At the recent IMO Maritime Safety Committee’s 96th meeting, a number of amendments to SOLAS were adopted which, under IMO’s new four-year implementation cycle, will enter into force on 1st January, 2020.
Where they affect tankers, these included -
• Launching Appliances and Release Gear - Amendments to SOLAS Chapter III were adopted as resolution MSC.404(96) to mandate that the thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul required maintenance and repair of equipment specified within the regulation shall be carried out on/after 1st January, 2020 according to specifications contained in new resolution MSC.402(96).
This resolution spells out the definition of the equipment manufacturer, plus the inspectors and the ship operator’s role.
• ESP Code – The Enhanced Survey Program Code was amended by resolution MSC.405(96) to refer to recommendations for entering enclosed spaces on board ships listed under resolution A.1050(27), so as to promote safe access by surveyors carrying out surveys on oil tankers and bulk carriers on/after 1st January, 2018.
As mentioned last week, the MSC also addressed goal-based ship construction standards.
With regard to the new SOLAS regulation that requires new single side skin bulk carriers and oil tankers of 150 m in length, and above to be designed and built to class society’s rules that have been verified by the IMO to meet the new Goal-based ship construction standards (GBS), MSC looked at the IMO Verification Audits and the IACS action plans being implemented, which address the non-conformities identified by the Audits.
Commencing in December, 2013, each class society submitted its own GBS rule package to demonstrate compliance with the functional requirements as set out in the GBS (resolution MSC.296(87)).
These rule packages apply to new tankers and bulkers:
• The building contract is placed on or after 1st July, 2016.
• In the absence of a building contract, the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1st July, 2017.
• Regardless of the contract or keel laying date, the delivery of which is on or after 1st July, 2020.
MSC concluded that the rules submitted by each of the 12 IACS member societies conform to the goals and functional requirements of GBS to this effect.
The circular also advised that: Non-conformities identified by the IMO audits, which are currently being rectified by IACS, are to be subject to a verification audit; and observations identified in by the IMO audits are to be addressed by each IACS member and submitted to IMO.
Guidance on maritime cybersecurity – MSC approved a new circular providing interim guidelines on maritime cyber risk management.
The committee also approved several MSC circulars containing Unified Interpretations on the following items:
FSS Code - Specific guidance is provided under new MSC.1/Circ.1528 for the need for fitting an additional indicating unit in cargo control rooms (eg ship's office, machinery control room).
Materials other than steel - may be used on engine, turbine and gearbox installations for applications specified in the new circular provided an assessment has been made as to the risk of fire associated with the component and its installation.
The circular also provides clarification on arrangements for fixed hydrocarbon gas detection systems in tanker double hull and double bottom spaces and the use of non-combustible material equivalent to steel for ventilation ducts.
Finally, addressing the IGC Code, the committee looked at the approved ‘fire rating of wheelhouse windows’.
Subject to adoption at MSC 97, paragraph 3.2.5 of the IGC Code that, in effect, aligns the requirements of the IGC Code with the requirement for fire-rated windows facing the cargo area on tankers in SOLAS II-2, which as a consequence, the fire rating requirements would not apply to wheelhouse windows.
This information was provided courtesy of ABS.
Source: www.tankeroperator.com
