On May 16, the IMO will start is efforts on regulation of autonomous ships with a meeting in the Maritime Safety Committee. The Danish Maritime Authority noted that the global industry needs international regulation to facilitate the use of autonomous ships, and it is looking forward to discussing the way forward within the IMO.
MSC 99 will examine how the safe, secure and environmentally sound operation of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships may be introduced in IMO instruments. Previous Committee had recognized that IMO should take a proactive and leading role on this issue, given the rapid developments.
The amendment will be submitted to the next ILO session for adoption. When it enters into force, it foresees that the seafarers’ wages and other contractual entitlements will continue to be paid during the entire period of captivity. This will provide the families with the necessary means of survival.
The Government of Hong Kong proposed to amend regulations under the Merchant Shipping (Safety) Ordinance, to incorporate the latest requirements set out in the IMO International Convention on Load Lines into local legislation. The proposed legislative amendments seek to enhance the safety and stability of a ship in national waters.
The amendments to FAL Convention have entered into force globally from 1st January 2018, to strengthen seafarers’ rights to shore leave and to achieve the smooth transit in ports of ships, cargo and passengers.
Classification society ClassNK announced release of amendments to its ‘Rules and Guidance for the Survey and Construction of Steel Ships’, on 25 December. ClassNK is constantly revising its Rules and Guidance in order to reflect the latest results from relevant research and development projects.
Ince&Co law firm informed that if a seafarer’s private social security cover has the same branches as those defined in Article L-111-1 of the French Social Security law, these seafarers do not have to be affiliated to the ENIM and can maintain their private coverage.
The Standard P&I Club highlights that the new STCW amendments concerning master and deck officers on ships operating in Polar Waters will take effect on July 2018 and not in January 2018 as it was previously announced.
The Marshall Islands Ship Registry issued a safety advisory to remind of the amendments to the IMSBC Code, adopted in June 2017, and to encourage their early adoption from 1st January 2018.
Lifeboat drill accidents have significantly increased during last years. Therefore, IMO at its 98th Session of Maritime Safety Committee on June 2017, adopted amendments to the guidelines considering abandon ship drills using lifeboats with a view to reduce related accidents.
