Tag: IMO

IMO/WHO Recent Publications PERFORMANCE STANDARDSThe new consolidated edition of Performance Standards for Shipborne Radiocommunications and Navigational Equipment incorporates all amendments adopted up to December 2010 including:Bridge alert management Revised performance standards and functional requirements for the long-range identification and tracking of ships Revised performance standards for enhanced group call (EGC) equipment Code on Alerts and Indicators, 2009 Stock Code: IMO-978E-2011Author: IMOPublished: April 2011STCWA comprehensive review of the 1978 STCW Convention commenced in January 2006 and culminated in a Conference of Parties to the STCW Convention, held in Manila, Philippines, from 21 to 25 June 2010, that adopted a significant number of amendments to the STCW Convention and STCW Code.The amendments update standards of competence required, particularly in light of emerging technologies, introduce new training and certification requirements and methodologies, improve mechanisms for enforcement of its provisions, and detail requirements on hours of work and rest, prevention of drug and alcohol abuse and medical fitness standards for seafarers.This publication contains the Final Act of the 2010 Conference of Parties to the 1978 STCW Convention, resolutions adopted by that Conference, and a complete, consolidated text of the STCW Convention, including its original articles, revised annex and supporting STCW Code.The Convention articles and ...

Maritime Safety Committee 89th session IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which met at the Organization's London Headquarters for its 89th session from 11 to 20 May 2011, completed a packed agenda, including the development of interim guidance on the employment of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships transiting the high-risk piracy area, the adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) concerning lifeboat release hooks, an agreement on the way forward with regard to the implementation of the Torremolinos Protocol on fishing vessel safety and the approval of a number of draft resolutions for submission to the IMO Assembly, to be held in November 2011.Piracy and armed robbery against ships The meeting approved MSC Circulars on Interim Guidance to shipowners, ship operators, and shipmasters on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships when transiting the High Risk Area, and Interim recommendations for flag States on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel on board ships when transiting the High Risk Area.These interim Circulars provide considerations on the use of privately contracted armed security personnel if and when a flag State determines that such a measure would ...

A concept design for OHBC Oshima Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. and DNV are pleased to announce the completion of the first milestone of a joint programme to develop the ECO-Ship 2020, a concept design for an open hatch bulk carrier (OHBC) developed to significantly lower fuel costs, meet or exceed regulatory standards and improve commercial performance.The ECO-Ship 2020 is an energy-efficient and cost-effective concept design developed to help owners and operators improve commercial performance while lowering fuel costs.The LNG-fuelled open hatch bulk carrier concept features a number of innovative solutions, including a wide twin skeg hull, Oshimas Seaworthy bow, air lubrication system, lean-burn four stroke medium speed gas engines and a flexible propulsion and power generation system with shaft generator/motor (PTO/PTI).The concept also features a waste-heat recovery system that can feed electric power into the PTI to be used as a supplement to ship propulsion power, representing about 5% fuel savings at normal cruising speeds. The ECO-Ship is outfitted with four large capacity electric jib cranes and hatch covers made of a composite material that weighs about 50% less than traditional steel covers.The vessel has been specifically designed to be fully compliant with future IMO, ECA and Tier III emmission requirements, ...

It would be simpler to manage and more transparent The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), meeting in Hamburg last week, has decided that if market based measures to reduce CO2 emissions are developed by governments then the international industry has a definite preference for a mechanism that is levy/compensation fund-based rather than an emissions trading scheme.The meeting agreed that a levy-based system is the one that most shipping companies can live with in order to ensure a level playing field and the avoidance of serious market distortion. ICS has concluded that a levy-based system will be simpler to manage and more transparent.ICS Chairman, Spyros Polemis, said: The shipping industry has an instinctive dislike of unnecessary complication which will be the result of a system based on emissions trading.He added: Governments are looking for leadership from the shipping industry about the market based measures we prefer to help reduce CO2, and to raise money for any environmental compensation fund that might be developed by governments. The meeting of our member national associations agreed on an MBM which is levy-based. Such a system should be developed by IMO.An ICS statement emphasised the importance of ensuring that IMOs package of technical and operational ...

