Source: http://www.imo.org/blast/mainframe.asp?topic_id=110&doc_id=349
Timestamp: 2014-09-01 21:04:33
Document Index: 2591871

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 1', 'art 2', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 5', 'art 6', 'art 7', 'arts 1', 'art 3']

The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) agreed to undertake a global consideration of safety issues pertaining to passenger ships, with particular emphasis on large cruise ships, in response to a proposal by IMO Secretary-General, Mr. William A. O`Neil. A Working Group on Enhancing the Safety of Large Passenger Ships will begin work at the next session of the Committee (MSC 73, meeting in November-December 2000), to review the current safety regime as it relates to large passenger ships and identify areas of concern relating to:
the environment - including search and rescue services, operation in remote areas and weather conditions.
The Working Group will also identify the potential risks facing future large passenger ships and develop a draft work programme for the Committee and its subsidiary bodies to address safety concerns.
The proposal to review large passenger ship safety was presented to IMO by the Secretary-General in a paper, entitled Enhancing the safety of large passenger ships.
In the paper, Mr.O`Neil noted the achievements of the shipbuilding and ancillary industries in delivering gigantic cruise ships embodying state-of-the-art technology.
He said the safety of such ships was not in doubt, nor was there concern that such vessels met the most recently adopted safety standards applicable to ships of this category - particularly those standards in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS).
However, "what merits due consideration is whether SOLAS and, to the extent applicable, the Load Line Convention requirements, several of which were drafted before some of these large ships were built, duly address all the safety aspects of their operation  in particular, in emergency situations. Also, whether the training requirements of the [International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers] STCW Convention relating to personnel operating large cruise ships are in need of any review or clarification in the circumstances."
The paper noted that according to statistical information, there were, at present, 47 passenger ships of 50,000 gross tonnage* and above, built between 1961 and 1999, totalling 3,324,853 gross tonnage, capable of carrying 106,484 passengers and 38,389 crew members. Of these, 42 passenger ships, totalling 2,987,889 gross tonnage and being capable of carrying 96,075 passengers and 34,439 crew members were built since 1990; their average gross tonnage is 71,140, while their average capacity is 2,287 passengers and 819 crew members or 3,106 persons on board.
Ro-ro passenger ships only to fit helicopter landing area
The Committee adopted an amendment to SOLAS Chapter III, regulation 28.2 for helicopter landing areas to require a helicopter landing area only for ro-ro passenger ships. The amendment will enter into force under tacit acceptance on 1 January 2002.
The current regulation requires helicopter landing areas to be fitted to all passenger ships of 130 metres in length and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 1999 but the Committee agreed at its last session this should apply to ro-ro passenger ships only.
The decision to review the existing requirement was made at the 70th session following trial applications of Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) to the requirement. The original requirement was part of a package of amendments to SOLAS adopted in November 1995, based on proposals put forward by a Panel of Experts set up by IMO in December 1994 following the Ro-ro ferry Estonia disaster of September 1994 in which more than 850 people were killed. Regulation 28.1 of SOLAS Chapter III requires all ro-ro passenger ships to be provided with a helicopter pick-up area and existing ro-ro passenger ships were required to comply with this regulation not later than the first periodical survey after 1 July 1997. The requirement for a helicopter landing area for all passenger ships of 130 metres in length and upwards was deferred to 1 July 1999. MSC/Circ.907 on Application of SOLAS regulation III/28.2 concerning helicopter landing areas on non ro-ro passenger ships issued in May 1999 recommended that non ro-ro passenger ships of 130 m in length and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 1999 need not be fitted with helicopter landing areas, and this should not constitute a reason for detaining or delaying the ship - since there was a delay between the regulation coming into effect for new ships and the adoption of the amendment making it applicable to ro-ro passenger ships only. AIS and VDRs to be required under new draft SOLAS Chapter V The Committee approved the revised draft text of Chapter V (Safety of Navigation) and instructed the Secretariat to circulate it with a view to adoption at the next session (MSC 73, 27 November-6 December 2000). The revised Chapter includes 35 regulations, against the current 23 introducing new requirements for navigational equipment and taking into account advances in technology. It is expected that the new Chapter will enter into force, under tacit acceptance, on 1 July 2002, although the exact date will be decided at MSC 73.
