IMO: List of amendments expected to enter into force in 2017

Convention Code	Regulation	Subject	Entry in force	New Ship	Existing Ship	Type of Ship	Imo Res.
SOLAS	SOLAS II-2/4 and 11	Venting arrangements of cargo tanks	1 January 2017	x		Tankers,  keel laid on or after 1 January 2017	MSC.392(95)
SOLAS	SOLAS Appendix	Revision of certificate forms in SOLAS （IGF Code	1 January 2017	x	x	All Cargo ship: 500GT or over	MSC.392(95) MSC.394(95) MSC.395(95)
SOLAS,  IGF Code	SOLAS  II-1, II-2, IGF Code	Newly enactment of the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code)	1. Ships contracted for construction on or after 1 January 2017 2. Ships keel laid on or after 1 July 2017, in the absence of a building contract 3. Ships delivered on or after 1 January 2021 4.Ships converted to use gases or other low-flashpoint fuels on or after 1 January 2017	x	x	All ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels	MSC.391(95)  MSC.392(95)
SOLAS	SOLAS II-2/20	Air quality control system	1 January 2017	x	x	All cargo ships fitted with vehicle, special category and ro-ro spaces ship: 500GT or over	MSC.392(95)
SOLAS	IMSBC Code	Amendments to the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code	1 January 2017 Administrations may apply it on a voluntary basis as from 1 January 2016.	x	x	All ships carrying IMSBC cargo	MSC.393(95)
MARPOL	MARPOL  Annex I/12	MARPOL Annex I - Tanks for oil residues (sludge)	1 January 2017	x	x	All ships	MEPC.266(68)
MARPOL	MARPOL Annex I, II, IV and V	Polar Code and Amendment to MARPOL Annex I, II, IV and V	1 January 2017	x	x	All ships	MEPC.264(68) MEPC.265(68)
MARPOL	MARPOL  Annex IV	Discharge of sewage from passenger ships within special area	New ships: - Ships contracted for construction on or after 1 June 2019 - Ships keel laid on or after 1 June 2019, in the absence of a building contract - Ships delivered on or after 1 June 2021 Existing Ships:- 1 June 2021 other than those specified in below; - 1 June 2023 for existing passenger ships en route directly to or from a port located outside the special area and to or from a port located east of longitude 28˚10' E within the special area that do not make any other port calls within the special area	x	x	Passenger ships	MEPC.274(69) MEPC.275(69)
MARPOL	NOx Technical Code	Amendments to the NOx Technical Code related to gas-fuelled engines and dual fuel engines	Marine diesel engine installed on or after 1 September 2017	x		All ships	MEPC.272(69)
MARPOL	MARPOL Annex II/ Appendix I	Amendments to guidelines for the categorization of noxious liquid substances	1 September 2017	x	x	Chemical Tankers	MEPC.270(69)
MARPOL	MARPOL Annex VI	Record for operational compliance with NOx Tier III emission control areas (ECA)	1 September 2017	x	x	All ships	MEPC.271(69)
STCW	STCW I, V, STCW Code	Amendments to STCW and STCW Code (IGF Code related). STCW Manila amendments transitional provisions end	New Ship: 1. Ships contracted for construction on or after 1 January 2017 2. Ships keel laid on or after 1 July 2017, in the absence of a building contract 3. Ships delivered on or after 1 January 2021 Existing Ship: Ships converted to use gases or other low-flashpoint fuels on or after 1 January 2017	x	x	All ships using gases or other low-flashpoint fuels	MSC.396(95) MSC.397(95) STCW.7/Circ.16
BWM	IBWMC Ratification status	International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments (BWM)	New Ships:  By the completion date of the construction Existing Ships: By the first renewal survey associated with the IOPP Certificate after 8 September 2017	x	x	All vessels of 400GT or more	BWM/CONF  Res. A1088(28) MEPC69 USCG NVIC 07-04

Gard Alert: Port state CICs in 2016

This year’s concentrated inspection campaigns (CICs) by port state authorities will focus on compliance with the Maritime Labour Convention and the vessel’s Cargo Securing Manual.




