Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) 83rd session Ð 3Ð12 October 2007, Copenhagen, Denmark

From 1 July 2009 it will be required that Material Safety Data sheets be provided to ships carrying MARPOL Annex I oil and marine fuel oils prior to the loading of such cargoes.
Safety Construction and Equipment Certificates for cargo ships will from 1 July 2009 display ÒAlternative design and arrangementsÓ and the Passenger Safety Certificates will be amended by replacing the subdivision notations C.1, C.2 and C.3 with P.1, P.2 and P.3.
Drainage in closed vehicle and ro-ro spaces was discussed, however the next MSC in May 2008 shall consider applicability to new or existing ships and whether ÒdevicesÓ (physical installations) are required or if ÒmeasuresÓ (possibly operational actions) will be accepted, prior to adoption.
The development of the Goal Based Standards (GBS) continued along two parallel paths; a short-term prescriptive approach concentrating on bulk carriers and oil tankers and a long-term broader Safety Level Approach (SLA).
MSC approved circulars or draft amendments affecting equivalent water-based fire-extinguishing systems for machinery spaces and cargo pump-rooms; carbon dioxide systemÕs releasing controls; sprinkler systems; evacuation analysis for new and existing passenger ships; pump-rooms intended solely for ballast transfer or fuel oil transfer; fixed pressure water spraying and water based fire-extinguishing systems; and fixed fire detection and fire alarm systems for cabin balconies.
MSC approved, in principle, amendments related to Emergency Towing Procedures and Means of embarkation and disembarkation (such as gangways and accommodation ladders) and adopted a Recommended coating standard for void spaces on all types of ships.
MSC noted the progress made on the comprehensive review of the STCW Convention and STCW Code related to standards of competence for ratings and to training that cannot be conducted on board. MSC agreed that the determination of safe manning should be made mandatory.
Several new traffic separation schemes and routeing measures and a new NAVAREA in Arctic Waters were established. Furthermore MSC adopted a resolution on Revised performance standards for INS and a circular on Maintenance of Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) software. In addition, MSC adopted a resolution on Performance standards for navigation lights, navigation light controllers and associated equipment.
MSC also adopted two Circulars on Guidance on the operational implementation of the ISM Code by Companies and on Recommended qualifications of the Designated Person under the provisions of the ISM Code, respectively.
MSC approved in principle the Code of the International Standards and Recommended Practices for a Safety Investigation into a Marine Casualty or Marine Incident (Casualty Investigation Code) for adoption at MSC 84.
IMO has recently focused on the high rate of accidents associated with general cargo ships. The accident risks are higher on general cargo ships compared to other ship types. At MSC 83, it was agreed that more detailed information was needed to find the cause of accidents to identify problem areas and appropriate risk control options. MSC also recognised the variety of ship types covered by the category Ògeneral cargo shipÓ and intends to develop a definition of Ògeneral cargo shipÓ and a strategy to set a direction on how best to enhance the safety of these ships.
Sverre.J.Dahl@dnv.com

Date: 2008-01-30