On board Ships in the high risk area The Republic of Liberia issued Maritime Security Advisory 03/2011 for interim IMO Guidance.The International Maritime Organizations Maritime Safety Committee approved interim guidance on the employment of privately contracted armed security personnel (PCASP) on board ships transiting the high-risk piracy area off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Indian Ocean at its 89th session in May 2011.The IMO interim guidance is largely based on guidance on the use of armed security guard services developed by the Liberian Registry for its shipowners, ship operators, and shipmasters. The Liberian Registry submitted its guidance to IMO recommending IMO develop international guidelines.For further information, click here.Source: The Republic of Liberia

Discussed by Working Group at MSC89 The IMO has released a circular (MSC.1/Circ.1404) entitled "Guidelines for flag states and other authorities to assist investigators to collect evidence after hijack".This was on the agenda of Working Group 1 during the meetings of the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC89) last week in London.Items discussed by WG1 included:Development of the Maritime Security ManualConsideration of Periodical Survey to Ship Security Alert System (SSAS)Guidelines for flag states and other authorities to assist investigators to collect evidence after hijackDevelopment of guidance to ship owners, ship operators and shipmasters on the use of Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel PCASP) on board shipsImplementation of counter-piracy measures, including Best Management Practices (BMP)To view the Guidelines, click hereSource: IMO 800x600 Normal 0 false false false EL X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Crusial decision as piracy incidents increase The Indian Government has decided to allow deployment of armed guards preferably retired naval officers on board Indian cargo vessels sailing on the pirate-infested waters of the Indian Ocean, a top government official told Business Line.Detailed guidelines on the number of guards that each vessel can have will be issued shortly, he said. In the wake of rising incidents of piracy on the high seas, Indian shipping lines have been seeking government permission to deploy armed guards on board their ships.The plan is to give preference to retired naval officers, said the official who has just returned from the meeting of the Intentional Maritime Organisation (IMO) which discussed the guidelines on allowing armed guard on board the merchant ships. The Maritime Safety Committee of IMO has endorsed the use of armed guards.Draft guidelinesIn India, the proposal under consideration is to seek retired navy officers from the pool maintained by the Directorate of Resettlement under the Ministry of Defence. Each vessel can have a group of five armed personnel one officer and four others. The shipping companies have to bear the cost of hiring the guards.A draft guidelines prepared by the director general of shipping ...

A need for careful implementation of IMSBC Code To ship dry bulk cargoes safely it is vital that ships masters receive clear, accurate and reliable information on the properties and characteristics of cargoes and the required conditions for safe carriage and handling. This is a SOLAS requirement reinforced in significant detail in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code (IMSBC Code), mandatory since 1 January, 2011.But there is increasing evidence that this is not happening in every case.The consequences of failing to meet these requirements were seen last year when 44 seafarers lost their lives within 39 days in three casualties: Jian Fu Star (27 October: 13 fatalities); Nasco Diamond (10 November: 21 fatalities) and Hong Wei (3 December: 10 fatalities).Typical problems experienced by our members include:- Using cargo trade names and not the Bulk Cargo Shipping Name (BCSN);- Confusing cargo identification and correct identification of cargo group whether a cargo is a Group A (prone to liquefaction), Group B (representing a chemical hazard) or Group C (not prone to liquefaction or representing a chemical hazard) for example declaring a cargo as a Group C cargo (not prone to liquefaction) but providing a Transportable Moisture Limit (TML) indicating that the ...

Set rule on mandatory container weighing The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has agreed to examine how to solve the problem of mis-declared container weights.At a meeting last week, the UN shipping bodys Maritime Safety Committee agreed to a proposal from the Netherlands, Denmark and Australia to address the issue of incorrectly declared containerised cargo and to take other measures to improve the safety of container stowage and ship operations.The news was welcomed by the World Shipping Council (WSC), a carrier group that claims its members control 90% of international containerised trade, and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).The groups said they hoped the IMOs decision would help save lives, reduce cargo losses and improve operational efficiency.In a joint statement, the two groups said: The WSC and ICS, along with many IMO member states and representative bodies for seafarers, dockworkers and masters, support this initiative that demonstrates the compelling need to address the problem.Verification of actual container weight before vessel loading and the availability of the actual container weights for proper and safe stowage planning will mark a long overdue and important improvement in industry safety.They added that they looked forward to assisting the IMO to create a new set of ...

Estimate puts the number of armed guards on board vessels at around 10-12% Better regulation of the world's maritime security concerns took a couple of steps nearer this week.First, the IMO was known to be debating the issue at MSC 89 during the week, the results of which should be known early next week, while second, the fledgling Security Association for the Marine Industries (SAMI) said that it had signed up 19 members and will start to vet security firms operating in the marine sector shortly.Founded last year by ex Royal Marine Peter Cook and commercial shipping navigating officer Steven Jones, SAMI has the backing of the Marshall Islands (MI) flag state, among others.At a reception this week, Cook explained that members have to sign an International Code of Conduct for Private Security Contractors, which is a Swiss initiative supported by the MI."There is no regulation to look at the entrepreneurs, either good or bad," Cook said.He said that working groups will be set up to introduce vetting and KPIs with which to work. "We are waiting for the IMO guidelines," he said. He also explained that the Norwegians have guidelines in place and he was talking with the International ...