SDC 8 starts work on how to reduce underwater noise from ships

The sub-committee began its work to review the 2014 Guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise from commercial shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life (MEPC.1/Circ.833). The guidelines focus on the primary sources of underwater noise: propellers, hull design, onboard machinery, and various operational and maintenance procedures such as hull cleaning.

The review was initiated after the issue was raised at the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), because underwater-radiated noise from ships may have both short and long-term negative consequences on marine life, especially marine mammals. The aim of the review is to provide updated recommendations based on the latest developments in ship design and technology and to address the barriers to their uptake.

The correspondence group’s tasks include:

• enabling engagement of Inuit and other indigenous communities and the incorporation of indigenous knowledge;
• identifying comparable and common means of measuring, analysing and reporting of underwater radiated noise emissions from ships (e.g. existing and developing ISO and other international standards);
• identifying actions to further prevent and reduce underwater noise from ships, including options to integrate new and advancing technologies and vessel designs taking into account geographical characteristics;
• considering the impact and interrelation of the proposed actions in the context of achieving other regulatory goals, including ship safety, energy efficiency, and reducing pollution from ships;

The work plan envisages that recommendations will be submitted to the Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 80) in 2023.

New regulations and Code to address safety of industrial personnel agreed

A new Code and SOLAS requirements were agreed to ensure the safety of people transported to work on offshore facilities. The sub-committee finalised the draft texts of the new SOLAS chapter XV and the associated new Code for Industrial Personnel that will be submitted to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for approval and adoption, with a view to entry into force on 1 July 2024.

The aim is to provide mandatory minimum safety standards for ships that carry industrial personnel, as well as for the personnel themselves, addressing specific risks of maritime operations within the offshore sectors, such as personnel transfer operations.

Unified interpretations for noise levels on board ships agreed

The sub-committee agreed draft unified interpretations of SOLAS chapter II-1, the 1988 Load Lines Protocol and the Code on noise levels on board ships.

Draft Explanatory Notes to Interim guidelines on second generation intact stability criteria agreed

The sub-committee agreed draft Explanatory Notes to the Interim guidelines on second generation intact stability criteria which are being used on a trial basis, following their approval by MSC (MSC 102). The Explanatory Notes provide specific guidance to assist in the uniform interpretation and application of the Interim Guidelines.

Mandatory criteria and recommended provisions regarding intact stability are set out in IMO’s 2008 Intact Stability (IS) Code, which is mandatory under chapter II-1 of the SOLAS Convention and the 1988 Load Lines Protocol. Advanced computer technology and intensive research have enabled “second generation” intact stability criteria to be developed, for a comprehensive safety assessment of ship dynamics in waves. They are based on first principles and latest technology, as opposed to predominant use of casualty records which form the basis of the mandatory intact stability criteria.

The Interim Guidelines address vulnerability criteria, direct stability failure assessment and operational measures and contain performance-based criteria for assessing five dynamic stability failure modes in waves: dead ship condition, excessive acceleration, pure loss of stability, parametric rolling and surf-riding/broaching.

Draft amendments to the ESP Code finalized

The sub-committee finalized draft amendments to the International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections during Surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers, 2011 (ESP Code), intended to address safety issues that were identified during the flag Stateʹs marine safety investigation of the loss of MV Stella Daisy, by increasing the frequency of inspections of void spaces, based on the condition of hard coatings.

The draft amendments stipulate that void spaces should be inspected annually when the condition of coatings are less than GOOD (as determined in the ESP Code).

Performance standards for water level detectors revised

The sub-committee agreed to a draft revision of the Performance standards for water level detectors (resolution MSC.188(79)/Rev.1). The revision expands the application of the performance standards to water level detectors on multiple hold cargo ships other than bulk carriers and tankers as prescribed in new SOLAS regulation II-1/25-1, which is expected to enter into force on 1 January 2024 and will require the installation of such water level detectors.

The revision adds two new sections to the Performance standards with respect to the use of bilge alarms as water level detectors on multiple hold cargo ships for compliance with new SOLAS regulation II-1/25-1 and the periodic testing of water level detectors on board. It was agreed that the draft revised performance standards should apply to water level detectors installed on or after 1 January 2024.

Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for SOLAS chapter II-1

SOLAS provisions allow the approval of alternative designs and arrangements, provided that they meet the intent of the requirements concerned and provide an equivalent level of safety. To support the development of new designs and alternative technology, IMO has been developing goals and functional requirements.

The sub-committee agreed, in principle, to the draft goal, functional requirements and expected performances for SOLAS chapter II-1, part D on electrical installations.

The draft goal for alternative designs and arrangements is: “To ensure adequate availability of electrically-powered services for safe operation of the ship and protect the persons on board from hazards of electrical origin in normal and emergency conditions.”

In 2019, MSC approved Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for SOLAS chapters II-1 and III (MSC.1/Circ.1212/Rev.1), outlining the methodology for the engineering analysis required by SOLAS regulations II-1/55 and III/38 on alternative design and arrangements, applying to a specific engineering or life-saving system, design or arrangements for which the approval of an alternative design deviating from the prescriptive requirements of SOLAS chapters II-1 and III is sought.

Prohibiting asbestos on mobile offshore drilling units

The sub-committee established a correspondence group to develop draft amendments to the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units to prohibit the use of materials containing asbestos, including control of storage of such materials on board all MODUs.

This would align the MODU Code with the provisions of SOLAS regulation II-1/3-5.