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Noting the work IACS Members undertake as Recognized Organizations of IMO Member States, verifying compliance of ships with IMO agreed requirements, and with a view to achieve clarity for all parties, IACS has submitted and co-sponsored the following papers:

MSC 106/3/3 requests the Committee to confirm the understanding of the intended meaning of the terms “fitted”, “provided”, “installed” or “installation” used within the text, when preparing new mandatory instruments, non-mandatory instruments or when amending existing ones.  In addition, the paper proposes to clarify the term “building contract” and amend MSC.1/Circ.1500/Rev.1 to this effect.

MSC 106/11/1 considers the draft amendments to paragraph 4.4.7.6.17 of the LSA Code as agreed by SSE 7 which deletes paragraph 4.4.7.6.8 of the Code in the context of single-fall hook systems. After re-considering the text it was concluded that the deletion of exemptions to paragraph 4.4.7.6.8 would mean that this paragraph -is now applicable to off-load hooks as well, which is an unintended consequence. The co-sponsors consider that the application of paragraph 4.4.7.6.8 is not appropriate to some mechanically simplistic off-load hooks with few moving parts, i.e., a solid hook with a spring-loaded guard on the hook mouth.

MSC 106/11/2 proposes to modify the draft revised MSC.1/Circ.1315 to include an application statement pertaining to the phrase “installed on or after” and to revise the requirement for onboard discharge testing of fixed dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing systems so as to provide consistency with section 11.4.8 of the IGC Code (including its unified interpretation as per MSC.1/Circ.1617).

MSC 106/11/4 proposes amendments to the draft guidelines for lifting appliances and to the draft guidelines for anchor handling winches to address technical concerns and propose editorial improvements.

MSC 106/11/5 seeks confirmation from the Committee on whether fluorine-free and PFOS-free foam concentrates are to be considered as the only acceptable alternatives to the soon to be prohibited perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) fire-extinguishing media on board ships.  The potential need to revise circular MSC.1/Circ.1312, to remove any references to fluoroprotein foam concentrates is also highlighted in the paper.

MSC 106/11/6 proposes to modify the draft amendments to SOLAS chapter II-2 and the 1994 HSC Code, which were finalized at SSE 8 and submitted to MSC 106 for approval, to prohibit the use of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in firefighting equipment.

MSC 106/13/3 In order to facilitate global and uniform implementation, this document seeks clarification as to whether SOLAS regulation V/19.2.1.4 should be amended as a consequence of the adoption by MSC 106 of the draft revised Performance standards for electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS).

MSC 106/13/4 proposes to include an application statement in the MSC resolution on the revised Performance Standards for electronic chart display and information systems (ECDIS), which was finalized at NCSR 9 and submitted to MSC 106 for adoption, with a view towards global and uniform implementation.

MSC 106/14/1 highlights the development of the International Quality Assessment Review Body (IQARB), the relevant discussions at III 8 and some of the causes underlying the major area of recurrent findings/observations from the IMSAS audits relating to delegation of authority and recognized organization (RO) oversight. In this context, it proposes that the III Sub-Committee and its Correspondence Group on the III Code Implementation Guidance be instructed to include, within that Guidance, text which will facilitate the use by flag States of IQARB Factual Statements as part of their RO oversight programme to demonstrate that their ROs have effective quality management systems in place.

MSC 106/18/3 discusses the applicability of resolution MSC.402(96) to the life-saving appliances installed on the high-speed crafts subject to the 1994 and 2000 HSC Codes, and on the mobile offshore drilling units subject to the 1979, 1989 and 2009 MODU Codes, with a view towards global and uniform implementation.

IACS will also contribute to the discussions under agenda item 5 (Development of a goal-based instrument for maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS)).

Any enquiries on the above should be sent to Konstantin Petrov, IACS Accredited Representative to IMO, at arimo@iacs.org.uk

Noting the work IACS Members perform as Recognized Organizations of IMO Member States, verifying compliance of ships with IMO agreed requirements, and with a view to achieve clarity for all parties, IACS has submitted the following papers:

MEPC 79/4/6 proposes an interpretation of paragraph 4.10 of the Code for Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS Code), to clarify that the interval for accuracy check/calibration of the BWMS components that take measurements should not be mandatorily linked to the survey scheme for the BWMS, as this should be performed in accordance with the calibration procedure at intervals specified in the manufacturer’s instructions.

