Regarding the Goal Based Standards (GBS) verification audit scheme for bulk carriers and oil tankers, IACS has submitted a paper to MSC 99 that provide updates on the work being undertaken to address the observations raised in the initial audits (MSC 99/INF.19). In response to the invitation that was extended by the MSC at its last meeting, IACS has submitted a paper to MSC 98 with a view to improving this verification process in the future (MSC 99/6/2). In particular, this paper discusses the periodicity of the maintenance of verification process. In this regard, IACS remains of the view that the audit of changes to Rules in accordance with the maintenance of verification scheme, should be undertaken every three years.
Regarding the draft Interim guidelines for Goal-Based Standards regarding the Safety Level Approach (GBS-SLA), IACS has submitted a paper (MSC 99/6/1) that advocates the FSA methodology can serve the desired objectives of, and should therefore be referred to in, the GBS-SLA process.
Noting the work its Members undertake in verifying the global and consistent implementation of IMO agreed requirements on behalf of the IMO Member States (in their capacities as Recognised Organisations), and to facilitate clarity for all industry stakeholders, IACS has submitted papers on the following issues to MSC 99:
- MSC 99/10/3 provides comments on the draft guidelines on operational information for masters in case of flooding for passenger ships constructed before 1 January 2014. The paper proposes improvements to the draft Guidelines that IACS considers will facilitate their user-friendliness and effectiveness. The paper also notes that parallel improvements could be made to two existing circulars that the IMO has already issued in relation to operational information for masters in case of flooding for passenger ships (MSC.1/Circ.1400 and MSC.1/Circ.1532); and
- MSC 99/10/7 reiterates the advice IACS gave to SDC 5 that should the raking damage stability standard as prepared by the Correspondence Group that reported to the last meeting of the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC 5) be pursued, there are concerns that it will not be consistent with the current rationale of the probabilistic stability framework in SOLAS Chapter II-1.
An important new workstream that the Committee will commence discussions upon relates to Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS). IACS Members have been considering this issue in preparation for the discussions at MSC 99 with the aim of assisting the Committee to make progress on developing a framework for conducting a regulatory scoping exercise in relation to MASS.
Any enquiries on the above should be sent to Paul Sadler, IACS Accredited Representative to IMO, at permsec@iacs.org.uk