The new chapter, when it comes into force, will make it mandatory for ships to carry an automatic identification system (AIS). It is expected that these will be mandatory on new ships built on or after 1 July 2002 and will be phased in on existing ships between 1 July 2002 and 1 July 2008. The dates will be finalised at the next session. AISs can be used in conjunction with ship reporting systems and enable the ship's identity and other details to be given to the shore authorities automatically.
The new Chapter V will also include requirements for ships to be fitted with voyage data recorders (VDRs). There was general agreement that these should be fitted to all new ships and to existing ro-ro and passenger ships. But there was no consensus regarding carriage requirements for existing cargo ships and this issue will have to be decided at MSC 73.
The revised Chapter V will permit an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) to be accepted as meeting the chart carriage requirements for paper nautical charts. New and amended routeing systems and mandatory ship reporting systems
Chile - amended Traffic Separation Schemes (TSSs), including associated routeing measures, in the approaches to the ports of Iquique and Punta Arenas.
Peru - new TSS, including associated routeing measures, along the Peruvian coast.
China - new TSS, including associated routeing measures, in the waters Off the Chengshan Jiao Promontory, together with an associated routeing system and a mandatory ship reporting system.
United States - recommended tracks off the California coast for ships of 300 gross tonnage and above and for ships carrying hazardous cargo in bulk.
Cuba - area to be avoided at the approaches to the ports of Matanzas and Cardenas.
United Kingdom - Abolition of the of the "areas to be avoided" around the EC1 and EC3 lighted buoys
IMDG Code gets "user-friendly" overhaul
The Committee adopted a revised and reformatted International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, which is intended to be more user-friendly and understandable.
"Amendment 30" to the IMDG Code involves the complete reformatting of the IMDG Code as well as revisions to various sections of the Code and to transport requirements for specific substances. The reformatted IMDG Code will enter into force on 1 January 2001, with a 12 month transitional period ending 31 December 2001.
The reformatted IMDG Code includes seven parts, two appendices and an index:
General provisions, definitions and training (Part 1);
Classification (Part 2);
Dangerous Goods List (DGL) and Limited Quantities Exceptions (Part 3);
Packing and Tank provisions (Part 4);
Consignment Procedures (Part 5);
Construction and Testing of Packagings, Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs), Large Packagings, Portable Tanks and Road Tank Vehicles (Part 6); Requirements Concerning Transport Operations (Part 7);
Appendix A - List of Generic and NOS (Not Otherwise Specified) Proper Shipping Names;
Appendix B - Glossary of terms;
The present Code appears in four volumes, but the reformatted Code will appear in two volumes: one covering Parts 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 and 7; the second incorporating Part 3, the two Appendices and the Index. The Committee agreed to hold further discussions at the next session on whether the IMDG Code - or parts of it - should be made mandatory.
Under SOLAS Chapter VII on Carriage of Dangerous Goods, the International Bulk Chemical Code (IBC Code) and the International Gas Carrier Code (IGC Code) are mandatory, and referred to in the regulations of the chapter, but the IMDG Code is only referred to in a footnote. In MARPOL Annex III, covering Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances carried in Packaged Form, the IMDG Code is also referred to.
Revised STCW - implementation reviewed
The Committee reviewed progress in the implementation of the revised International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), in particular the evaluation of information by STCW Parties relating to compliance with the Convention.
The information is being reviewed by panels of competent persons, who will report on their findings to the IMO Secretary-General, who will, in turn, report to the Committee on the Parties which fully comply.
By the 1 August 1998 deadline for submission of information, 82 out of the 133 STCW Parties had communicated information on implementation of the requirements of the revised Convention. The 82 Parties which met the deadline represent well over 90% of the world's ships and seafarers.
