IMO MSC 92/6/3 regarding Passenger Ship Safety
IMO has issued Circular MSC 92/6/3 regarding passenger ship safety. This document provides the preliminary recommendations arising from the marine casualty investigation into the loss of the passenger ship Costa Concordia for consideration by the Committee as follows:
At its ninety-first session, the Committee noted with appreciation the progress reports on the ongoing investigation into the loss of the Costa Concordia presented by the Government of Italy (MSC 91/7/5 and MSC 91/7/7). The Committee also considered document MSC 91/WP.12 (Secretary-General) which addressed the most urgent management and operational issues upon which the Secretary-General considered the Organization already had enough information to take action.
Based on the outcome of a working group it established at that session, the Committee agreed to establish mandatory measures on the issue of muster policy for ships engaged on a voyage where passengers are scheduled to be on board for more than 24 hours and approved draft amendments to SOLAS regulations III/19.2.2 and III/19.2.3, and requested the Secretary-General to circulate them in accordance with SOLAS article VIII, with a view to adoption at MSC 92
In considering the issue raised in regard to unnecessary disruptions and distractions to the bridge team, the Committee considered that this was already adequately covered by SOLAS regulation V/15.6, the additional guidance contained out in MSC.1/Circ.1446 and the appropriate sections of ship safety management systems developed and approved under the ISM Code. In regard to the conditions under which a master may deviate from the approved voyage plan for reasons other than safety or environmental protection, the Committee noted the group’s discussion on whether companies, as defined in SOLAS regulation IX/1.2, should develop policies and procedures to specify the aforementioned conditions and concurred with the view of the group that mandatory measures should not be prepared at this stage.
In establishing the working group, the Committee emphasized that these actions did not preclude the Committee from taking further substantive actions on both operational and technical issues following receipt of the casualty report into the loss of the Costa Concordia.
Please click here to view IMO MSC 92/6/3
