Tag: IMO

Amendments are due to enter into force on 1 July 2012. IMO Resolution 308(88), adopted in December 2010, made changes to the pilot transfer arrangements set out in SOLAS Chapter V/Regulation 23. The amendments are due to enter into force on 1 July 2012.The revised regulations apply to pilot boarding equipment and arrangements installed on or after the 1 July 2012. In the case of existing pilot boarding equipment and arrangements replaced on or after 1 July 2012, vessels are required to comply with the new regulatory requirements as far as reasonable and practicable. However, the amendment to Paragraph 6 which prohibits the use of mechanical pilot hoists applies to all vessels from 1 July 2012.Changes to SOLAS Regulation V/23Three new sub-paragraphs have been added to Paragraph 2 "General" concerning pilot ladder certification, identification and record keeping. Also a clarification as to what is meant by the term "accommodation ladder":2.3 A pilot ladder shall be certified by the manufacturer as complying with this regulation or with an international standard acceptable to the Organisation. Ladders shall be inspected in accordance with regulations I/6, 7 and 8.2.4 All pilot ladders used for pilot transfer shall be clearly identified with tags or other ...

New IMO video

New SOLAS amendments were adopted by the eighty-eight (88th) session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) held from 24 November to 3 December 2010.IMO Resolutions MSC.308 (88) and MSC.309 (88) were adopted in this 88th session of the MSC on 3-December-2010. The amendments introduced by Resolutions MSC.308 (88) and MSC.309 (88) shall enter into force on 1-July-2012. Resolutions MSC.308 (88) & MSC.309 (88) establish a number of amendments to the following SOLAS regulations: Regulation II-1/41 - Main source of electrical power and lighting systems Regulation II-2/1 - Application Regulations II-2/3 - Definitions Regulations II-2/7 - Detection and alarm Regulation V/18 - Approval, surveys and performance standards of navigation systems and equipment and voyage data recorder Regulation V/23 - Pilot transfer arrangements Appendix - Certificates: Forms of PSS, CSSC and CSSE CertificatesAs a consequence of the adoption of SOLAS amendments, a new revision (2012/07) of the following ICS forms will be in force on and after 1-July-2012:a) PSSC/IC (2012/07) including Survey Report + Record of Approvedb) CONSTRUCTION/IC (2012/07) including Survey Reportc) EQUIPMENT/IC (2012/07) including Survey Report + Record of SOLAS-Amendments + Record of Approved.The following guidance are adopted on the timing of replacement of existing certificates by the certificates issued after ...

New IMO video

Agreed by IMO MSC 90 Interim guidance for private maritime security companies (PMSCs) was agreed by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), when it met at the Organization's London Headquarters for its 90th session from 16 to 25 May 2012.The MSC also adopted a resolution recommending operational measures aimed at enhancing the safety of large cruise passenger ships, as well as a work plan to address passenger ship safety matters, in the wake of the Costa Concordia incident in January.The busy agenda further saw the adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and adoption and approval of other guidelines, codes and circulars, submitted by the IMO Sub-Committees.Piracy and armed robbery against ships The MSC agreed Interim Guidance to private maritime security companies (PMSC) providing privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) aboard vessels transiting the high-risk area off the east coast of Africa.Passenger ship safety The MSC agreed that a number of operational measures should be implemented immediately, on a voluntary basis, prior to the adoption of any measures following the analysis of the official marine investigation report into the loss of the Costa Concordia (Adoption of SOLAS amendments The MSC adopted the following ...