By 15 May 2000, 42 panels of competent persons had completed their work on assessing information sent to IMO by Parties to the Convention. A further 40 panels had completed their initial evaluations and requested clarification from the Parties concerned. Clarifications had been provided by 32 and replies were still awaited from eight Parties. In order to meet deadlines for submission of documents to the next, 73rd, session of the MSC (scheduled for 27 November to 6 December 2000), the work of the panels needed to be completed by mid-August.
The Committee agreed that the Secretary-General should notify, by 1 October 2000, those Parties whose panels had failed to complete their evaluations and that he should submit a status report to MSC 73 by 16 October 2000 on the progress made by the panels, indicating the reasons why the panel(s) were not able to complete their work. Furthermore, the Secretary-General should be prepared at MSC 73 to distribute the report on compliance with STCW if the Committee determined that all reasonable efforts had been made to complete the work.
The Committee approved MSC/Circ.948 on Preparation of reports pursuant to STCW regulation I/7, paragraph 2, which urges Parties to the STCW Convention, to respond to requests for clarifications without undue delay and sets out the proposed plan of action for MSC 73. Amendments to STCW Code adopted
The Committee adopted amendments to part B of the STCW Code, including clarification of provisions in the Code. The amendments include a table listing certificates or documentary evidence required under the STCW Convention and a table of differences between STCW certification requirements and STCW 95 certification requirements. The amendments to the STCW Code are to be disseminated via an STCW Circular (STCW.6/Circ.5).
Draft Assembly resolution to revoke those resolutions superseded by the 1995 amendments to the STCW Convention for submission to the 22nd IMO Assembly in November 2001.
MSC Circular (MSC/Circ.949) to revoke those circulars superseded by the 1995 amendments to the STCW Convention.
MSC Circular (MSC/Circ.950) on Guidance on arrangements between Parties to allow for recognition of certificates under STCW regulation I/10 - which covers recognition of certificates issued by another Party. The circular includes elements to be included in a written undertaking between the Parties concerned regarding recognition of certificates.
MSC Circular (MSC/Circ.951) providing recommendations on the certification of Officers in charge of an engineering watch and engineering watchkeeping provisions on fishing vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW or more, to apply on entry into force of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), 1995 and pending the adoption of relevant amendments. The circular is intended to establish minimum standards of competency for officers in charge of an engineering watch on fishing vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 750 kW.
MSC/Circ.952 on IALA standards for training and certification of vessel traffic service (VTS) personnel
The Committee approved a revised Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)/ILO/IMO Document for Guidance on the Training and Certification of Fishing Vessel Personnel. The original Document for Guidance was adopted in 1985. The revised Document for Guidance is scheduled to be published soon in conjunction with ILO and FAO.
Research study on unlawful practices linked to seafarer certificates
The Committee received an update on an IMO research study to establish the nature and extent of unlawful practices associated with certificates of competency. Evidence gathered so far for the study, being carried out by the Seafarers International Research Centre, Cardiff, United Kingdom suggests the problem may be more widespread than initially thought. Over the period January to May 2000, the research team collected data from seafarers, employers, unions and officials in national Administrations, and made visits to Administrations in Northern Europe and major labour-supplying countries in South and South East Asia.
Approximately half of the seafarers interviewed from the labour-supplying countries in the South and South East Asia region had reported first-hand experience or knowledge of unlawful practices associated with certificates among officers and crew with whom they had sailed. Established malpractice between manning agents and training institutes had been reported, although the team had also obtained evidence of collusion by officials in the issuing of genuine certificates through unlawful means.
The next phase of the research project will involve visits to major flag States and labour-supplying countries in Eastern and Southern Europe, Latin America, the Mediterranean region and South East Asia.
High-Speed Craft to get new Code 2000
The Committee approved a draft new International Code for High Speed Craft, 2000, with a view to its adoption at MSC 73. It is intended that the Code will apply to all HSC built after the date of entry into force, likely to be 1 July 2002. The original HSC Code was adopted by IMO in May 1994, but the rapid pace of development in this sector of shipping has meant an early revision of the Code. The original Code will continue to apply to existing HSC.
