IMO MSC 96

Summary Report
London, 11 to 21 May 2016

BUREAU VERITAS
Marine & Offshore Division
Legal, Compliance & Regulations
Introduction
2. Revision of SOLAS chapter II-1 subdivision and damage stability regulations *

MSC 96 IMO committee

The Committee on Maritime Safety held its ninety sixth session from 11 to 21 May
2016.

Scope of the summary report

The scope of this summary report is to provide information on the developments in
IMO. It is to be noted that the information included herein are proposals adopted or
approved by the majority of countries.

Next MSC Meetings

MSC 97 is scheduled from 21 to 25 November 2016 and MSC 98 tentatively from 7
to 16 June 2017.

Contents
• Introduction
• Highlights - GBS
• Amendments to mandatory instruments
• Maritime security
• Safety standards for the carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel on board
vessels engaged on international voyages
• Sub-Committees
• Ship Design and Construction

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MSC 96 – Highlights - GBS

• The Committee confirmed that the information provided by the 12 IACS

Members demonstrates that, in accordance with SOLAS regulation II-
1/3-10.3, their rules conform to the International goal-based ship
construction standards for bulk carriers and oil tankers (resolution
MSC.287(87)) (GBS Standards); and that ships contracted under the
current Submitters' verified rules are deemed to meet the GBS
Standards.

• Regulation II-1/3-10.3 applies to oil tankers of 150 m in length and

above and to bulk carriers of 150 m in length and above, constructed
with single deck, top-side tanks and hopper side tanks in cargo spaces,
excluding ore carriers and combination carriers:
.1 for which the building contract is placed on or after 1 July 2016;
.2 in the absence of a building contract, the keels of which are laid or
which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 July 2017; or
.3 the delivery of which is on or after 1 July 2020.

Additional information
Please refer to MSC.1/Circ.1518

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MSC 96 - Amendments to Mandatory Instruments

amendments to chapter III of the 1974 SOLAS Convention (Resolution

MSC.404(96)) together with the Requirements for maintenance, thorough
examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and
rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear (Resolution
MSC.402(96))(entry into force 1 January 2020),

Amendments to regulations III/3 and III/20, on operational readiness,

maintenance and inspections, are to make the provisions of
MSC.1/Circ.1206/Rev.1 mandatory and the a.m. Requirements clarify:
.1 Weekly and monthly inspections and routine maintenance to be
conducted by authorised service providers, or by shipboard personnel
under the direction of a senior ship's officer.
.2 Annual thorough examinations and operational tests to be conducted by
certified personnel of either the manufacturer or an authorised service
provider in accordance with section 7 and section 8 of the annex of
resolution MSC.402(96).
.3 Five-year thorough examination, any overhaul, overload operational
tests and repair to be conducted by certified personnel of either the
manufacturer or an authorised service provider.

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MSC 96 - Amendments to Mandatory Instruments

Amendments to chapter II-2 of the 1974 SOLAS (Resolution

MSC.404(96)), as well as to the FSS Code (Resolution MSC.403(96)),
new chapter 17 (Helicopter Facilities Foam Firefighting Appliances) and
amendments to chapter 8 (Sprinkler systems) of (entry into force 1
January 2020),

Amendments to Regulations II-2/3 and II-2/18 clarify that ships having a

helicopter landing area shall be provided with foam firefighting appliances
which comply with the relevant provisions of the new chapter 17 of the
FSS Code.

Amendments to Regulation II-2/13 on evacuation analysis: extends the

requirement for an evacuation analysis to passenger ships other than ro-ro
passenger ships, carrying more than 36 passengers, constructed on or
after the date of entry into force of the amendments.
Ro-ro passenger ships that have had their escape routes evaluated by an
evacuation analysis, in accordance with SOLAS regulation II-2/13.7.4 or
the earlier SOLAS regulation II-2/28-1.3, need not be re-evaluated.

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MSC 96 - Amendments to Mandatory Instruments

• Amendments to the 2011 ESP Code (Resolution MSC.405(96))

(entry into force 1/01/2018);

• Amendment 38-16 to the IMDG Code (Resolution

MSC.406(96)) (entry into force 1/01/2018);

• Amendments to the 2009 MODU Code (Paragraph 9.16 –

Provisions for helicopter facilities, to refer to the new ch.17 of the
FSS Code) (Resolution MSC.407(96), recommended
application 1/01/2020).

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MSC 96 - Maritime Security

The Committee

. Noting that there was an urgent need to raise awareness on

cyber risk threats and vulnerabilities, approved the Guidelines
on Maritime cyber risk management, as Interim MSC Guidelines
(could be replaced by a joint FAL/MSC circular once the work of
FAL 41 on facilitation aspects is completed).

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MSC 96 - safety standards for the carriage of more than 12
industrial personnel on board vessels engaged on
international voyages
After an in-depth discussion, the Committee agreed on
the following principles:

.1 a new chapter to SOLAS should be developed

solely for the carriage of more than 12 industrial
personnel;

.2 the above new chapter should be supported by a

new Code, which could have elements of the 2008 SPS
and HSC Codes, as appropriate; and

.3 the number of industrial personnel being transported

should be the basis for applying the new SOLAS
requirements.
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MSC 96 – SUB-COMMITTEES

Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE)

The Committee:
. approved draft amendments to SOLAS regulations II-2/1 and II-2/10, that
delete the requirement for a 135 l foam extinguisher for domestic boilers of
less than 175 kW, or for boilers protected by fixed water-based local
application fire-extinguishing systems.

Implementation of IMO Instruments (III)

the Committee approved draft amendment to SOLAS chapter XI-1
introducing a new regulation XI-1/2-1, on harmonisation of survey periods
of cargo ships not subject to the ESP Code.

Carriage of cargoes and containers (CCC)

the Committee approved a draft amendment to paragraph 3.2.5 of the IGC
Code, that, in effect, align the requirements of the IGC Code with the
requirement for fire-rated windows on tankers in SOLAS chapter II-2,
which does not apply to wheelhouse windows, with a view to adoption at
MSC 97.

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MSC 96 – Ship Design and Construction (SDC)

The Committee:
. approved draft amendments to SOLAS chapter II-1 on subdivision
and damage stability regulations, regarding the required
subdivision index "R" for passenger ships (as proposed by SDC
3), with a view to subsequent adoption at MSC 97, and agreed that
the application date of the aforementioned amendments will be 1
January 2020.
. agreed, in principle, to the draft MSC circular on Early
implementation of the acceptance of the use of butterfly valves
on cargo ships (on the collision bulkhead), for approval at its next
session, in conjunction with the associated SOLAS amendments.
. also adopted amendments to chapter 2 of the 2008 SPS Code,
related to the reference to the current index R formula. (Resolution
MSC.408(96)).
. approved draft amendments to SOLAS Chapters II-1 and III
mandating damage control drills for passenger ships.

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