Sub-Committee on Flag State Implementation (FSI) – 19th session, 21-25 February 2011
Work on the development of a Code for Recognized Organizations progressed
The development of a new Code for Recognized Organizations (ROs) was further progressed by the Sub-Committee on Flag State Implementation (FSI) when it met for its 19th session.
The text of the draft proposed Code was developed and a correspondence group set up to further the work.
The Code would provide a consolidated instrument containing criteria against which recognized organizations (which may be authorized by flag States to carry out surveys and issue certificates on their behalf) are assessed and authorized/recognized, and give guidance for subsequent monitoring of ROs by Administrations. The Sub-Committee agreed that the Code should be made mandatory under the 1974 SOLAS and MARPOL Conventions and the 1988 Load Lines Protocol.
The Sub-Committee established a correspondence group to further develop the text and requested an extension of the target date for completion of the Code to 2012.
Mandatory IMO audit scheme progressed
The Sub-Committee made significant progress with regard to making the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme mandatory and agreed to a draft IMO Instruments Implementation Code (IIIC), which would be the proposed new title for the mandatory version of the current Code for the implementation of mandatory IMO instruments. The draft code will be forwarded for consideration and approval by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and the Marine environment Protection Committee (MEPC), for submission to the Assembly at an appropriate session, for adoption.
The Sub-Committee made significant progress with regard to making the Voluntary IMO Member State Audit Scheme mandatory and agreed to a draft IMO Instruments Implementation Code (IIIC), which would be the proposed new title for the mandatory version of the current Code for the implementation of mandatory IMO instruments. The draft code will be forwarded for consideration and approval by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and the Marine environment Protection Committee (MEPC), for submission to the Assembly at an appropriate session, for adoption.
Preliminary draft amendments to make the IMO Instruments Implementation Code and the auditing mandatory were developed. (The instruments to be covered by the Code are: the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS 1974); the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS PROT 1978); the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended (SOLAS PROT 1988); the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, as amended (MARPOL 73/78); the Protocol of 1997 to amend the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto (MARPOL PROT 1997);the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW 1978);the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (LL 66);the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (LL PROT 1988);the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 (TONNAGE 1969); and the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended (COLREG 1972).
Meanwhile, the Sub-Committee agreed the draft revised and updated (non-mandatory) Code for the implementation of mandatory IMO instruments, to include the requirements deriving from amendments to relevant IMO mandatory instruments that will enter into force up to and including 1 July 2012, for submission to the MSC and the MEPC for review and, through the Council at its 26th extraordinary session, subsequent submission to the IMO Assembly at its 27th session (A27) in November for adoption.
Updated Survey Guidelines under the HSSC agreed
The Sub-Committee agreed the revised and updated Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification, 2011, for consideration and approval by MSC 89 and MEPC 62, prior to submission to A27 for adoption. The revised text will include reference to relevant amendments to statutory instruments entering into force up to and including 31 December 2011.
The Sub-Committee agreed the revised and updated Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification, 2011, for consideration and approval by MSC 89 and MEPC 62, prior to submission to A27 for adoption. The revised text will include reference to relevant amendments to statutory instruments entering into force up to and including 31 December 2011.
2011 Procedures for port State control agreed
The Sub-Committee agreed the revised and updated Procedures for port State control, 2011 for submission to MSC 89 and MEPC 62 for approval, prior to submission to A27 for adoption.
The Sub-Committee agreed the revised and updated Procedures for port State control, 2011 for submission to MSC 89 and MEPC 62 for approval, prior to submission to A27 for adoption.
It was agreed to include new draft guidelines for port State control (PSC) officers related to long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) of ships, which were finalized by the Sub-Committee, as an appendix in the updated PSC procedures.
Guidelines for inspection of anti-fouling systems on ships agreed
The Sub-Committee completed its work on the revision of the Guidelines for inspection of anti-fouling systems on ships and approved the draft 2011 Guidelines for inspection of anti-fouling systems on ships, for submission to the MEPC for adoption. The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti Fouling Systems on Ships entered into force on 17 September 2008 and to date has 49 Parties, representing 75.29% of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant shipping.
The Sub-Committee completed its work on the revision of the Guidelines for inspection of anti-fouling systems on ships and approved the draft 2011 Guidelines for inspection of anti-fouling systems on ships, for submission to the MEPC for adoption. The International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti Fouling Systems on Ships entered into force on 17 September 2008 and to date has 49 Parties, representing 75.29% of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant shipping.
Guidance on the inspection of pilot ladders agreed
The Sub-Committee agreed a draft MSC-MEPC circular on pilot transfer arrangements to encourage port State control organizations to formally include pilot ladders as part of the safety equipment that their port State control officers would be examining in the course of a port State inspection with a view to minimizing the risk of injury and loss of life in pilot transfer arrangements.
The Sub-Committee agreed a draft MSC-MEPC circular on pilot transfer arrangements to encourage port State control organizations to formally include pilot ladders as part of the safety equipment that their port State control officers would be examining in the course of a port State inspection with a view to minimizing the risk of injury and loss of life in pilot transfer arrangements.
The move follows the adoption by the MSC, at its 88th session in 2010, of amendments to SOLAS regulation V/23 on pilot transfer arrangements, to update and to improve safety aspects of pilot transfer.
Fifth IMO Workshop for PSC MoU/Agreement and Database Managers in June
The Sub-Committee approved the provisional agenda of the Fifth IMO Workshop for PSC MoU/Agreement and Database Managers, to be held at IMO Headquarters from 14 to 16 June 2011.
Fifth IMO Workshop for PSC MoU/Agreement and Database Managers in June
The Sub-Committee approved the provisional agenda of the Fifth IMO Workshop for PSC MoU/Agreement and Database Managers, to be held at IMO Headquarters from 14 to 16 June 2011.
Revised form of supplement to IAPP Certificate agreed
The Sub-Committee agreed a draft MEPC circular to amend MEPC.1/Circ.718 on the revised form of supplement to international air pollution prevention certificate, for consideration by MEPC 62. The revision is intended to clearly and precisely document the ship's compliance with regulations 4 (relating to emission control areas) and 14 (relating to controls on sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter) of the revised MARPOL Annex VI
The Sub-Committee agreed a draft MEPC circular to amend MEPC.1/Circ.718 on the revised form of supplement to international air pollution prevention certificate, for consideration by MEPC 62. The revision is intended to clearly and precisely document the ship's compliance with regulations 4 (relating to emission control areas) and 14 (relating to controls on sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate matter) of the revised MARPOL Annex VI
Mandatory reports under MARPOL reviewed
The Sub-Committee considered the summary analysis of the reports submitted for 2009 in relation to the MARPOL Convention, by 39 Parties to MARPOL and one Associate Member, and noted that the rate of reporting in 2009 remained low at 26 per cent (MARPOL has 150 Parties). The Sub-Committee urged all Parties to MARPOL to submit mandatory reports on time.
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