Overview of important new regulations for Owners/Operators of existing ships, coming into force soon (completeness not guaranteed)

Further links:
- Regulations on Sulphur Emissions

Subject Coming into Force Source Content Remarks

Ballast Water Convention
12 months after ratification by 30 states representing Ballast Water Convention certificate, BW record book, Administration approved ballast water management plan; all ships
35% of world gt ships (depending on the year of built) must comply with the ballast water exchange standard or b.w. performance standard, approved treatment systems for the performance standard
pay attention to already existing additional national
not yet in force or local legislations by US, Canada, Australia, Chile,
Israel, New Zealand, Buenos Aires, Scapa Flow,
Vancouver

Hong Kong International Convention
for the Safe and Environmentally
Sound Recycling of Ships
after ratification by 15 states which represent not less
than 40% of world fleet tonnage and which recycling
capacity is not less than 3% of their combined gt (over
the last 10 years)
not yet in force
Hong Kong Convention
Requirements for Shipowners: for all ships of 500 gt and upwards on international
- Restriction of Materials for any installations, re-fits, ... (TBT, PCB, ...) voyages
- Inventory of Hazardous Materials (Booklets to be maintained over the lifetime of the ship)
- Surveys and Certification
- Final Survey (before ship recycling)

Maritime Labour Convention
expected for 2011/2012 ILO Maritime Labour Convention The ILO's Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 provides comprehensive rights and protection at work for the world's more than 1.2 million seafarers. The new labour standard consolidates and updates - all ships
more than 65 international labour standards related to seafarers adopted over the last 80 years. The Convention sets out seafarers' rights to decent conditions of work on a wide range of subjects, and
enter into force requirement: aims to be globally applicable, easily understandable, readily updatable and uniformly enforced. It has been designed to become a global instrument known as the "fourth pillar" of the international
12 months after ratification by 30 ILO Member States regulatory regime for quality shipping, complementing the key Conventions of the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
which hold 33% World Tonnage, Source: ILO
status of ratification

not yet in force

Emergency Towing Procedures 1 January 2012 MSC.256(84) Ships shall be provided with a ship-specific emergency towing procedure. Such a procedure shall be carried aboard the ship for use in emergency situations and shall be based on existing arrangements - for cargo ships.
and equipment available on board the ship.

Amendment to 1 January 2011 MSC.269(85) Ships carrying Dangerous Goods have to observe some amendments in Regulation 19, e.g. issuance of new DOC for DG, Changes in Table 19.3 and other minor amendments. - all ships carrying DG
SOLAS II-2 Reg.19 Amendments to SOLAS
(Dangerous Goods)

Amendment to 1 January 2011 MEPC.186(59) Every Oil Tanker of 150 gt and upwards has to hold a Ship-to-Ship Operations Plan, approved by the Administration. - all oil tankers of 150 gt upwards not later than
MARPOL, Annex I MARPOL Annex I, the first survey after 1 January 2011
New Chapter 8

Revised MARPOL, Annex I 1 January 2011 MEPC.187(59) New definitions has been added for Oil Residue (Sludge), Oil Residue (Sludge) Tank, Oily Bilge Water and Oily Bilge Water Holding Tank. Further, prohibited pumping operations between bilge system and - all ships
MARPOL Annex I sludge tanks and the dealing with the disposal of oil residues (sludge) are described. Finally amendments of the Oil Record Book are required.

International Maritime Solid Bulk 1 January 2011 MSC.268(85) BC Code will be replaced by the IMSBC Code and becomes mandatory for all ships carrying solid bulk cargoes - all ships carrying solid bulk cargoes
Cargo Code IMSBC Code
(IMSBC Code)
MSC.269(85)
Amendments to SOLAS

Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm 1 January 2011 SOLAS, Amendments 2008/2009, The purpose of a bridge navigational watch alarm system (BNWAS) is to monitor bridge activity and detect operator disability which could lead to marine accidents. The system monitors the awareness of - cargo ships of 500gt up to 3000gt, constructed
System Chapter V, the Officer of the Watch (OOW) and automatically alerts the Master or another qualified OOW if for any reason the OOW becomes incapable of performing the OOW's duties. This purpose is achieved by a before 1 July 2011, not later than the 1st survey
(BNWAS) Regulation 19 series of indications and alarms to alert first the OOW and, if he is not responding, then to alert the Master or another qualified OOW. Additionally, the BNWAS may provide the OOW with a means of after 1 July 2013
calling for immediate assistance, if required. - cargo ships of 3,000gt and upwards, constructed
seeMSC.282(86) before 1 July 2011, not later than the first survey
For more info refer to: after 1 July 2012
www.bnwas.com and (for smaller ships and other ship types refer to
IMO Resolution MSC.128(75) - Performance Standards for BNWAS (89 kB) SOLAS)

