The 46 session was held 10–19 March 2003. The highlights are as follows:

Bulk Carrier Safety

Performance Standard for Water Level Detectors
IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Equipment (DE) agreed upon a Performance Standard for Water Level Detectors, prepared in cooperation with proposals submitted by IACS, UK and Japan. The sub-committee also agreed on Guidelines for Installation and Testing of Water Level Detection Systems for Bulk Carriers. It is anticipated that the performance standard and the guidelines will be approved as is, at MSC 77 in May 2003. Governments are urged to apply the performance standards and the guidelines when water level detectors are installed in bulk carriers.

Application of IACS Unified Requirements (UR)
The following IACS UR were recognised as important steps in improving the safety of bulk carriers:

• S26 – Strength and securing of small hatches on exposed fore deck
  
• S27 – Strength requirements for fore deck fittings and equipment
  
• S30 – Cargo Hatch cover securing arrangements for bulk carriers not built in accordance with UR S21 (Rev. 2)
  
• S31 – Renewal criteria for side shell frames in single side skin bulk carriers not built in accordance with UR S12 (Rev.1 or subsequent revisions).

S30 was discussed separately and many delegates wanted IMO to make this requirement mandatory. However, this issue was not concluded. DE agreed to a draft MSC Resolution urging governments to ensure that the above URs are applied to bulk carriers flying their flag. It is anticipated that MSC 77 will approve this resolution.

Alternate hold loading
A proposal to ban vessels from loading cargo after they reached 10 years of age if they failed to comply with SOLAS Ch. XII Reg. 5 (which concern structural strength of bulk carriers) and IACS UR S12 (concerning strength of side frames of single side skin bulk carriers) was submitted. Bulk carriers complying with the above requirements may trade with cargo in alternate condition without age limits. This issue was not finalised and will be continued at the next session of DE in 2004.

Double side skin construction of bulk carriers
A compromise was reached as the majority proposed a 600 mm minimum clear opening for transversely framed structure and an 800 mm minimum clear opening for longitudinally framed structures. The 800 mm clearance could be reduced to 600 mm outside the parallel portion of the cargo hold length and near occasional obstructions, such as piping. IACS considered this compromised proposal to provide the best approach to specifying the minimum width of the double side skin space.

In addition to clear width within the double side skin, clear height, access to certain spaces and other vertical and horizontal access openings were considered. DE was of the opinion that the access criteria included in the new SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-6 – access to and within spaces in the cargo area of oil tankers and bulk carriers and in the technical provisions to this – were found sufficient.

Amendments to SOLAS Regulation XII/4.1 and 5
A general agreement was made that SOLAS Ch. XII Reg. 4.1 (damage stability) and Reg. 5 (structural strength) shall be applicable to new double skin bulk carriers. However, this item was not completed. It will be further considered and completed at the next session of DE.

Preliminary definition of bulk carrier
It was agreed that the definition of a bulk carrier in SOLAS Ch. XII for new ships should be: Bulk Carrier means a ship which is intended to carry dry cargo in bulk, including Ore Carriers and Combination Carriers.

This issue will be further considered at the next session of DE.

Life saving equipment & measures to prevent accidents with lifeboats

Work plan to prevent accidents with lifeboats
A revised and expanded work plan for implementing short term and medium term measures regarding survival craft and equipment has been prepared.

The short term focus will be on improved routines for maintenance, drills and fact- finding studies. Further work will look at the feasibility of alternative types of survival crafts and revisit the basic design requirements to survival crafts.

Operational readiness, maintenance and inspections
Amendments to SOLAS Ch. III Regulation 20 and guidelines for periodic servicing and maintenance of lifeboats, launching mechanisms and on-load release gear.

The key change to SOLAS is that manufacturers or their representatives will perform thorough examinations annually, compared with the current five-year routine. The weekly and monthly inspections performed by crew-members will be enhanced.

The guidelines to SOLAS Ch. III Regulation 20 describe periodic servicing and maintenance with regard to responsibility, authorisation, qualification and reporting. The guidelines also define the extent and scope of thorough examination, dynamic winch brake test and overhaul of on-load release gear required by this regulation.

Emergency training and drills
Amendments to SOLAS Ch.III Regulation 19.3.3.3 and .3.3.4 allowing for launching of lifeboats without assigned operating crew members.

Performance testing and approval standards for SOLAS personal life-saving appliances
A correspondence group will analyse and prioritise the risks to survival of persons wearing life jackets and prepare suitable amendments to SOLAS Ch. III, LSA Code and Recommendations on testing of life-saving appliances.

Carriage of immersion suits
Amendments to SOLAS Ch.III Regulation 32.3 proposing implementation of a requirement for one immersion suit to be carried for every person onboard all cargo ships. Furthermore, DE 46 has drafted guidelines for periodic testing of immersion suits and anti-exposure suits.