Regarding the Goal Based Standards (GBS) verification audit scheme for bulk carriers and oil tankers, IACS would welcome the Committee’s concurrence with the recommendation of the GBS audit team (in paper MSC 98/6/1) that the limited number of non-conformities raised in the initial audits can be considered as ‘closed’. Three papers have been submitted to MSC 98 that provide updates on the work being undertaken to address the observations raised in the initial audits (MSC 98/INF.7, INF.12 and INF.14). In response to the invitation that was extended by the MSC at its last meeting, IACS has submitted two papers to MSC 98 with a view to improving this verification process in the future (MSC 98/6/4 and 6/8). In particular, paper MSC 98/6/8 urges the Committee to confirm that the existing foundations of the GBS verification audit system should not be changed and that it should endorse the conclusion at MSC 97 that “periodic audits” are not necessary.
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 or co-sponsored papers on the following issues to MSC 98:
MSC 98/3/7 proposes changes to the draft definition of a ‘vehicle carrier’ with a view to clarifying that SOLAS regulation II-2/20-1 (requirements for vehicle carriers carrying motor vehicles with compressed hydrogen or natural gas in their tanks for their own propulsion as cargo) applies only to “pure car and truck carriers”.
- MSC 98/3/8 proposes a reformatting of the text, with a view to facilitating its clarity, of the draft amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/20.2 that clarifies the application of this regulation and regulation II‑2/19.
- MSC 98/11/1 proposes draft amendments to the 1994 and 2000 HSC Codes and the Records of Equipment for such craft and vessels that comply with the SPS Code, 2008. These amendments mirror those to SOLAS Chapter IV and the SOLAS Records of Equipment that were developed at NCSR 4, which will be before MSC 98 for approval, to address additional mobile satellite systems, other than Inmarsat.
- MSC 98/12/1 (co-sponsored with the Republic of Korea) proposes updates to table 1 of annex 3 to the 2010 FTP Code in order to clarify that the fire protection materials and required approval test methods contained therein also apply to passenger ships carrying not more than 36 passengers. The paper also proposes some editorial corrections to this table as a consequence of earlier amendments to SOLAS.
- MSC 98/17/1 provides technical data regarding rudder bearing clearances on cargo and passenger ships; and proposes draft amendments to the Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC) should be developed to waive the requirement to take measurements of the rudder bearing clearances on cargo ships when the inspection of the outside of the ship’s bottom is conducted with the ship afloat, as is permitted for passenger ships.
On matters related to the Organizations’ current and future work programme, IACS has co-sponsored with Antigua and Barbuda, and Jamaica paper MSC 97/19/2 that proposes a new output on fault isolation requirements for individually identifiable fire detector systems installed in lieu of section identifiable fire detector systems on cargo ships and passenger ship cabin balconies.
Any enquiries on the above should be sent to Paul Sadler, IACS Accredited Representative to IMO, at permsec@iacs.org.uk