Marina lists new IMO rules affecting carriers from 2016

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ID-100289119The Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) is calling on overseas shipping companies registered in the Philippines to get ready for the enforcement of several International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements from 2016 to 2018.

In Advisory No. 2016-02 issued on January 5, Marina administrator Dr Maximo Mejia Jr reminded all ship owners, ship managers, masters, and officers of Philippine-registered ships engaged in overseas trade, recognized organizations, and other concerned entities that they are “required to prepare for the implementation” of new IMO and International Labour Organization regulations over the next few years.

A total of 35 amendments made to 16 resolutions under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) took effect on January 1, 2016. The resolutions all came from the IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC).

These new requirements include the need to fit approved stability instruments on vessels; follow new stipulations in carrying water mist lance and mobile water monitors; meet new regulations for ships carrying as cargo motor vehicles with compressed hydrogen or natural gas in their tanks for propulsion; and obey requirements on the operation of inert gas systems in vessels.

Moreover, under SOLAS Chapter XIII, which is a new chapter of the convention, and IMO resolution MSC.366 (93), “every contracting government shall be subject to periodic audits by the Organization (IMO) in accordance with the audit standard to verify compliance with and implementation of SOLAS.”

Several amendments to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code also took effect this month. Marina noted that changes are both minor and major, and include the inclusion of the International Convention for Safe Containers; reorganization of Column 16 in the Dangerous Goods List; and new Stowage Codes and new Handling Codes.

On July 1, 2016, five amendments to three IMO resolutions that are all under SOLAS will likewise take effect.

Under these amendments, the Electronic Chart Display and Information System for bulk carriers are now a requirement, no longer just an option. For cargo vessels, MSC.380 (94) requires that atmosphere- testing instruments for enclosed spaces be carried on board.

Also going into force in the second half of 2016 is the SOLAS requirement under MSC.380 (94) that the gross mass of packed containers be verified before being stowed aboard a ship.

By next year, four amendments to four resolutions under SOLAS will come into effect from January 1, 2017. These changes include the addition of a new Chapter XVI in SOLAS which makes mandatory the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) for vessels operating on polar waters.

For 2018, five amendments to five resolutions under MARPOL and SOLAS will be implemented. New requirements include the carriage of two-way portable radio-telephone of explosion-proof or intrinsically safe type for fire-fighter’s communications for cargo and passenger vessels.

The SOLAS Convention is regarded as the most important of all international treaties on the safety of merchant ships. The first version was adopted in 1914 in response to the Titanic disaster and has been amended many times to keep it up to date. Amendments adopted by the IMO MSC are listed in the MSC Resolutions. MARPOL, on the other hand, is the main international convention on the prevention of marine pollution generated by ships that arises from operational or accidental causes, and amendments to adoptions are listed in the MEPC Resolutions. – Roumina Pablo

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net