IACS Council focuses on Common Rules and surveyor safety

Dr Hermann J. Klein, chairman of IACS and member of the executive board of GL, welcomed 30 representatives of 11 IACS member societies.

The group reviewed the harmonisation process of the Common Structural Rules for tankers and bulk carriers, and the council agreed on a revised time schedule aligning with the latest IMO decision on the implementation of goal based standards. IMO has requested submission of rules for verification by December 31st, 2013. Furthermore, the council decided to set up an external advisory group of selected industry representatives to consider suggestions as early as possible.

The council also decided to focus attention on provisions for surveyor safety.

On July 1st, Noboru Ueda, chairman and president of ClassNK, will take over the IACS chairmanship from Dr Klein for the next 12 months.

It was the first meeting as a full member for the Indian Register of Shipping (IRS) which joined IACS on June 22nd. Under the new membership criteria, IACS established a single class of membership. This qualitative approach applies uniformly to applications for and continued membership of IACS. IRS fulfils the new requirements of a quality system certification scheme (QSCS), which ensures safety and quality standards.