The changes incorporated in the new Code are intended to bring it into line with amendments to SOLAS and new recommendations that have been adopted in the past four years - for example, requirements covering public address systems and helicopter pick-up areas. Consequential amendments to SOLAS Chapter X (Safety measures for high-speed craft) - to refer to the new Code - were also approved.
Revised SOLAS chapter II-2 and Fire Safety Systems Code approved
The Committee approved a draft new revised SOLAS chapter II-2 (Construction - Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction and its related Fire Safety Systems Code, with a view to its adoption by MSC 73 in December 2000, with entry into force in 2002.
The revised chapter is intended to be clear, concise and user-friendly, incorporating the substantial changes introduced in recent years following a number of serious fire casualties.
The draft revised chapter includes seven parts, each including requirements applicable to all or specified ship types, while the Fire Safety Systems (FSS) Code, which will be made mandatory under the new chapter, includes detailed specifications for fire safety systems in 15 Chapters.
Asbestos to be prohibited on new ships - new regulation approved
The Committee approved a new regulation prohibiting the new installation of materials which contain asbestos on all ships. The new regulation 3-5 will be included in SOLAS Chapter II-1 (Construction - Structure, Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations) and is intended to be adopted at MSC 73 in December 2000 with entry into force in 2002.
The proposed regulation states that "for all ships, new installation of materials which contain asbestos shall be prohibited except for: vanes used in rotary vane compressors and rotary vane vacuum pumps; watertight joints and linings used for the circulation of fluids when, at high temperature (in excess of 350�C) or pressure (in excess of 7 x 106 Pa), there is a risk of fire, corrosion or toxicity; and
supple and flexible thermal insulation assemblies used for temperatures above 1000�C."
Piracy and armed robbery against ships - review of proposed code
The MSC reviewed a preliminary draft text of a code of practice/instrument for the investigation and prosecution of the crime of piracy and armed robbery against ships. The Committee agreed the Correspondence Group which developed it should continue its work, with a view to finalizing the draft instrument for adoption at MSC 73.
The idea for such a code/instrument was developed during 1998-1999 at a series of expert missions and seminars and workshops around the world organized by IMO.
Participants at the seminars recommended that Governments need to intensify their efforts to combat piracy and armed robbery against ships and IMO should consider developing an international code for the investigation of piracy and armed robbery against ships and recommending prosecution and an appropriate punishment for the crime.
Enhanced inspection guidelines amended
The Committee approved draft amendments to Assembly resolution A.744(18) on Guidelines on the enhanced programme of inspections during surveys of bulk carriers and oil tankers with a view to their adoption at MSC 73. The amendments include detailed requirements for the evaluation of the longitudinal strength of the hull girder of oil tankers; and an amendment to make mandatory the inspection of the outside of the ships bottom during dry-dock surveys of oil tankers and bulk carriers of 15 years of age and above. Bulk carrier safety - Working Group reviews submissions
A Working Group on Bulk Carrier Safety reviewed submissions relating to bulk carrier safety made in the light of the 1998 report on the sinking of the bulk carrier Derbyshire in 1980 with the loss of 44 lives, presented at the 69th session of the MSC in May 1998 by the United Kingdom.
The submissions included the results of seakeeping tests on models of bulk carriers to determine green sea loads on hatch covers and deck wetness carried out by the United Kingdom, and information submitted by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS).
The Committee agreed to instruct the Sub-Committee on Stability and Load Lines and on Fishing Vessel Safety (SLF) to further review the current submissions in the context of that Sub-committee's ongoing review of issues arising from the Derbyshire report - these include: strength of hatch covers and coamings; freeboard and bow height; reserve buoyancy at fore end, including forecastles; structural means to reduce loads on hatch covers and forward structure; and fore deck and fore end access.
The SLF Sub-Committee next meets in September 2000.
The Committee reviewed progress in carrying out a formal safety assessment (FSA) study on bulk carrier safety through a collaborative effort outside IMO under the co-ordination of the United Kingdom. The Committee also reviewed progress in an independent FSA study on bulk carrier safety being conducted by Japan; and the results of a Hazard Identification study on watertight integrity of the fore end of bulk carriers carried out by IACS.
