IMO is working to prevent accidents that occur when ships are being moored at their berth in a port. A SOLAS regulation that focuses on better protecting seafarers and shore-based mooring staff from injuries during mooring operations, is set to be finalized by the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction.
Specifically, the meeting that took place between 4 to 8 February, aspires to establish draft guidelines concerning:
- The design of mooring arrangements;
- Their inspection and maintenance;
- Revising guidelines on shipboard towing and mooring arrangements.
Moreover, IMO is also focusing on the safety measures for non-SOLAS vessels that operate in Polar waters and are not covered by the Polar Code, up to now.
The Committee will discuss the first draft of recommendations for safety measures for fishing ships from 24 m length and more and also for yachts, used for pleasure, that are above 300 gross tonnage and aren’t involved in trade, that operate in polar waters as well.
An additional crucial chapter is the continuous development of a draft new SOLAS chapter XV based on Safety measures for industrial-personnel-carrying vessels and the associated draft Code.
The latter aspires to provide minimum safety standards for vessels that carry industrial personnel, as well as for the personnel, in order to reassure of their safe transportation prior or after their deployment in relation to the construction, maintenance, decommissioning, operation or servicing of offshore facilities.
Furthermore, the Sub-Committee will also continue its work on developing second generation intact stability criteria, such as
- Preparing guidelines on the specification of direct stability assessment;
- The preparation and approval of operational limitations and operational guidance;
- Vulnerability criteria.
Concluding, the SDC Sub-Committee was opened by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, and is being chaired by Kevin Hunter (United Kingdom).