Electronic Chart Display and 1 January 2011 SOLAS, Amendments 2008/2009, Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) means a navigation information system which with adequate back-up arrangements can be accepted as complying with the up-to-date chart - tankers of 3,000gt and upwards, constructed
Information System Chapter V, required by regulations V/19 and V/27 of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended, by displaying selected information from a system electronic navigational chart (SENC) with positional information from before 1 July 2012, not later than the first survey
(ECDIS) Regulation 19 navigation sensors to assist the mariner in route planning and route monitoring, and if required display additional navigation-related information. after 1 July 2015
- cargo ships of 50,000gt and upwards, constructed
seeMSC.282(86) Refer to: MSC.232(82)- Revised Performance Standards for ECDIS before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey
after 1 July 2016
- cargo ships of 20,000gt up to 50,000gt,
constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the
first survey after 1 July 2017
- cargo ships of 10,000gt up to 20,000gt,
constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the
first survey after 1 July 2018
Ozone Depleting Substances 1 July 2010 Revised MARPOL Annex VI "... Each ship holding an IAPP Certificate shall maintain a list of equipment containing ozone depleting substances or an Ozon Depleting Substances Record Book when fitted with rechargeable systems - all ships
MSC.176(58) which contain ozon depleting substances."

Adult Lifejackets 1 July 2010 Revised SOLAS Ch.III, Reg.7, "if the adult lifejackets provided are not designed to fit persons weighting up to 140 kg and with a chest girth of up to 1,750 mm, a sufficient number of suitable accessories shall be available on board to - all ships
Para 2.1.5 allow them to be secured to such persons."
MSC.201(81)

Risk Assessment 1 July 2010 Revised ISM Code 2010 Edition - Safety Management Objectives should assess all identified risks to its ships, personnel and the environment and establish appropriate safeguards ... - all ships
MSC.273(85) - The Company should establish procedures, plans and instructions, including checklists as appropriate, for key shipboard operations concerning the safety of the personnel, ship and protection of the
environment ...
- The Company should identify potential emergency shipboard situations, and establish procedures to respond to them ...

Volatile Organic Compound Management 1 July 2010 Revised MARPOL Annex VI Tankers carrying crude oild, are required to have on board and implement a Volatile Organic Compound Management Plan approved by the Administration - crude oil tankers
Plan MEPC.176(58) - (gas carriers)
MARSIG has created an own VOC plan based on MEPC.185(59)

China - Requirement to contract with a 1 March 2010 Regulations of the People's operators of ships must conclude a pollution cleanup operation contract with an approved pollution cleanup company - ships carrying polluting and hazardous liquid in
local clean up contractor Republic of China bulk
source: - other ships of above 10,000 GT
Swedish Club Circular

IMDG Code Amdt. 34-08 1 January 2010 IMDG Code, Regulations for the transport of Dangerous Goods. - all ships carrying Dangerous Goods
GGVSee,
VkBl. 26/2009

2 separate CO2 release stations first schedules dry-docking FSS Code Ships built before 1 July 2002 and fitted with a fixed CO2 fire extinguishing system for the protection of machinery spaces and cargo pump rooms shall be provided with 2 separate controls for releasing - all ships built before 1 July 2002
after 1 January 2010 Ch.5, §2.2.2 CO2 into a protected space.

Emergency Towing Procedures 1 January 2010 MSC.256(84) Ships shall be provided with a ship-specific emergency towing procedure. Such a procedure shall be carried aboard the ship for use in emergency situations and shall be based on existing arrangements - for tankers
and equipment available on board the ship. - for passenger ships

General Permit for vessel's in US trade
19 September 2009 Federal Register Notice, Vol 73, summary of permit requirements: all ships
No.249 19 December 2008 - publication of final General Permit regulations,
6 February 2009 - date effective,
19 February 2009 - requirements for inspections, recordkeeping and reporting to be met,
19 June 2009 - start submission period for Notice of Intent,
19 September 2009 - Deadline for submission of Notice of Intent!
For the transitional period from now until 19 September 2009 all vessels are provisionally covered by General Permit, but requirements for recordkeeping and reporting have to be observed!

