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In support of the IMO’s programme of events to celebrate the 70^th Anniversary of the adoption of the IMO Convention, IACS Council Chair, Mr Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, was delighted to speak at the IMO’s High-Level Forum held in London yesterday.

“With the decision to reduce GHG emissions by 50 per cent by 2050, the IMO has reached an important consensus and has set an ambitious target for shipping. In classification, working with the industry to create a safe and sustainable future is at the heart of what we do. We at IACS look forward to working closely with the IMO and the wider maritime community, in discussing how to reach this goal,” says Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, IACS Chairman and CEO of DNV GL – Maritime.

“Decarbonisation and digitalisation are two of the key drivers transforming the maritime industry today. For the IMO, this means that the regulatory landscape needs to be continually adapted to match the rapid rate of innovation we see in shipping. Making sure that there is a close correlation between international rules and the current state of technology is no easy feat. The IMO has done valuable work in addressing the challenges our industry currently faces. One of the things that has significantly reduced the administrative burden on all stakeholders is the possibility of using electronic certificates. The IMO developed the relevant guidelines to make this possible,” he adds.

IACS’ engagement with the IMO as its principal technical advisor is deep and long-standing.  IACS not only provides technical advice and guidance to the IMO Member States, but is also heavily involved in assisting in the practical implementation of the instruments adopted by the IMO Member States.

The IMO Secretary-General’s message introducing the 2018 World Maritime Day theme noted that “IMO’s greatest achievement has been to create a level playing field, through global regulations uniformly implemented . . . [in a way that] encourages innovation and efficiency.”

Since its admission to the IMO in 1969, IACS is pleased to have played a fundamental supporting role in the delivery of that achievement through the development, implementation and maintenance of Unified Interpretations (UIs). In the last ten years alone, IACS has advised the IMO on the development of over 130 UIs. These are developed in order to address matters which in the IMO agreed texts are either left to the satisfaction of the flag State Administration or ambiguous. Without such unified interpretations, global and consistent implementation of IMO requirements would simply not be deliverable.

IACS members further assist in the uniform implementation of global regulations in their work as Recognized Organizations.  In this role, IACS Societies verify compliance with, and issue certificates for, statutory requirements on behalf of governments.  Operating within the IACS Quality System & Certification Scheme (QSCS), itself fully aligned with the IMO’s Code for Recognized Organizations, IACS members are trusted by both governments and industry alike to deliver the technical expertise and administrative robustness required to underpin the global application of IMO requirements.

Kitack Lim stated that “Our challenge for the years to come remains – to work in collaboration with all stakeholders to create better shipping – for a better future.”  IACS is fully committed to helping the IMO meet that challenge as part of its members’ unceasing commitment to safer, cleaner shipping.

For more information about IACS, please download our recently released Annual Review (www.iacs.org.uk/about/iacs-annual-review-2017/), or visit www.iacs.org.uk

Contact: Robert Ashdown, IACS Secretary General

E: permsec@iacs.org.uk  T: +44 (0)20 7976 0660

Notes to Editors:

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 twelve Member Societies of IACS. More information about IACS can be found by visiting www.iacs.org.uk.

International Association of Classification Societies

Permanent Secretariat: 6th Floor, 36 Broadway, London, SW1H 0BH, UK

E: permsec@iacs.org.uk  T: +44 (0)20 7976 0660

www.iacs.org.uk

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

26 April 2018: Rule Change Proposal 1 (2018) to Common Structural Rules (CSR) for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers 1st January 2018 Issue is released in draft for Industry review and comment by 27 July 2018.

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen’s commitment to quality, modernisation and transparency widely reflected in IACS work and future vision

London, 19 April 2018: Quality, modernisation and transparency have been the three fundamental themes of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) during DNV GL’s Chairmanship, and this approach is widely reflected in IACS’ 2017 Annual Review which was presented in London today by IACS Chairman Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen.

Looking back at IACS’ development and successes over the past year, Mr Ørbeck-Nilssen said that during these dynamic times, both IACS and its twelve Member societies need to act as a guide for the shipping industry, identifying the path for others to follow.

