New and updated rules and regulations.
Beginning of the end for single-hull tankers
As reported in Fairplay Solutions, the accelerated phase out of single-hull tankers began last month. From April 5, category 1 tankers built before 1982 are no longer able to trade, and younger vessels in this category will be obsolete following their anniversary date in 2005 unless they have been converted into double-hull ships.
The measures were adopted in December 2003 as amendments to Annex I of the MARPOL Convention, following the November 2002 sinking of the Prestige.
Category 1 oil tankers (commonly known as Pre-MARPOL tankers) include oil tankers of 20,000dwt and above carrying crude oil, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil or lubricating oil as cargo, and tankers of 30,000dwt and above carrying other oils, which do not comply with the requirements for protectively located segregated ballast tanks.
Category 2 oil tankers, which have protectively located segregated ballast tanks will be phased out according to their age up to 2010. The year 2010 is also a final cut off date for Category 3 oil tankers which are generally smaller oil tankers. Category 2 oil tankers (commonly known as MARPOL tankers) include oil tankers of 20,000dwt and above carrying crude oil, fuel oil, heavy diesel oil or lubricating oil as cargo, and oil tankers of 30,000dwt and above carrying other oils, which comply with the protectively located segregated ballast tank requirements. Category 3 oil tankers are oil tankers of 5,000dwt and above but less than the tonnage specified for Category 1 and 2 tankers.
April 5 was also the coming into force date for Regulation 13H of MARPOL Annex I.
The rule bans the carriage of HGO in single-hull tankers of 5,000dwt and above with immediate effect. It will apply to smaller single-hull tankers of 600dwt and above but less than 5,000dwt not later than the anniversary of their delivery date in 2008.
Under Regulation 13H, HGO means any of the following:
- crude oils having a density at 15ºC higher than 900 kg/m3;
- fuel oils having either a density at 15ºC higher than 900 kg/m3 or a kinematic viscosity at 50ºC higher than 180 mm2/s;
- bitumen, tar and their emulsions.
Flag states are permitted to exempt vessels from the changes but port states can deny entry to any vessel which has been granted an exemption. Effectively this limits trading to domestic service or between states which have reached a mutual agreement on continued trading of single-hull vessels.
Second round of common rules
Second drafts of the tanker and bulk carrier common rules have been prepared by the groups working within IACS and are now open to industry comments.
The second drafts have been extensively revised compared to the first versions published last summer, mainly because of overwhelming interest and comments received from the industry. These comments, as well as those of the Technical Committees of IACS members, the results of calculations on existing designs, and a review of damage cases, have been taken into account.
A period of four months is available to interested parties for comments on the second draft, before August 1, 2005. In December 2005 the draft will be submitted to the IACS Council for adoption as IACS common structural rules, with entry into force on January 1, 2006.
Paris MOU’s new risk-based regime
THE Paris MOU on Port State Control has officially moved to a risk-based inspection regime after it was approved at its recent committee meeting. This follows the scrapping last year of the 25% inspection target and aims to deter substandard ships and reward quality operators.
The meeting also saw the release of the most recent Black-Grey-White list. Both Cyprus and Malta helped their cases to become full members by moving up from the Black to the Grey list. Germany, the Isle of Man and the UK were at the head of the white list, which also includes Liberia, the Cayman Islands, Netherlands Antilles and the Philippines.
A draft list of ‘concentrated inspection regimes’ was agreed at the meeting. Plans are for inspections to focus on GMDSS this year, MARPOL Annex 1 in 2006 and the ISM Code in 2007. Brian Hogan, of the Irish Maritime Safety Directorate, was elected as the Paris MOU chairman following the end of Alan Cubbin’s tenure.
SOLAS amendments
The following amendments to the SOLAS 74 Convention were adopted at the MSC 80th meeting in May.
Chapter II-1
- Revised with respect to subdivision and damage stability requirements.
Applicable to new ships constructed after 1 January 2009. - New regulation 3-7 – Construction drawings maintained on board and ashore.
Applicable to new ships constructed after 1 January 2007. - New regulation 3-8 – Towing and mooring equipment.
Applicable to ships constructed after 1 January 2007. - New regulation 25 – Water level detectors on single hold cargo ships other than bulk carriers with lengths of less than 80 m, or 100 m if constructed before 1 July 1998.
Applicable to new ships constructed after 1 January 2007 and for existing ships at the date of the first intermediate or renewal survey carried out after 1 January 2007, whichever comes first, but not later than 31 December 2009.
Chapter XI
- New regulation 3-1 – Company and registered owner identification number.
Applicable to ISM and ISPS certificates issued or renewed on or after 1 January 2009. - Regulation 5 – Continuous Synopsis Records amended as a consequence of the new regulation 3-1.
ISM and ISPS codes
- Amendments to the ISM and ISPS certificates as a consequence of new regulation XI/3-1.
Applicable as from 1 January 2009.
Resolution A.744(18) – Enhanced Survey Requirements for bulk carriers and oil tankers – Entry into force 1 January 2007.
- Specific survey requirements for double hull oil tankers as well as amendments to align the ESP requirements for tankers with CAS survey planning requirements
- Bulk carriers, annual survey requirements for operation of hatch covers.
For more information contact:
Knut.Vagnes@dnv.com
MSC 80 ship security issues
The ISPS code was adopted in 2002 and entered into force on 1 July 2004. MSC 80 established a working group to consider issues relating to maritime security. The working group addressed several important issues and proposed the following circulars that were approved by the Committee:
Guidelines on the training and certification of Company Security Officers (CSOs)
These require CSOs to demonstrate knowledge of and expertise in maritime security and to be certified as such.
Guidance on the access of public authorities, emergency response services and pilots on board ships to which SOLAS chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code apply
Provides guidance for ships on security access control under special circumstances.
Guidance on the priority and testing of ship security alert systems (SSAS)
This is concerned with the necessity of testing SSAS and of preventing false and unintended alerts.
Interim scheme for the compliance of certain cargo ships with the special measures to enhance maritime security
This requires all ships with tonnage above 500GT determined according to ITC69, regardless of national tonnage rules, to comply with the ISPS Code before 1 July 2008.
MSC 80 also proposed amendments to the STCW Convention and the STCW Code on requirements for the issuance of certificates of proficiency for Ship Security Officers that will be circulated with the aim of being finalised during the next session.
The Continuous Synopsis Record format was amended to include the company identification number and registered owner as well as guidance on the practicalities of transferring ships between flags.
Long-range identification and tracking (LRIT) of ships was discussed extensively by the working group and in the Committee. The purpose of LRIT is for governments to receive tracking information from ships for security, safety and other purposes. The requirements will apply to all ships required to comply with the ISPS Code. Some technical issues as well as the scope of the tracking system are yet to be resolved, but the new regulation is expected to be adopted by the IMO next year.
For more information contact:
Mads.Magnussen@dnv.com
Date: 2005-06-09