MEPC 79/4/7 seeks clarification on the need for commissioning testing Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS) which has undergone a major modification or an upgrade on board an existing ship in order to improve the performance of the BWMS and ensure the compliance with D-2 standard. Due to the existence of different interpretation on this matter, this document also proposes a unified interpretation of regulation E-1.1.5 and the Form of the International Ballast Water Management Certificate of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (the BWM Convention)

MEPC 79/7/5 proposes a revision of MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.6 on Unified Interpretations to MARPOL Annex VI to clarify the reporting of boil-off gas (BOG) consumed on board ships in the IMO Data Collection System (IMO DCS).

MEPC 79/7/24 seeks clarification on several issues relating to the development and verification of SEEMP Part III and the issuance of the Statement of Compliance for the first year.  This document proposes unified interpretations of regulations 8.3, 26.3.1, 28.7 and 28.9 of MARPOL Annex VI, with the aim of achieving consistency in the application of this regulations.

IACS will also provide advice and comments to the Committee under agenda items 3 (Consideration of adoption of amendments to mandatory instruments), and agenda item 6 (Energy Efficiency of Ships).

Any enquiries on the above should be sent to Konstantin Petrov, IACS Accredited Representative to IMO, at arimo@iacs.org.uk

The 86^th session of the IACS Council (C86) focused on recent developments around its internal oversight of Quality matters, recognizing that the restrictions imposed by COVID-19 and the associated responses, the challenges posed by the rapid introduction of new regulations and technologies in relation to decarbonisation and the ongoing development of IQARB make it essential for IACS to respond rapidly in these areas.  Accordingly, an unprecedented sub-Committee of the IACS Council has been established to develop future Quality policy, to provide both high-level and in-depth review of ongoing performance and improvement, and to manage IACS’ engagement with external Quality stakeholders such as the International Quality Assessment Review Body (IQARB).  This new Council sub-Committee provides IACS with enhanced bandwidth to focus, at Council level, on Quality related developments while also facilitating faster responses to external developments.

Nick Brown, IACS Chair and CEO of Lloyd’s Register, welcomed Council’s decision “Maintaining the highest standards of Quality performance remains at the core of IACS’ purpose – this dedicated sub-Committee provides the space for both ongoing review and the innovative thinking necessary to ensure IACS Quality System Certification Scheme remains the gold standard for Classification Societies”.

IACS Council also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Safe Decarbonisation of the maritime industry and welcomed the increasing recognition at IMO of the need for a practical and achievable implementation plan to accompany the delivery of its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategy for shipping.  In this context C86 agreed to take a leading role to support IMO Member States in their development of a new output proposal to allow the Maritime Safety Committee to determine how best to address any identified safety issues.  C86 also welcomed the progress being made by its recently established Safe Decarbonisation Panel in developing an effective oversight arrangement for the safety of decarbonisation solutions, and also re-emphasised IACS’ unique ability to develop common technical requirements that can make a key contribution to the delivery of regulatory certainty.

C86 also saw IACS ready itself for future challenges by adopting a new six-year strategy that, in addition to Quality, focuses on aligning its technical output with societal and industry demands, enhancing its stakeholder engagement, maintaining its role and visibility in the industry and underpins this with a drive to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of its internal processes to streamline the delivery of IACS outputs.

The gradual return to normal operating practices in most parts of the Globe in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic allowed C86 to be held as an entirely physical meeting for the first time since 2019.  This meant that the high-level IACS Council/Industry meeting could be resumed and whose agenda saw productive discussions around the need for cross-industry collaboration on safe decarbonisation, the need for enhanced data-sharing around new technologies, progress with IQARB and a number of projects currently underway in IACS that will, in time, feed into the future evolution of common structural rules.

Speaking after the meeting, Nick Brown said ‘At a time of global geo-political uncertainty, increasingly ambitious societal demands for the decarbonisation of shipping and ongoing rapid technological change, C86 reaffirmed IACS’ commitment to safety and its ability both to meet current demands while also preparing itself for future challenges”.

Notes to Editors:

1. Dedicated to safe ships and clean seas, the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) makes a unique contribution to maritime safety and regulation through technical support, compliance verification and research and development. More than 90% of the world’s cargo carrying tonnage is covered by the classification design, construction and through-life compliance Rules and standards set by the eleven Member Societies of IACS. 
2. A high resolution (18mb) portrait photo of Nick Brown is available at https://www.iacs.org.uk/media/8051/nick-brown.jpg 
3. More information about IACS can be found by visiting iacs.org.uk and in our Annual Review available online at http://www.iacs.org.uk/about/iacs-annual-review/