Revised IGC Code
The completely revised and updated International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) will enter into force on January 1, with an implementation/application date of 1 July 2016. The amendments were developed following a comprehensive five-year review and are intended to take into account the latest advances in science and technology.
Audits under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme become mandatory
Amendments to a number of treaties covering safety, training, prevention of pollution, load lines, tonnage measurement and collision prevention make the audits under the IMO Member State Audit Scheme mandatory for all IMO Member States from January 1.
Up to 25 Member State audits per year are expected under the audit scheme, which aims to provide a mechanism by which Member States can be assessed, in order to determine to what extent they are implementing and enforcing the applicable IMO instruments by identifying areas in need of improvement, as well as areas of good practices.
The idea behind the scheme is to support the enhanced implementation of IMO instruments, as the scheme will provide Member States with an overview of how well they are carrying out their duties as flag, coastal and port States, under the relevant IMO treaties. The process will also feed into IMO’s extensive technical cooperation program, to provide targeted assistance and capacity-building to States, as well as to the Organization’s regulatory process.
All amendments togther…thanks