During MSC 90 Head of Azerbaijan State Sea Administration Gudret Gurbanov has participated in 90th session of Maritime Safety Committee of International Maritime Organization (IMO), which completed in London yesterday.The State Sea Administration reports that the session involved discussion of issues of raising maritime safety, new standards of sea vessels construction, issues of work of Long Range detection system and Ship monitoring (LRIT), control of the state flag, radio communication, accomplished search system and sea rescue, navigation safety, fire protection, application of International Convention on training sailors and granting diplomas to them. At that Azerbaijan presented national report on bringing its system in compliance with the convention by which it was approved.Source: ABC.AZ

90th SESSION 16 18 and 21 - 25 May 2012 The IMO's Sub-Committee on Maritime Safety (MSC) held its 90th session from Wednesday 16 through Friday 25 May 2012 under the Chairmanship of Mr Christian Breinholt (DENMARK). A Drafting Group of Amendments to Mandatory Instruments and three Working Groups were convened on:(1) Passenger Ship Safety(2) Goal-based Standards and Formal Safety Assessment, and(3) Measure to enhance Maritime Security and PiracyPrior to sending out the Working Groups, the Committee (in Plenary) engaged in a long debate which was reinforced by high-level (Ministerial/Ambassadorial) participation from governments on the issue of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) on board ships. Three main issues were addressed in the high level debate:1. Guidance and standards for private maritime security companies (PMSC) providing PCASP2. Issues related to PCASP of concern to littoral states, and3. Guidelines on the use of firearms.It was agreed that:the carriage of firearms by seafarers should continue to be strongly discouraged;the use of PCASP is an exceptional measure to be used only in exceptional circumstances in a high-risk area and that use of armed personnel on board ships should not become institutionalised;following a thorough risk assessment exercise and consultations with the shipowner concerned, the ...

MSC 90 outcome Recommended interim measures aimed at enhancing the safety of passenger ships, in the wake of the Costa Concordia incident in January, were agreed by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), when it met at the Organization's London Headquarters for its 90th session from 16 to 25 May 2012.The MSC adopted a resolution, which invites Member States to recommend that passenger ship companies conduct a review of operational safety measures, to ships flying their flag, on a voluntary basis and "with all possible urgency and efficiency", taking into consideration the recommended interim operational measures listed in an MSC circular.The recommended interim measures include:carrying additional lifejackets, to be readily accessible in public spaces, at the muster/assembly stations, on deck or in lifeboats, so that in the event of an emergency passengers need not return to their cabins to retrieve the lifejacket stored there;reviewing the adequacy of the dissemination and communication of the emergency instructions on board ships;carrying out the muster for embarking passengers prior to departure from every port of embarkation, if the duration is 24 hours or more;limiting access to the bridge to those with operational or operationally related functions, during any period of restricted manoeuvring, or while manoeuvring ...

IMO supports an ISO standard for the use of armed guards The International Maritime Organization, IMO, is underway with a requirement that private security firms continue to be ISO certified.It seems to be the result of the efforts of IMO's efforts to clean up the market for private security companies selling protection to piracy threatened merchant ships in the area off Somalia.Pirates' criminal activities have meant that the number of private security firms have grown over the past year. This has led to a situation where individual companies are responsible for the security of crews, ships and cargoes."We obviously support IMO's thoughts on an ISO standard. It is gratifying that the international community takes hold on this and moves quickly, rather than that the individual country authorities would have to make their own certification schemes," says Deputy Director of the Danish Shipowners' Association, Jan Fritz Hansen.Source: The Danish Maritime Magazine

MSC 90 outcome Interim guidance to private maritime security companies (PMSCs) was agreed by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), when it met at the Organization's London Headquarters for its 90th session from 16 to 25 May 2012.A special high-level segment of the MSC saw an intense debate, over the first day and a half of the Committee's session (See Briefing 16/2012), on how the international community should deal with issues related to the deployment of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) on board ships and the carriage of arms on board.Following further debate during a working group, the MSC agreed Interim Guidance to private maritime security companies (PMSC) providing contracted armed security personnel on board ships in the High Risk Area. The guidance covers:PMSC Professional Certification, including the recommendation that PMSC should seek certification with relevant national and international private maritime security service standards when these are established;PMSC Company requirements, including the recommendation that PMSC should establish procedures to provide maritime security services to ship owners and ship operators and comply with all relevant legal requirements;Management, including recommendations on selection, vetting and training of personnel for a PCASP team;Deployment considerations, addressing the specific aspects of PCASP deployment and the role ...