A number of important amendments to IMO treaties enter into force on January 1 2016, The amendments are comprehensive, covering numerous aspects of maritime activity in respect of safety and stability of the ships and crews, including: SOLAS amendments to require inert gas systems on board new oil and chemical tankers of 8,000 dwt and above; the latest amendment to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code; requirements for stability instruments on tankers and new testing requirements for life-jackets.
SOLAS amendments
SOLAS amendments entering into force on January 1 include:
- amendments to SOLAS regulations II-2/1, II-2/3, II-2/4, II-2/9.7 and II-2/16.3.3, to introduce mandatory requirements for inert gas systems on board new oil and chemical tankers of 8,000 dwt and above, and for ventilation systems on board new ships; plus related amendments to chapter 15 of the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code) on inert gas systems.
- amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/29 on steering gear, to update the requirements relating to sea trials.
- amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/10, concerning fire protection requirements for new ships designed to carry containers on or above the weather deck.
- amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/13.4, mandating additional means of escape from machinery spaces.
- new SOLAS regulation II-2/20-1, which provides additional safety measures for vehicle carriers with vehicle and ro-ro spaces intended for carriage of motor vehicles with compressed hydrogen or compressed natural gas in their tanks for their own propulsion as cargo.
Amendment 37-14 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code:
The amendments to the IMDG Code become mandatory from January 1. They include updates to the provisions for radioactive material, reflecting the latest (2012) provisions from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), new marking requirements for “overpack” and “salvage” and updates to various individual packing requirements.
All amendments togther…thanks