Material Safety Data Sheet for MARPOL 1 July 2009 SOLAS VI/5-1, Ships carrying MARPOL Annex I cargoes, as defined in Appendix I to Annex I of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, and marine all ships
Annex I Cargoes MSC.239(83) fuel oils shall be provided with a Material Safety Data Sheet prior to the loading of such cargoes based on the recommendations developed by the Organization.
MSC.150(77)

Revised Performance Standards for 1 January 2009 SOLAS V/19, ... in addition to the general requirements set out in resolution A.694(17), the presentation requirements set out in resolution MSC.191(79), ECDIS equipment should meet the requirements of these applies to all ECDIS equipment like dedicated
ECDIS MSC.232(82) standards and follow the relevant guidelines on ergonomic principles adopted by the Organization standalone workstation or multifunction
workstation as part if an INS

Company and Registered Owner ID 1 January 2009 SOLAS XI-1/3-1, every company and registered owner shall be provided with an identification number which conforms to the IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme adopted by the all ships
Number MSC.194(80) Organization. The company identification number shall be inserted on the certificates and certified copies thereof issued under regulation IX/4 and section A/19.2 or A/19.4 of the ISPS Code.
request of such ID Numbers at Lloyd's Register
Fairplay

Amendments to Damage Stability 1 January 2009 SOLAS II-1, different requirements as per MSC.194(80) all new ships (cargo ships over 80m)
Requirements MSC.194(80)

Long Range Identification and Tracking 31 December 2008 SOLAS XI-2/14, ... shall be fitted with a system to automatically transmit information to enable, subject to the provisions of paragraph 5, the identification and tracking of the ship by Contructing Governments all vessels, except ships certified for operations
System MSC.202(81) exclusively in sea area A1

Bunkers Convention 21 November 2008 Bunkers Convention ... requires to maintain insurance or other financial security, such as the guarantee of a bank or similar financial institution, to cover the liability of the registered owner for pollution damage in an amount all ships over 1,000 gross tonnage
equal to the limits of liability under the applicable national or international limitation regime, but in all cases, not exceeding an amount calculated in accordance with the Convention on Limitation of
Liability for Maritime Claims, 1976, as amended.

Sewage Prevention 27 September 2008 MARPOL Annex IV approved sewage treatment plant, approved sewage comminuting and desinfecting system or sewage holding tank; certification process all ships
MEPC.115(51) ... more

Anti Fouling Systems 17 September 2008 Intern.Conventionon the control ships must remove organotin anti-fouling systems from the hull or apply a sealer coat; all ships of 400gt and above
of harmful antifouling systems on certification and anti-fouling record required without annual or intermediate surveys
ships
Further EU Regulation 782/2003 has to be observed which requires TBT free coatings since 1 January 2008!

Automatic Identification System 1 July 2008 SOLAS V-Reg.19 ships must be fitted with an AIS all ships constructed before 2002 and not engaged
(AIS) in international voyages

Water Level Detectors 1 January 2007 SOLAS II-1/23-3 ... shall be fitted with water level detectors until the first intermediate or renewal survey after 1 Jan 2007 not later than 31 Dec 2009 existing single hold cargo ships other than bulk
MSC.194(80) carriers constructed before 1 Jan 2007

Regulation Implementation on Sulphur Content of Marine Fuel

(applicable to ships which are not fitted with an exhaust gas cleaning system)

Type of Fuel Trade Area Sulphur Content Regulation Entry into Force

any Marine Fuel worldwide 4.5% m/m MARPOL Annex VI in force

Marine Diesel Oil (MDO: DMB and DMC) EU Waters 1.5% m/m EU Directive 2005/33 in force

Marine Gas Oil (MGO: DMX and DMA) EU Waters 0.1% m/m EU Directive 1999/32 in force

Marine Gas Oil (MGO) and Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) within 24 nm of California Shore 1.5% m/m California Air Resource Board in force

Marine Gas Oil (MGO) within 24 nm of California Shore 1.5% m/m California Air Resource Board in force
Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) within 24 nm of California Shore 0.5% m/m California Air Resource Board in force

any Marine Fuel at all EU Berths 0.1% m/m EU Directive 2005/33 in force

any Marine Fuel all EU Inland Waterways 0.1% m/m EU Directive 2005/33 in force

any Marine Fuel SOx Emission Control Areas (SECA): North Sea, Baltic Sea, English Channel 1.0% m/m Revised MARPOL Annex VI in force

any Marine Fuel Nord American Emission Control Area 1.0% m/m Revised MARPOL Annex VI 1 August 2011
(taking effect 1 August 2012)

any Marine Fuel worldwide 3.5% m/m MARPOL Annex VI 1 January 2012

Marine Diesel Oil (MDO) and Marine Gas Oil (MGO) within 24 nm of California Shore 0.1% m/m California Air Resource Board 1 January 2012

any Marine Fuel SOx Emission Control Areas (SECA): North Sea, Baltic Sea, English Channel 0.1% m/m Revised MARPOL Annex VI 1 January 2015

any Marine Fuel worldwide 0.5% m/m Revised MARPOL Annex VI expected
1 January 2020