Tag: SOLAS

ClassNK - TEC 0911 The Annual Test of Automatic Identification System (AIS) was added to SOLAS Chapter V/18 by 2010 Amendments.This ClassNK Technical Information intends to provide information regarding the Annual Test of AIS.The Annual Test of AIS should be carried out by a ClassNK approved radio firm in accordance with the IMO MSC.1/Circ.1252, and a copy of the Test Report should be retained on board the ship.For more information, click here.Source: ClassNK

Revised requirements to enter into force on July 1st, 2012 This newsletter outlines revised requirements as to pilot ladder arrangements which enter into force on 1 July 2012. A key issue is the interpretation of the installation date for such arrangements in order to identify whether the revised requirements apply. DNV's practice of applying the installation date for this equipment, based on the latest instructions given by IMO, is stated below.In December 2010, IMO MSC 88 adopted MSC.308(88), which contains amendments to SOLAS regulation V/23 on pilot transfer arrangements in order to update and improve safety aspects relating to pilot transfers. Briefly, this means:In force from 1 July 2012.Applicable to newbuildings.Some requirements also apply to existing ships.Newbuildings The following bullet points summarise the implications of the revised requirements, which are to be found in A.1045(27) from November 2011 and MSC.308(88) from December 2010, versus the old SOLAS regulation V/23:Mechanical pilot hoists shall not be used.Slight changes to the construction of ladders (spacing of steps, retrieval line, marking).Requirements as to arrangements where an accommodation ladder is used in conjunction with pilot ladders (e.g. angle of slope, securing against the ship side, opening direction of trapdoors, height above sea level).Requirements to ensure ...

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 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 ...

From 1 July 2012, all vessels fitted with an AIS to have their AIS equipment tested annually Operators are reminded that as from 1 July 2012, all vessels fitted with an Automatic Identification System (AIS) will be required to have their AIS equipment tested annually. The test should be conducted during the first Passenger Ship Safety, Cargo Ship Safety Equipment, Cargo Ship Safety Radio or Cargo Ship Safety Certificate survey (as applicable) after 1 July 2012. The survey is to be carried out by a qualified inspector authorised by the Administration or Recognised Organisation.The new requirement is set out in IMO Resolution MSC.308(88) under new regulation 18.9 to Chapter V of SOLAS which states:"The automatic identification system (AIS) shall be subject to an annual test. The test shall be conducted by an approved surveyor or an approved testing or servicing facility. The test shall verify the correct programming of the ship static information, correct data exchange with connected sensors as well as verifying the radio performance by radio frequency measurement and on-air test using, e.g., a Vessel Traffic Service (VTS). A copy of the test report shall be retained on board the ship".Further information on the testing of AIS units ...

LR issues statutory alert Lloyd's Register issues Statutory Alert re Equipment servicing within survey range dates - a reminder of SOLAS requirements as follows:The SOLAS Convention requires various navigation equipment, life-saving appliances (LSA) and satellite EPIRBs to be serviced and tested within the safety equipment survey range dates. There have been cases recently of servicing and testing mistakenly being carried out outside the relevant survey range dates.This has led to unnecessary expense and inconvenience for ship operators due to the need for repeat servicing and testing and further confirmation surveys.The following is a reminder of the relevant SOLAS requirements.Regulation III/20.11 - launching appliances and on-load release gearSOLAS Regulation III/20.11 requires periodic servicing of launching appliances and on-load release gear forlife-saving appliances (LSA) on all cargo ships and passenger ships within the safety equipment survey rangedates.Survival craft and rescue boat launching appliances are required to be examined and tested, by competent persons, annually within the safety equipment survey range dates. Survival craft and rescue boat on-load release gear (including free-fall lifeboat release systems) and davit-launched liferaft automatic release hooks are required to be examined and tested, by competent persons, annually within the safety equipment surveyrange dates.Launching appliances and on-load release gear ...

New IMO regulations Lloyd's Register has developed a guidance note to explain the options included in new IMO regulation regarding Corrosion protection of crude oil cargo tanks.Following incidents resulting from structural failure in oil tankers, the IMO developed requirements aimed at inhibiting corrosion in cargo oil tanks by way of performance standards.These performance standards are now being made mandatory by an amendment to SOLAS: regulation II-1/3-11, Corrosion Protection of Cargo Oil Tanks of Crude Oil Tankers, adopted by Resolution MSC.291(87).For more information, click here.Source: Lloyd's Register

6th session, 30 January to 3 February 2012 Draft SOLAS regulation to prohibit production processes at sea agreed by Sub-Committee A draft SOLAS regulation to prohibit production processes on board ships was agreed by the Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases (BLG) when it met for its 16th session. The proposed draft new regulation VI/5-3 would prohibit any production process on board a ship during the sea voyage. Production processes refer to any deliberate operation whereby a chemical reaction between a ship's cargo and any other substance or cargo takes place.The proposed draft regulation will be submitted to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 90) with a view to adoption, together with the new draft SOLAS regulation VI/5-2, to make mandatory the prohibition of blending of bulk liquid cargoes during the sea voyage, which was previously approved by MSC 89.SOLAS amendments to mandate enclosed space entry and rescue drills agreed The Sub-Committee agreed draft amendments to SOLAS regulation III/19 to mandate enclosed space entry and rescue drills, which had been agreed by the Sub-Committee on Dangerous Goods, Solid cargoes and Containers (DSC 16), noting that there was general support for additional requirements for the mandatory carriage and continuous use of an ...

To Reduce Capsizing Risk: Response to Revised SOLAS Convention Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has developed a system to enhance the damage stability of ships, enabling reduction in capsizing risk, as well as a roll-on/roll-off (RO/RO) ship* equipped with the new system.The company has already received an order for the newly equipped vessel from Nippon Shipping Co., Ltd., a group company of Nippon Express Co., Ltd. MHI proprietarily developed the system in response to the strengthening of regulations on ship stability during navigation in January 2009, based on revisions to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS Convention) adopted at a meeting of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1974. Going forward MHI will focus on marketing activities to attract orders for high-end ships equipped with the new system.At the same time, the company will also boost external provision of its environment-related technologies for such ships in a quest to expand its engineering business.MHI is targeting installation of its newly patented righting moment recovery system on new ships to which the aforementioned regulations apply: namely, RO/RO ships, pure car and truck carriers (PCTC) and ferries.With such ships in mind, MHI developed the system with an emphasis ...

Sub-Committee on Stability, Load Lines and Fishing Vessel Safety The Sub-Committee on Stability, Load Lines and Fishing Vessel Safety of the United Nations' International Maritime Organization has held its 54th session. At the meeting, which was held at the IMO Headquarters in London, there were a number of items on the agenda concerning the international regulations on ship stability. They concerned:Amendments to the Intact Stability Code.Updating of guidelines for the approval of tankers' leak stability.Regulations on anchor-handling vessels.Revision of chapter II-1 of SOLAS 2009 concerning the passenger ships' leak stability.Finally, the Sub-Committee discussed the international regulations on the tonnage measurement of ships (the TM69 Convention).Source: Danish Maritime Authority