Chapter 14: Parts E and F, Exemptions and Verification (Rules 38 to 41)
The tail of the instrument is administrative. An OOW should know what these Rules are mainly so as to know they are not part of the live decision on the bridge (Chapter 5). The live content of the Rules ends with Part D.
Rule 38: Exemptions · TIER 2
Rule 38 grants transitional relief to vessels built before the Rules came into force, or before particular amendments, from certain lights, shapes and sound-equipment requirements, on stated timescales. It is primarily the concern of shipowners and builders, not watchkeepers, and most of its exemptions have long since expired. See: Ch 3 (Rule 1(e), the related special-construction provision).
Rule 39: Definitions · TIER 2
The first Rule of Part F, added by the 2013 amendments, defines the terms used in the verification regime, “the Convention,” “audit,” “Audit Scheme” and the like. Reference material for administrations. See: Ch 2 (the 2013 amendments and the addition of Part F).
Rule 40: Application · TIER 2
Rule 40 applies the verification provisions of Part F to Contracting Parties, that is, to flag states. It does not place any duty on a vessel or her OOW. See: Ch 3 (flag-state implementation).
Rule 41: Verification of Compliance · TIER 2
Rule 41 is the survey-and-audit machinery by which a flag state demonstrates that it is giving effect to the Convention, administered through the Organization’s audit scheme. It is a matter for administrations and will never be applied on a bridge. Its presence is worth knowing only because it explains why the modern instrument runs to 41 Rules rather than the 38 of the pre-2013 text (Chapter 5). See: Ch 2 (the amendment history), Ch 5 (the six-Part structure).
End of Part II. The full text of the Rules, annotated to show the significance of their wording, is in the back matter; the recognition tables and diagrams flagged through Parts C and D are produced in the visuals pass.