MSC agrees mandatory ECDIS by 2011

MSC agrees mandatory ECDIS by 2011
In a packed agenda,MSC 86 adopted amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS),including a new regulation to make the carriage of electronic charts mandatory,and the approval of goal-based standards for new oil tankers and bulk arriers, or uture adoption

Amendments o SOLAS regulation V/19, to make mandatory the carriage of Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (EECDIS) and Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm systems BNWAS), under SOLAS chapter V, Safety of Navigation , were adopted, with an expected entry-into-force date of january 2011. The requirements will be mandatory for new ships and phased in for existing ships.

Goal-bbased construction tandards

The MSC approved international goal-based ship construction standards for bulk carriers and oil tankers, together with proposed amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-1 making their application mandatory, for consideration at MSC 87 with a view to adoption.

The proposed SOLAS regulation II-11/3-10 on

Goal-based ship construction standards for bulk carriers and oil tankers would apply to oil tankers and bulk carriers of 150m in length and above.

It would require new ships to be designed and constructed for a specified design life and to be safe and environmentally friendly, in intact and specified damage conditions, throughout their life. The ship should have adequate strength, integrity and stability to minimize the risk of loss of the ship or pollution to the marine environment due to structural failure,

including collapse, resulting in flooding or loss of watertight integrity.

The MSC also approved, in principle, Guidelines for verification of conformity with goal-based ship construction standards for bulk carriers and oil tankers , for adoption at MSC 87. Draft Guidelines for the information to be included in a Ship construction File were considered and will be further developed at the next MSC session.

The goal-based standards have been developed on the basis of a five-tier system, consisting of goals (Tier I) functional requirements (Tier II), verification of conformity (Tier III) rules and regulations for ship design and construction (Tier IV) and industry practices and standards (Tier V). The proposed goal-based standards eflect tiers I to III.

LRIT progress

The MSC was updated on the implementation status of the LRIT system and considered the outcome of the seventh session of the Ad Hoc LRIT Group, which met in March. The LRIT system, as from 1 January 2009, is in production and is being implemented by all SOLAS Parties. Some LRIT Data Centres are still undergoing testing and they are expected to complete the full integration into the LRIT system before 30 September

2009. In the meantime, contractual arrangements for receiving and providing LRIT information between LRIT Data centres are under consideration.

The MSC agreed guidance on the survey and certification of compliance of ships with the requirement to transmit LRIT information; guidance to

search and rescue services in relation to requesting and receiving LRIT information; and an MSC circular on information communicated to the organization in relation to the establishment of LRIT data Centres and their position in relation to developmental testing in the production of the LRIT system. The latter instructs the IMO Secretariat to make available a list showing the SOLAS Contracting Governments that have established LRIT Data Centres which have been integrated into, and are operating in, the LRIT system and the status of LRIT arrangements within ther Contracting Governments.

STCW review

The MSC approved, in principle, the preliminary draft revised text of the international convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (SSTCW) 1978, as amended, and the

STCW Code, prepared by the Sub-Committee on Standards of Training and Watchkeeping (STW).

The committee authorized the holding of an ad hoc intersessional meeting of an STW working group, from 7 to 11 September 2009, to progress the work, with a view of finalization at STW 41 in January

2010. STW 41 would then finalize the draft text of amendments of the STCW convention and Code, with view to their circulation or consideration by a Diplomatic Conference, scheduled for mid-2010.

MODU Code 2009 approved

The draft Code for the construction and Equipment of Mobile offshore Drilling Units, 2009, which revises and updates the MODU Code adopted in 1989 (rrsolution A.649(16)), was approved, prior to submission to the

IMO Assembly for adoption.

The MODU Code provides an international standard for mobile offshore drilling units of new construction, to facilitate the international movement

and operation of these units and ensure a level of safety equivalent to that required by the SOLAS Convention and the 1988 Protocol to the Load Lines Convention for conventional ships engaged on

international voyages.

Alerts and Indicators - code approved

The draft Code on Alerts and indicators, 2009 was approved by the MSC. It is also being submitted to the Marine Environment Protection Committee MEPC),, in July, for concurrent approval and submission to the IMO Assembly for adoption. The Code is intended to provide general design guidance and to promote uniformity of type, location and priority for alerts and indicators equired by the SOLAS Convention, including elevant performance standards, and by the MARPOL convention, as well

as by other associated instruments and codes. The Code, when adopted, till update, revise and replace the Code on Alarms and Indicators, 1995 resolution

A.830(19)).

FSA Experts Group established

A Formal Safety Assessment (FFSA) Experts Group was established to review FSA studies on cruise ships, ro-ro passenger ferries, liquefied natural gas carriers and containerships, which had been carried out

within the `SAFEDOR’ research project and previously submitted to the MSC. The MSC agreed to hold an intersessional meeting of the FSA experts group to finalize the review and report to MSC 87, to include any recommendations from each FSA study that may require action by the

Committee or Sub-Committees.

Maritime security -self-assessment scheme

The MSC reviewed Member states’ experience with implementing MSC.1/Circ.1192 Guidance on voluntary self-aassessment by SOLAS Contracting Governments and by port facilities and MSC.1/ Circ.1194, which includes Guidance on basic elements of national oversight programmes for SOLAS chapter XI-22 and the ISPS Code. Governments, non-governmental organizations and inter-governmental

organizations were invited to submit the results of their experiences to the next session. The MSC agreed Revised guidance to Masters,

companies and duly authorized officers on the requirements relating to the submission of security- related information prior to the entry of ship into port (updating MSC/Circ.1130).

Other SOLAS amendments

Other SOLAS amendments adopted, with an expected entry force adte of January 2011, include:

• an amendment of SOLAS regulation II-1/3-5.2, to prohibit all new installations of asbestos on board ships, without exceptions; and

• amendments to the title of Chapter VI to read, Carriage of Cargoes “and oil fuels ” and to Regulation VI/5-1 on Material safety data sheets

(MSDS) to require MSDS to be provided for ships carrying oil or oil fuel, prior to the loading of such oil as cargo on bulk or bunkering of oil fuel. The MSC also adopted Recommendations for material safety data sheets (MSDS) or MARPOL Annex I type cargoes and oil fuels.

Other issues

The MSC considered other issues arising from the reports of Sub-Committees and other bodies, adopted a number of resolutions and approved other circulars and draft amendments, including:

• the revised Joint IMO/IHO/WMO Manual on Maritime safety Information (MSI)

• Guidelines for the drainage of fre-fifighting water from closed vehicle and ro-ro spaces and special category spaces or passenger and cargo ships

• Interim Guidelines on safety or gas-fuelled engine installations in ships

• amendments to the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual

• revised Guidelines for ships perating on polar waters,or concurrent approval by MEPC 59 and subsequent adoption by the assembly

• draft amendments to the Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized system of survey and Certification, for concurrent approval by MEPC 59 and subsequent adoption by the assembly and

• draft amendments to the Code for the Implementation of Mandatory IMO Instruments, 2007, for concurrent approval by MEPC 59 and

subsequent adoption by the assembly.

Revised guidance on combating piracy and armed robbery against ships as greed along with specific guidance relating to the continued attacks on ships off the coast of Somalia and on the Gulf of Aden was also agreed.