“When many in the maritime community feel like their businesses are in dire straits, IACS and its Members, the top classification societies, need to be a beacon of light setting the course ahead – with modern requirements, transparent processes and the highest quality of service,” the Chairman said.

The three themes of IACS’ strategy build on the work done by the organisation and its Member classification societies last year, as detailed in the 2017 Annual Review, and position the Association well for the many challenges that lie ahead.

Highlights for IACS and its Members from 2017 include achieving full compliance with the International Maritime Organization’s Goal Based Standards; ongoing industry involvement in cyber security and autonomy; and the launch of new membership criteria.

Commenting on the publication of the 2017 Annual Review, Mr Ørbeck-Nilssen said: “2017 was a year in which the maritime world’s key players had to get to grips with tectonic changes in markets, regulations and technology. I am proud to say that both IACS and its Member societies rose to that challenge with their work across the year: Together we achieved significant progress in modernising the concept of class and in adapting to the digital transformation of our industry. In IACS, we strive to ensure that our own standards allow for innovative practices that utilise the flexibility available within ship regulations while maintaining high-quality and delivering on our unceasing commitment to a safer and more secure maritime world. IACS’ 2017 Annual Review testifies to these endeavours, as well as offering a roadmap for how the organisation and its members will ensure they continue to provide, openly and transparently, the highest quality classification services to the maritime industry.”

“With the maritime industry facing complex and competing demands, IACS continues to play a leading role by bringing familiar technical assurance processes to bear against new and unfamiliar technologies,” added Robert Ashdown, IACS’ Secretary General. “Our 2017 Annual Review showcases the work that IACS’ Member societies have undertaken in this respect, while also emphasising our continuous commitment to quality operations and, by way of the Class data provided, to acting in an ever more transparent way.”

A free copy of the 2017 Annual Review can be downloaded at: http://www.iacs.org.uk/about/iacs-annual-review-2017/

About IACS:

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 twelve Member Societies of IACS. More information about IACS can be found by visiting www.iacs.org.uk.

Media Contact IACS:

Robert Ashdown

IACS Secretary General Tel.: +44 (0)20 7976 0660

E-Mail: permsec@iacs.org.ukqw

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 Recognized Organizations), and to facilitate clarity for all industry stakeholders, IACS has submitted, or co-sponsored, papers on the following issues to MEPC 72:

• MEPC 72/3/7 (co-sponsored with Community of European Shipyards’ Associations – CESA) provides proposed modifications to the draft amendments to regulation 21 of MARPOL Annex VI (Required EEDI for ro-ro cargo and ro-ro passenger ships) with a view to clarifying the scope of application of the amended regulation.
• MEPC 72/3/9/Rev.1 (co-sponsored with Bahamas, Jamaica, Liberia and the Netherlands) provides suggested amendments to the draft regulation D-3 of the BWM Convention to clarify the application dates of the different revisions of the Guidelines for approval of ballast water management systems (G8) (i.e. Guidelines (G8) and the 2016 Guidelines (G8)) and the Ballast Water Management Systems Code. In particular, the paper opines that that the application criteria, due to their importance, should not be included in the resolutions but in the text of the Convention or Code in order to improve their visibility and facilitate the uniform and unambiguous implementation of the applicable requirements.
• MEPC 72/4/4 seeks the Committee’s views on amending the Ballast Water Management Plan (BWMP) to accommodate the elements introduced by BWM.2/Circ.62 on Guidance on contingency measures under the BWM Convention.
• MEPC 72/4/11 invites the Committee to consider whether detailed aspects of the validation of the compliance of individual Ballast Water Management Systems with regulation D-2 of the BWM Convention at the time of their commissioning, need to be addressed. In particular, IACS asks the Committee to consider what the scope should be of the sampling and analysis to be carried out prior to completion of the initial survey. In the view of IACS, this issue needs to be addressed by the development and finalization, as soon as is practicable, of relevant amendments to the BWMS Code.
• MEPC 72/6/2 provides a sample form of the confirmation of compliance for Part II of the Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plan (SEEMP) pursuant to regulation 5.4.5 of MARPOL Annex VI, which requires confirmation that the SEEMP complies with regulation 22.2 is provided to, and retained on board, the ship. It is proposed that this form will be issued following verification that the SEEMP includes a description of the methodology that will be used to collect the data required by regulation 22A.1 and the processes that will be used to report the data to the ship’s Administration.