Port state authorities have announced the following CICs, lasting three months from 1 September to 30 November 2016:

Paris MoU
Their CIC for 2016 is aimed at verifying compliance with relevant parts of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC) and the campaign demonstrates the importance of decent working and living conditions onboard ships, as well as ensuring that seafarers’ rights are respected.
The MLC entered into force on 20 August 2013 and sets out the obligations of shipowners and operators with respect to seafarers’ contractual arrangements, working hours, accommodation and recreational facilities, catering standards and their health and safety. Although the Convention has not been ratified worldwide, it has widespread effect because of its "no more favourable treatment” clause which ensures that no advantage is to be gained from registering a ship in a state that is not a party to the Convention.
According to Paris MoU’s annual report for 2015, approximately 15 per cent of all registered deficiencies in the region in 2015 related to working and living conditions on board ships. Most deficiencies were found in the areas of health and safety and accident prevention (41%), food and catering (17%), hours of work and rest (12%), accommodation (9%) and seafarers’ employment agreements (6%).
The Paris MoU press release dated 28 July 2016, includes a questionnaire containing 12 selected items to be used by Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) during their regular inspections (click here for a copy).

Tokyo, Black Sea and Indian Ocean MoUs
Their CICs for 2016 are aimed at verifying compliance with the relevant parts of SOLAS and related guidelines concerning procedures and measures in place for the safe stowage and securing of cargo. The CIC will also be important in light of the mandatory container weighing requirements that came into force on 1 July 2016.
In accordance with SOLAS Chapters VI/VII and the Code of Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code), cargo units, including containers, shall be stowed and secured throughout the voyage in accordance with an approved Cargo Securing Manual. The Cargo Securing Manual is mandatory on all types of ships engaged in the carriage of all cargoes other than solid and liquid bulk cargoes. Guidelines for the preparation of the Cargo Securing Manual is available through MSC.1/Circ.1353/Rev.1.
It is important that securing devices meet the accepted functional and strength criteria applicable to the ship and its cargo. It is also important that officers on board are aware of the magnitude and direction of the forces involved and the correct application and limitations of the cargo securing devices. The crew and other persons employed for the securing of cargoes should be instructed in the correct application and use of the cargo securing devices on board the ship.
The Tokyo MoU press release dated 1 August 2016, contains a questionnaire with 10 selected items to be used by PSCOs during their regular inspections (click here for a copy). Similar questionnaires are likely to be used by attending PSCOs in all the MoU regions.

Recommendations
Gard’s Members and clients are encouraged to become familiar with the CIC criteria prior to the commencement of the campaigns. As most of the Maritime Administrations have delegated the certification of ships under IMO Conventions and Codes to the classification societies, we also recommend contacting vessels’ classification societies to obtain more detailed information on typical survey procedures related to the announced CICs.
A self-inspection/assessment on board is recommended and all crew members should be provided with training prior to entering the port of inspection during the CIC period.
When deficiencies are found, actions by the port state may vary from recording a deficiency and instructing the Master to rectify it within a certain period of time, to detaining the ship until serious deficiencies have been rectified. The results of the CICs will be analysed and findings will be presented to the governing body of the MoUs for submission to the IMO.

Related webpages and documents
The MoU organisations:

• Paris MoU: www.parismou.org
• Tokyo MoU: www.tokyo-mou.org
• Black Sea MoU: www.bsmou.org
• Indian Ocean MoU: www.iomou.org

The Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC):

• The International Labour Organization’s (ILOs) “MLC website”
• Gard Member Circulars:
• No. 11/2016 “Update on the Maritime Labour Convention”
• No. 5/2013 “Entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC)”
• No. 4/2013 “Entry into force of the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC)”
• Other Gard Updates:
• “Emergency medical care at sea - is Telemedicine the answer?”, December 2015
•  “The dangers of working at heights below deck”, November 2014
• “Port state authorities' enforcement of the MLC”, July 2013
•  “Frequently Asked Questions - Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC)”, August 2013
• “Look after your back during manual work”, December 2012
• “The impact of diet on performance and health”, December 2011

Cargo securing arrangements:

• IMO MSC.1/Circ.1353/Rev.1 “Revised guidelines for the preparation of the cargo securing manual”, 15 December 2014
• Gard Updates:
  • “Loading a packed container without a verified weight to be a violation of SOLAS”, April 2016
  • “Cause and prevention of container loss at sea”, July 2015
  • “Heavy lift cargoes - