Amendments to the ISM Code enter into force on January 2015

The IMO Maritime Safety Committee in its 92nd session (12 - 23 June 2013) adopted amendments to the ISM Code through IMO Resolution MSC.353(92) which shall enter into force on 1st January 2015.

Amendments to the ISM Code enter into force on 1st January 2015 as follows;

6 RESOURCES AND PERSONNEL

Paragraph 6.2 has been amended requiring the Company to ensure that each ship is:

1. Manned with qualified, certificated and medically fit seafarers in accordance with national and international requirements and

2. Appropriately manned ships in order to encompass all aspects of maintaining safe operations onboard.

12 COMPANY VERIFICATION, REVIEW AND EVALUATION

A new Paragraph 12.2 has also been adopted requiring the Company to: periodically verify whether all those undertaking delegated ISM-related tasks are acting in conformity with the Company’s responsibilities under the Code.

The amended ISM-Code includes various new footnotes with guidelines and recommendations developed by the IMO. Although the footnotes given in the ISM-Code are inserted for reference and guidance purposes and do not constitute requirements under the Code, in accordance with paragraph 1.2.3.2, all relevant guidelines, recommendations, etc. should be taken into account.

The following guidelines have been added as footnotes to the amended ISM-Code:

1. Procedures concerning observed ISM Code major non-conformities

2. List of codes, recommendations, guidelines and other safety and security related mandatory instruments

3. Revised Guidelines for the operational implementation of  the International Safety Management (ISM) Code by companies

4. Guidance on the qualifications, training and experience necessary for undertaking the role of the Designated Person under the provisions of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code

5. Guidelines for a structure of an integrated system of contingency planning for shipboard emergencies

6. Guidance on near-miss reporting

7. Revised list of certificates and documents required to be carried on board ships

Ship managers are advised to ensure that all the above mentioned guidelines have been incorporated in the Safety Management System (SMS). Where necessary, amendments to existing procedures must be carried out.

 Source: www.imo.org 

Latest SOLAS Amendments (2014-15)

The Amendments to SOLAS are as follows:

1 July 2014: Entry into force of November 2012 SOLAS amendments 

 1) New SOLAS regulation II-1/3-12 to require new ships to be constructed to reduce on-board noise and to protect personnel from noise, in accordance with the revised Code on noise levels on board ships, also adopted, which sets out mandatory maximum noise level limits for machinery spaces, control rooms, workshops, accommodation and other spaces on board ships.

 2) Amendments to SOLAS regulation III/17-1 to require ships to have plans and procedures to recover persons from the water, as well as related Guidelines for development of plans and procedures for recovery of persons from the water. Also, a related MSC resolution on Implementation of SOLAS regulation III/17-1 to ships to which SOLAS chapter III does not apply; 

 3) Amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/10 on fire fighting to require a minimum of duplicate two-way portable radiotelephone apparatus for each fire party for fire fighters communication to be carried; amendments to regulation II-2/15 on instructions, on-board training and drills, to require an on-board means of recharging breathing apparatus cylinders used during drills, or a suitable number of spare cylinders; and amendments to regulation II-2/20 on protection of vehicle, special category and RO-RO spaces related to fixed fire-extinguishing systems.

 4) Amendments to the appendix to the annex to the SOLAS Convention replacing all forms of certificates and records of equipment, including its 1988 Protocol, and amendments to the forms of the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate and Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate of its 1978 Protocol. 

1 July 2014: CSC Amendments

 Amendments to the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), 1972, to incorporate amendments to the CSC Convention adopted in 1993 by resolution A.737(18), including amendments relating to the safety approval plate and to the approval of existing and new containers. 

1 January 2015: Code for Recognized Organizations 

Code for recognized organizations (RO Code) becomes mandatory under SOLAS, MARPOL and Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966. 

1 January 2015: Entry into force of 2013 May SOLAS amendments 

 1) SOLAS regulation III/19 to require musters of newly embarked passengers prior to or immediately upon departure.

 2) SOLAS regulation III/19, on emergency training and drills, to mandate enclosed-space entry and rescue drills, which will require crew members with enclosed-space entry or rescue responsibilities to participate in an enclosed-space entry and rescue drill at least once every two months. Related amendments also to the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC Code), the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU Code) and the Code of Safety for Dynamically Supported Craft (DSC Code). 

Source: www.imo.org