Any enquiries on the above should be sent to Paul Sadler, IACS Accredited Representative to IMO, at permsec@iacs.org.uk

Common Structural Rules (CSR BC & OT) 01 JAN 2018 version has been released by IACS

“It is my duty and honour to encourage the world’s biggest classification societies to pull together to adapt to this rapid pace of change and create a strong foundation for IACS as the leading maritime technical association,” said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen. The changes at IACS were not a “sudden revolution, where we throw everything we know overboard and start back at one”, he said, but rather “an evolution, a gradual transformation to becoming more advanced, more transparent and more efficient in serving our industry.”

IACS was embracing the challenges of the digital transformation of shipping and had already launched several projects to help the industry adapt to recent shifts in markets, regulations and technologies, Ørbeck-Nilssen noted. In a dedicated working group, IACS has examined all the relevant resolutions, to identify which standards present potential regulatory barriers to autonomous ship operations. In addition, IACS is supporting the industry by leading the work on the development of a common terminology for different levels of autonomy.

To help the maritime community ensure the cyber-resilience of their assets, IACS established and is taking the lead in an industry working group focused on cyber safety. The working group addresses common safety issues with interconnected systems, sharing best practices and keeping up to date with new developments. To facilitate the use of modern survey technology, IACS is also taking a fresh look at its survey requirements. Potential revisions could cover advanced non-destructive testing and remote inspection techniques.

IACS itself was a focus of the changes as well, added Ørbeck-Nilssen: “As our way of working changes, the Association has taken a fresh look at its internal procedures. Our focus is to ensure that the services delivered by both new and existing members keep up with regulatory developments and meet the highest quality standards.”

But even in a rapidly changing world, IACS and the classification societies would stay true to their ideals, said Ørbeck-Nilssen: “And when everything around us is in motion, class aspires to be a beacon of light setting the course ahead – with modern requirements, transparent processes and the highest quality of service. The industry is changing. Our ways of working may be changing. But the purpose of classification remains the same: To protect life, property and the environment.”

Ends/

Photos of the press conference can be downloaded here.

Contact: Robert Ashdown, IACS Secretary General
E: robertashdown@iacs.org.uk T: +44 (0) 20 7976 0660

Notes to Editors:

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 twelve Member Societies of IACS.

More information about IACS can be found by visiting www.iacs.org.uk

International Association of Classification Societies

Permanent Secretariat 6th Floor 36 Broadway London SW1H 0BH UK

E: permsec@iacs.org.uk T: +44 (0)20 7976 0660 www.iacs.org.uk

In particular, IACS has submitted 7 papers to this meeting on the following issues:

• the control of the fixed water-based fire-fighting systems from outside the protected space, in the context of open and closed ro-ro spaces and special category spaces, as addressed in MSC.1/Circ.1430 (SSE 5/7/3)
• draft SOLAS amendments and associated guidelines on onboard lifting appliances and anchor handling winches (SSE 5/10/3)
• maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats, rescue boats and fast rescue boats, launching appliances and releasing gear, as clarified in the latest version of IACS UI SC144 (SSE 5/12)
• clarification of the term “forward of” in chapter 15 of the FSS Code in relation to inert gas systems (SSE 5/12/2)
• a draft unified interpretation on fire detection and alarms for boilers in periodically unattended machinery spaces, as required by SOLAS regulation II-1/47.1 (SSE 5/12/3)
• a draft unified interpretation regarding the onboard discharge test of the dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing system on ships carrying liquefied gases, as required by paragraph 11.4.8 of the IGC Code (SSE 5/12/4)
• the application of the provisions relating to the design temperature for piping, fittings and related components of water-spray systems on ships carrying liquefied gases, as required by Chapter 11 of the IGC Code (SSE 5/12/8)

IACS will also provide advice and comments to the Sub-Committee on almost all of the other issues that will be considered at SSE 5. In particular, IACS will contribute to the discussions on:

• Safety objectives and functional requirements of the Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for SOLAS chapters II-1 and III
• Development of new requirements for ventilation of survival crafts
• Uniform implementation of paragraph 6.1.1.3 of the LSA Code (rescue boat launching arrangements on cargo ships)
• Consequential work related to the new Code for ships operating in polar waters (especially standards for life-saving and firefighting equipment on such ships)
• Review SOLAS chapter II-2 and associated codes to minimize the incidence and consequences of fires on ro-ro spaces and special category spaces of new and existing ro-ro passenger ships
• Amendments to the FSS Code for CO₂ pipelines in under-deck passageways
• Amendments to MSC.1/Circ.1315 (fixed dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing systems on ships carrying liquefied gases)
• Revised SOLAS regulations II-1/13 and II-1/13-1 and other related regulations for new ships (anti-crushing protection for watertight doors)
• Development of guidelines for cold ironing of ships and of amendments to SOLAS chapters II-1 and II-2, if necessary

Any enquiries on the above should be sent to Paul Sadler, IACS Accredited Representative to IMO, at permsec@iacs.org.uk

The International Association of Classification Societies is pleased to announce the release of the 2018 edition of the IACS Blue Book which is now complemented by the accompanying IACS Green Book.  Together these publications summarise the technical output of IACS and, as such, continue to demonstrate IACS’ technical support to the shipping industry through our work and investment in technology, innovation, research and development both at the classification and statutory levels.

The IACS Green Book is designed for daily use and contains all current IACS Resolutions and Recommendations as well as their History and Technical Background.  The Green Book is updated whenever a new or revised IACS Resolution or Recommendation is uploaded on the IACS website making it the ideal reference document for anyone wishing to refer to current IACS Resolutions.  Because the Green Book only contains current material the file-size is more manageable and so better suited to be downloaded and used in the field.

The IACS Blue Book meanwhile, is an electronic library of all technical resolutions adopted by IACS as a result of its technical work and remains the core reference work for the Association containing, as it does, all previous revisions of IACS publications and historical data.  It is updated and published once a year.  Together, these IACS publications illustrate well how the aims and objectives of IACS are delivered for the benefit of international shipping and contain:

• IACS Unified Requirements which IACS members incorporate into their Rules
• Unified Interpretations of IMO convention requirements which IACS Members apply uniformly when acting on behalf of authorizing flag Administrations, unless instructed otherwise
• Procedural Requirements governing practices among IACS Members
• Recommendations relating to adopted resolutions that are not necessarily matters of Class but which IACS considers would be helpful to offer some advice to the marine industry
• Quality Documents containing QSCS (IACS’ Quality System Certification Scheme) description, Quality Management System Requirements, Audit Requirements, ACB (Accredited Certification Bodies) requirements and other quality procedures
• IACS Charter and IACS Procedures which define the purpose, aim and working procedures of the Association

These publications are of interest to Ship Designers, Consultants, Shipbuilders, Classification Societies, Ship-owners, Shipbrokers, Insurers, Associations, Accredited Certification Bodies, flag States, Port State Control, MOUs and the shipping industry at large and are available for download, free of charge, at www.iacs.org.uk/publications

Ends/

Contact: Robert Ashdown, IACS Secretary General
E: robertashdown@iacs.org.uk T: +44 (0) 20 7976 0660

Notes to Editors:

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 twelve Member Societies of IACS.

More information about IACS can be found by visiting www.iacs.org.uk

International Association of Classification Societies

Permanent Secretariat 6th Floor 36 Broadway London SW1H 0BH UK

E: permsec@iacs.org.uk T: +44 (0)20 7976 0660 www.iacs.org.uk

RCN 1 to CSR 01 January 2017 has been released by IACS.