Circular by German Flag Administration
The German Flag Administration has issued ISM-Circular, which concerns guidance on providing safe working conditions for securing of containers.
This circular informs ship owners, ship managers, designated persons and masters of German flagged ships about important amendments to the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS-Code).
The aim of the new annex 14 to the CSS Code (implemented by the MSC.1/Circ. 1352) is to ensure that persons engaged in carrying out container securing operations on deck have safe working conditions and, in particular safe access, appropriate securing equipment and safe places of work.
The new annex 14 to the CSS Code applies to containerships, the keels of which were laid or which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 January 2015.
On existing containerships the following sections of Annex 14 have to be applied :
- 4.4 (Training and familiarization)
- 6 (Design)
- 7.1 (Introduction)
- 7.2 (Operation procedures)
- 7.3 (Maintenance)
- 8 (Specialized container safety design)
With regard to section 6 (Design) and section 7.2 (Operation procedures) existing ships are not be required to be enlarged or undergo other major structural modifications.
This ISM-Circular reminds also the revisions of the “Recommendation on safety of personnel during container securing operations” (implemented by the MSC.1/Circ.1263) and of the “Guidelines for the preparation of the Cargo Securing Manual” (implemented by the MSC.1/Circ.1353).
The last one requires ships constructed on or after 1 January 2015 and which are specifically designed and fitted for the purpose of carrying containers to have an approved Cargo Safe Access Plan (CSAP) on board, for all areas where containers are secured.
To view the Circular, click here.
Source: German Flag Administration
