IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) 82

IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) 82 20 Dec 2006

Fuente: IMO

Notes from MSC 82 session 13th December 2006:

Goal-Based new ship construction standards (GBS)
Work to concentrate on the development of GBS for bulk carriers and oil tankers initially.

□ The development of a verification mechanism (Tier III) has been a major task, bearing in mind that the agreed principle purpose of goal-based standards is to set international standards by which IMO can exercise a measure of control over the rules of the classification societies, with the ultimate aim of verifying their full and effective compliance with the set goal-based standards (Tier I) and associated functional requirements (Tier II). Tier IV will cover prescriptive requirements including (existing and future) IMO convention regulations and class rules, and Tier V will cover non-mandatory standards, codes and industry practices that are applicable in the ship design process.

□ The mandatory ship construction file (SCF) could become an independent mandatory requirement under SOLAS Chapter II-1.

□ The new SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-7, which requires construction drawings to be maintained on board and ashore was noted.

Publication of the amended IBC Code
Next edition will be a perfect-bound book with the contents of chapters 17 (Summary of minimum requirements), 18 (List of products to which the code does not apply) and 19 (Index of products carried in bulk) additionally included in electronic format on a CD-ROM.

Material Safety Data Sheets
The Committee approved new draft SOLAS regulation VI/5-1 (Material safety data sheets) making the carriage of material safety data sheets (MSDS) mandatory for the transport of MARPOL Annex I cargoes and marine fuel oils, and requested the Secretary-General to circulate the draft new regulation for consideration at MSC 83 (October 2007) adoption.

Mandatory IMDG Code training for shore-side personnel
The chapter on training in the Code will be made mandatory for shore-side personnel.

Long-Range Identification and Tracking of Ships (LRIT)
SOLAS amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2008 if they are accepted by 1 July 2007.

□ MSC 82 decided to appoint IMSO (International Mobile Satellite Organisation) as the LRIT Co-ordinator. The LRIT Co-ordinator will oversee the International LRIT Exchange and Data Centre, the LRIT Tracking Services and relevant elements of the communications systems used and, as appropriate, of the contracts between participants in the system. Should also include verification that the security requirements established by the organisation for the entire LRIT system are adhered to; and the LRIT Co-ordinator should report to the organization on its findings

□ LRIT costing: BIMCO states that all parties have agreed that costs for the use of LRIT shall be born by the users - SOLAS contracting States requesting the information - and not by the ship(owners)

Integration of the Safety Management and Ship Security Systems
The development of Guidelines for integrated implementation of the safety management system and the ship security plan, and a list of areas where the ISM and ISPS Codes may have actions and provisions in common had been proposed.

□ Despite perceived benefits of a reduction in bureaucracy, which would be of benefit particularly in those States where port State control inspections and maritime security control and compliance inspections were conducted by the same authority MSC 82 concluded that it would be premature to pursue the matter at this stage and decided not to refer the proposal any further.

Measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats
MSC 82 was to consider which parts if any of IMO circular Circ.1206 on Measures to Prevent Accidents with Lifeboats should become mandatory.

□ MSC 82 agreed to keep the circular non-mandatory at this stage. After consultation a final MSC decision would become effective by 2010 at the latest.

Ship Identification Number Scheme
The Committee approved Circular letter No.1886/Rev.3 on Implementation of resolution A.600(15) - IMO ship identification number scheme, formalizing the issuing of numbers at the new building order stage.
Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme
MSC 82 considered the outcome of a review of the procedures for obtaining the identification numbers, resulting in the addition of a web service to facilitate the provision of company and registered owner data from Register-Fairplay (LRF) and the reporting of the name of companies as recorded by national Administrations in their jurisdiction.

□ Circular letter No.2554/Rev.1 on Implementation of IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme was approved.

Adoption of New Traffic Separation Schemes (TSSs)
In accordance with resolution A.858(20) proposed new traffic separation schemes and associated routeing measures were adopted including:
□ “Off the coast of Norway from Vardø to Røst”;
□ “In the SUNK area and northern approaches to the Thames estuary”; and
□ “Off Neist Point” in the Minches,

Amendments to the existing traffic separation schemes (TSSs)
In accordance with resolution A.858(20) proposed amendments were adopted including :
□ “In the Strait of Gibraltar”;
□ “In the approach to Boston, Massachusetts”;
□ “In the Adriatic Sea”;
□ “Off Cani Island” and “Off Cape Bon”, off the coast of Tunisia; and
□ “Off Botney Ground”,

Performance Standard for Protective Coatings
Further amendments were made:
□ Section 3 -General principles. Paragraph 3.2 regarding the authorization of coating inspectors.
□ Section 5 -Coating system approval. The recognition of test laboratory carrying out coating pre-qualification tests and how to ensure the quality of the paint.
□ Section 6 -Coating inspection requirements. The qualification and experience of coating inspectors.

□ BIMCO will publish a copy of the final Performance Standard as soon as it has been released by the IMO Secretariat.