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.
ClassNK released a new longitudinal strength assessments software “PrimeShip-HULL(Rules)/PartC15”. The software has been released corresponding to the latest rule amendments. It enables designers to perform the hull girder bending, shearing, buckling strength assessments, as well as the hull girder buckling strength assessments.
IMO informed that on its Maritime Safety Committee, from 7-16 June, will set for adoption amendments on safety requirements, to ensure new-build passenger ships remain afloat after a major incident.
IMO announced that Kenya has become the 13th country to sign the Jeddah Amendment to the Djibouti Code of Conduct. The Code is an instrument developed and adopted by countries in the Western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden, in repressing piracy and armed robbery against ships operating in that region.
