Tag: IMO

Take on a more dynamic role Brutal murders of seafarers in recent weeks galvanised the Global Maritime Education & Training Association (GlobalMET) to take the bull by the horns. Instead of waiting for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to come up with a lasting solution to the problem of piracy, it has decided to put its act together,take on a more dynamic role by ensuring that within the training and education programme sufficient awareness is created so that seafarers closely adhere to the Best Management Practices, which can assure safety while in piracy infested waters.The conference it organised on 28th February in Mumbai on "Piracy - Orchestrating the Response" (conforming with the IMO theme for 2011) it became evident at that it has more on its hands then it bargained for.With regards creating awareness on piracy among seafarers Capt Rod Short, Executive Secretary of GlobalMET said that the Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping (STCW) Convention did not have the necessary direction for the seafarers for tackling piracy. The next amendment to the STCW convention was only due in 2015. Dr. Agnihotri, Director General of Shipping, Government of India cautioned, "Many are looking at piracy as a business opportunity. It ...

Circular letter The IMO issued a Circular Letter forwarding a communication from Angola, Argentina, Brazil, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Peru, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and Venezuela providing comments on a prior Circular Letter that contained proposed draft amendments to MARPOL Annex VI related to energy efficiency measures for ships.To view the letter please click hereSource: IMO

Incedents of piracy and armed robbery The IMO has issued its monthly report MSC.4/Circ.167 dated 7 February 2011 giving all incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships reported to the IMO between 31 December 2010 and 31 January 2011.The report makes a distinction between acts of piracy, and acts of armed robbery against ships, and attempted attacks.Source : IMO

Important items on the agenda The governing body of the IMO Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquid and Gasses (BLG) is the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). BLG primarily deals with carriage requirements and properties of bulk chemicals and gasses as well as matters related to the NOx Technical Code under MARPOL Annex VI. The BLG further currently host two working groups respectively dealing withAir Emissionsand Ballast Water Management related issues.BIMCO will attend BLG 15 from 7-11 February 2011, where the following important items are on the agenda:Development of guidelines and other documents for uniform implementation of the 2004 BWM Convention;Development of international measures for minimising the transfer of invasive aquatic species through bio-fouling of ships;Review of relevant non-mandatory instruments as a consequence of the amended MARPOL Annex VI and the NOx Technical Code;Application of the requirements for the carriage of bio-fuels and bio-fuel blends.BIMCOis co-sponsoring one submission, primarily commenting on a submission from Norway/INTERTANKO thatattempts tosuggest means for ensuring that the fuel delivered to ships is of a constant quality. The danger with such proposed initiatives is that it could result in more monitoring of ships, as thereis no meansof implementing legislation applicable to ports or bunker suppliers. BIMCO, even though ...

Enquiries regarding environmentally hazardous substances The BIMCO Marine Department has received someenquiries regarding mineral concentrates and metal sulphide concentrates in the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code.The enquiries centered onwhether these cargoes are considered environmentally hazardous substances(EHS)and thus should be IMO-classed 9(i.e. miscellaneous hazardous substances that are not classifed elswhere in the IMDG Code) and havingUN 3077 listing.Operators should take note thatenvironmentally hazardous substances are currently not covered in the IMSBC Code for bulk materials and this has been brought to the attention to the relevant committees in the International Maritime Organzation. It was agreedthereatthat this matter needed further investigation.Operators shouldalso note that notwithstanding the above, there may be stricter requirements at the port of loading/discharg regarding the declaration of mineral concentrates and metal sulphide concentrates in terms of them being EHS.For instance, please see the marinenotice issued by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority imposing additionalrequirementsto be implemented for these cargoes in respect of their properties that may meet the criteria as EHS under UN 3077.Therefore, it would be prudent for operators toalways check beforehand, the requirements at the port of loading/discharge when shipping the above-mentioned cargoes so as to ensure that the additional requirements, if anyimposed by these ...

IACS delight at the adoption of Common Structural Rules by IMO For Derek Hodgson, permanent secretary of the International Association of Classification Societies, the highlight of 2010 for class has undoubtedly revolved around the harmonisation of the Common Structural Rules for tankers and bulkers, and reaching agreement with the International Maritime Organization regarding their adoption into goal-based standards. As a result, from June 1, 2016, new regulations to be adopted into Solas will require new bulkers and tankers of 150 m long and above to be designed and built to classification rules which have been verified by the IMO as meeting the new goal-based ship construction standards. "That is a fairly tight programme but we were very pleased that the IMO Maritime Safety Committee agreed the implementation schedule," says Mr Hodgson.Source: IACS

MARPOL Annex I Oil Pollution The German Administration has issued the following circular : informing that the revised Annex I of MARPOL 73/78 resolution MEPC.187(59) will enter into force on 1st January 2011, and giving the opinion of the German Flag State concerning the change of entries in oil record books: The entries under C.11 shall be made as previously on a weekly basis. This applies also to the new entry under C.11.4, even if no manual operation has been carried out in that period of time. Furthermore, Oil Record Books in the older format can be used after 31. December 2010 until their completion, provided that they have been updated manually to comply with the new format in accordance with MEPC.187(59).You may view the Circular here.Source: German Administration

IMO Meetings for 2011 Click here for the programme of IMO meetings for 2011.Source: IMO

IMO recently published Manual on Oil Pollution (Section V) The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), at its thirty-third session, agreed that a new section V of the IMO Manual on Oil Pollution, dealing with administrative aspects and, in particular, with the roles and functions of entities which could be involved in an oil pollution emergency and its aftermath, should be developed. The present text is a revision of the first edition of the Manual, published in 1998, taking into account changes and new information on the topic since the original version.This section of the Manual on Oil Pollution is intended to provide the reader, in particular on scene commanders, lead agencies and others involved in the management of oil pollution response, with an appreciation of the various interests involved in anoil pollution emergency and its aftermath, as well as a generalreview of the international legal regimes governing limitation of liability and compensation for oil pollution damage.This section is not intended to provide an authorized or definitive commentary on the legal relationships between the various entities involved in an oil pollution emergency or an interpretation ofrelevant international conventions. The reference section includes sources of more comprehensive information on these subjects, and ...

IMO Publications Schedule IMO has the following Publications Schedule:1. The IMO-Vega Database (V15), 2010: English2. SOLAS on CD (Version 8), 2011: English3. MODU Code, 2010 Edition: English4. IMDG Code, 2010 Edition (incAmdt 35-10): French5. IMDG Code Supplement, 2010 Edition: French6. MODU Code, 2010 Edition: French7. Life-Saving Appliances, 2010 Edition: French8. IMDG Code, 2010 Edition (incAmdt 35-10): Spanish9. IMDG Code Supplement, 2010 Edition: Spanish10. MODU Code, 2010 Edition: Spanish11. Life-Saving Appliances, 2010 Edition: SpanishSource: IMO