Tag: IMO

Denmark to focus on mandatory weighing of containers

ClassNK issues technical information TEC-0986 regarding  the use of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants. On 18 October 2013, ClassNK issued Technical Information No. 0968 on the subject of "Final 2013 Vessel General Permit issued by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency" (hereinafter referred to as "2013 VGP"). Since the issuance of Technical Information No. 0968, many inquiries, particularly about the use of Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (hereinafter referred to as "EAL"), have been received. Therefore, more detailed explanations about the use of EALs are given in the table below. ClassNK is now issuing a "Statement of Fact" (hereinafter referred to as "SOF") as part of its new "EAL Usage Assessment Service" to verify that a ship is in full compliance with the 2013 VGP requirements. SOFs can be issued for the following cases: An air seal system is being used; An EAL is being used for lubrication on a newly built ship; An existing ship switches from a conventional lubricant to an EAL; and, The use of an EAL is technically infeasible.   Remarkable points regarding the use of EAL The requirements for the use of EAL in the 2013 VGP All vessels subject to the 2013 VGP must use an EAL in all oil ...

Approved changes to the Convention will enter into force in July 2016 The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has approved changes to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention that will require verification of containerweights as a condition for loading packed export containers aboard ships. Misdeclared container weightshave been a long-standing problem for the transportation industry and for governments as they presentsafety hazards for ships, their crews, and other cargo on board, workers in the port facilities handlingcontainers, and on roads. Misdeclaration of container weights also gives rise to Customs concerns.The approved changes to the Convention will enter into force in July 2016 upon final adoption by theMSC in November 2014. In order to assist supply chain participants' and SOLAS Contracting Governments'implementation of the container weight verification requirement, MSC also issued a MSC Circular withimplementation guidelines.The MSC has also approved a new Code of Practice for the Packing of Cargo Transport Units (CTUs),including intermodal shipping containers. The new CTU Code, which will replace the current IMO/ILO/UNECEGuidelines for packing of CTU, has already been approved by the UNECE (United Nations EconomicCommission for Europe) and will now go to the ILO (international Labour organization) for approval. ...

The International Maritime Organization has issued its online magazine, IMO News Magazine 2014 - issue 2, including a wide range of topics as follows:

Digests on collision prevention measures, night signals for vessels crossing the passage , guidance On 20 May 2014, a pamphlet entitled Safe Passage: The Straits of Singapore and Malacca was officially launched at the 93rd session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee meeting currently taking place in London.This Safe Passage pamphlet is the result of an initiative pursued within the Cooperative Mechanism, a framework established in 2007 in which the littoral states of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore and users of the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (SOMS) pool their respective resources and expertise in an effort to enhance navigational safety and protection of the marine environment in the SOMS.SOMS is a vital sea line of communication, much used by ships voyaging from West to East. Safe navigation and the prevention of collision are crucial in such a busy strait used for international navigation. The avoidance of collisions and other accidents also ensures that the marine environment in the SOMS is better protected.The Safe Passage pamphlet was first proposed by international shipping association BIMCO in 2012. It is intended to be a handy tool for users of the Straits regarding unique navigational considerations and the importance of adhering to the International ...

Enhancing safety of navigation in polar areas United Nations' International Maritime Organization (IMO) has just approved global binding regulations intending to enhance safety of navigation in polar areas. This means, inter alia, new requirements for passenger ships.Following several years of intense negotiations, the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) has today approved a new set of regulations on navigation in Arctic waters. Thus, the IMO has today taken a decisive step towards making the so-called Polar Code internationally binding.The entire palette of navigation in polar areas is covered by the Polar Code - from ship design and construction, over crew training and navigation to improved coordination of search and rescue operations. The Polar Code will apply to passenger ships and cargo ships with a gross tonnage of more than 500."Denmark has been active in placing the Polar Code on the IMO agenda. Therefore, I am extremely pleased that - with the Polar Code - we will now enhance the safety of ships navigating Arctic and Antarctic waters. Denmark has especially been striving to enhance the safety of especially cruise ships navigating Greenland waters. The new internationally binding regulations will also introduce a number of important measures to be taken when navigating ...

IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) will meet at the Organization's London headquarters for its 93rd session, from 14 to 23 May 2014.

Clarification is being sought for steam turbine LNG carriers in North and Baltic IGC Code updateSubject to some editorial clarifications, the draft revised International Gas Carrier (IGC) Code is scheduled for adoption at MSC 93 in May 2014, with a corresponding entry-into-force date of January 2016. The revised IGC Code will not be retroactive, and will apply only to vessels built after the entry-into-force date.IGF Code updateDevelopment of the International Code for Ships using Gas or other Low Flash-Point Fuels (IGF Code) continues to be progressed via correspondence group (CG). The primary focus of the CG remains the use of LNG as marine fuel, and although the CG is also addressing methyl alcohol and lowflash diesel fuels, that work will not delay the Code. Recent IMO sub-committee work has looked at the location of LNG bunker tanks (Ship Design & Construction Sub-committee) and STCW training requirements (Human Element, Training & Watchkeeping Sub-committee).Realistically, the IGF Code is at least 12 months behind the IGC Code, as the drafting group is not scheduled to meet until September 2014. IMO appears to be looking to fast track the IGF Code, with a target adoption date of spring 2015 and a resulting entry-into-force date ...

IMO MSC 93 to be held from 14 to 23 May 2014 IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) meets at the Organization's London headquarters for its 93rd session, from 14 to 23 May 2014. The MSC is expected to adopt amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) related to lifeboat safety; continue its action plan of work on passenger ship safety, following the Costa Concordia incident; review the draft mandatory Polar Code and related draft SOLAS amendments; adopt amendments to SOLAS and other treaties to make mandatory the IMO Member State Audit Scheme; adopt a number of other important amendments; and consider items submitted by the sub-committees.Lifeboat safety: SOLAS amendments set to be adoptedThe MSC is expected to adopt draft amendments to SOLAS chapter III to make mandatory the Requirements for periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear, which are also expected to be adopted at the session. The MSC is also expected to approve a related draft MSC circular on Guidelines on safety during abandon ship drills using lifeboats, providing additional recommendatory provisions.The package of mandatory and recommendatory measures follows work by IMO to review recommendations previously ...

Since 17 June 2011, EU countries have been uploading marine casualty data to the European Marine Casualty Information Platform, EMCIP, to improve data collection and analysis.