When is a Deadweight Certificate typically issued?

A Deadweight Certificate is issued at the time of the vessel's construction. This document is crucial as it certifies the vessel's deadweight, which is the total weight a ship can safely carry, including cargo, fuel, crew, and provisions, minus the weight of the ship itself. The Deadweight Certificate serves as a vital piece of documentation for shipowners and operators, ensuring compliance with various regulations and standards governing the safety and stability of the vessel.

Issuing this certificate at the time of construction allows for accurate measurements of the vessel's capacity, ensuring it meets design specifications and operational criteria from the outset. This is essential for regulatory purposes and for establishing the vessel’s operational limits.

In contrast, the other options pertain to different stages of a vessel's lifecycle that do not align with the issuance of the Deadweight Certificate. For example, the maiden voyage is an operational milestone rather than a certification point, while decommissioning involves a different set of documentation related to disposal or end-of-life management. Annual inspections focus on safety and performance checks rather than initial construction specifications.