall, according to the difference of classification, tonnage, cargo type, and navigable water, undertake to prescribe and give effect to the regulations on the items and content of ship inspection, the inspecting agencies, validity period, application procedures and documents, on the issuance, renewal/replacement, annulment, cancellation or withdrawal of the Ship Inspection Certificate, and on imposition of inspection fee and certification fee, and other matters for compliance.