New regulation & guidelines for safe mooring operations needs much more work says SDC5

Overview

Updates from the 5th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction.

The SDC sub-committee, dealing with technical and operational matters related to design, construction, fire protection and equipment of ships, and mobile units covered by IMO instruments, recommended to continue their work on the development of more safe mooring operations for all ships, as well as proceed on the second generation intact stability framework.

Mooring operation

SDC 5 continued its work on safe mooring operations for all ships and proposed a revision of SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-8 on towing and mooring equipment so as to ensure mooring equipment as well as lines are inspected and maintained in a condition suitable for their intended purpose.

SDC 5 decided to introduce the “human centred design” concept to be applied when designing mooring platforms and equipment.

During the meeting, the sub-committee started the work on guidelines for safe mooring operations and recommended to re-establish a correspondence group in order to finalise the work before MSC 101 in the spring of 2019. BIMCO will continue its work in the correspondence group.

Finalisation of second generation intact stability criteria

SDC 5 had extensive discussions on the way forward for a new generation of intact stability criteria. The development has taken longer than expected and the calculation methodology seems to be far more complicated than foreseen. When faced with the question as to whether more experience was required before further development was undertaken, the SDC5 decided it was important to continue the work.

The main development challenge is the selection of a standardised method for calculating certain values used in the criteria. Most inconsistencies are directly or indirectly caused by using different mathematical models for the vulnerability criteria.

The outcome of the discussions supported a continuation of the ongoing work, allowing more time to gain experience with the new requirements and the calculations before presenting the second generation intact stability criteria.  SDC recommended to re-establish the correspondence group, under new terms of reference, to consider all the new information. However, in order to speed up the process, an intersessional working group may be necessary before SDC 6 in 2019. BIMCO will monitor the development of the second intact stability criteria.

Other business

Based on an IACS submission, the sub-committee agreed to correct a number of inconsistencies regarding the Enhanced Survey Programme (ESP) Code text including all the footnotes. The decision was taken to continue the intersessional work under the lead of IACS.

On the review on SOLAS chapter II-1 to ensure consistency with regards to watertight integrity, a submission by Norway listed a number of inconsistencies between the calculation method and the regulation in SOLAS. A correspondence group was re-established to continue the work.

 

Karin Petersen
By Lars Gullaksen
in Copenhagen, DK

Coronavirus

Access BIMCO's COVID-19 related articles and advice.

Read more

VPS Bunker Alerts

Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) publish regular Bunker Alerts based entirely on fuel samples and have kindly permitted BIMCO’s Members to access this information.

The Bunker Alerts are not intended to be an evaluation of overall bunker quality in the port or area concerned, but usually highlight a specific parameter within the fuel which has raised a quality issue.

Latest piracy reports

 

Latest industry releasable threats

 
 

ELSEWHERE ON BIMCO

Contracts & Clauses

All of BIMCO's most widely used contracts and clauses as well as advice on managing charters and business partners.

Learn about your cargo

For general guidance and information on cargo-related queries.

More about cargo

BIMCO Publications

Want to buy or download a BIMCO publication? Use the link to get access to the ballast water management guide, the ship master’s security manual and many other publications.

About a new business partner

We can help members check new business partners. We also help to recover millions of USD (undisputed) funds every year.