FSA is described as a rational and systematic process for assessing the risks associated with any sphere of activity, and for evaluating the costs and benefits of different options for reducing those risks. It therefore enables, in its potential application to the rule making process, an objective assessment to be made of the need for, and content of, safety regulations. FSA consists of five steps: identification of hazards (a list of all relevant accident scenarios with potential causes and outcomes); assessment of risks (evaluation of risk factors); risk control options (devising regulatory measures to control and reduce the identified risks); cost benefit assessment (determining cost effectiveness of each risk control option); and recommendations for decision-making (information about the hazards, their associated risks and the cost effectiveness of alternative risk control options is provided). With regard to the collaborative FSA study, the project is currently working on ranking the hazards associated with bulk carriers in order to identify the most important hazards to be considered in detail. A combined list of over 150 hazards associated with over 800 initiating causes has been developed from submissions from international participating organizations.
Further information on the FSA collaborative project can be found on the project website at http://www.fsa.mcga.gov.uk
Amendment to Form of Cargo Ship Certificates adopted
The Committee adopted an amendment to the Safety Construction Certificate and the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate given in the appendix to the Annex to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, to include "Bulk Carrier" to be listed under "Type of Ship".
The amendment follows the adoption in 1997 of a new SOLAS chapter XII (Additional safety measures for bulk carriers) to SOLAS.
A similar amendment was adopted to the appendix to the Annex to the 1988 SOLAS Protocol - to include "bulk carrier" under "type of ship".
The amendments will enter into force under tacit acceptance on 1 January 2002.
LIST OF CIRCULARS APPROVED BY MSC 72
MSC/Circ.946 FAL/Circ.90
Revised list of certificates to be carried on board ships MEPC/Circ.368
MSC/Circ.947 FAL/Circ.91 Safe loading and unloading of bulk carriers: ship/terminal interface (Requirements for terminal operators)
MSC/Circ.948 Preparation of reports pursuant to STCW regulation I/7, paragraph 2
MSC/Circ.949 MSC circulars superseded by the 1995 amendments to the 1978 STCW Convention
MSC/Circ.950 Guidance on arrangements between Parties to allow for the recognition of certificates under STCW regulation I/10
MSC/Circ.951 Officers in charge of an engineering watch and engineering watchkeeping provisions
MSC/Circ.952 IALA standards for training and certification of vessel traffic service (VTS) personnel
MSC/Circ.953/ MEPC/Circ.372 Revised harmonized reporting procedures
MSC/Circ.954/ MEPC/Circ.373 Self-assessment of flag State performance: criteria and performance indicators
MSC/Circ.956 Guidelines for unscheduled inspections of ro-ro passenger ships by flag States
MSC/Circ.957 Amendments to resolution A.706(17) on the World-Wide Navigational Warning Service
MSC/Circ.958 Amendments to the NAVTEX Manual
MSC/Circ.959 Interim procedures for MRCCs on receipt of distress alerts
MSC/Circ.960 Medical assistance at sea
MSC/Circ.961 Amendment 30 to the IMDG Code
MSC/Circ.962 Amendments to the BC Code
MSC/Circ.963 Transport of calcium hypochlorite
MSC/Circ.964 Unified interpretations of the FTP Code and fire test procedures referred to in the Code
MSC/Circ.965 Unified interpretations of vague expressions and other vague wording of SOLAS chapter II-2
MSC/Circ.966 IACS Unified Interpretation of "prototype test"
MSC/Circ.967 Piracy and armed robbery against ships: -Directives for Maritime Rescue Co-ordinating Centres (MRCCs)
COLREG.2/Circ.48 New and amended traffic separation schemes and associated routeing measures
COMSAR/Circ.22 Guidance on data fields for SAR databases
COMSAR/Circ.23 Guidance on Central Alerting Posts (CAPs)
SN/Circ.211 Routeing measures other than traffic separation schemes
SN/Circ.212 Mandatory ship reporting system
SN/Circ.213 Guidance on chart datums and the accuracy of positions on charts
STW.6/Circ.5 Amendments to part B of the STCW Code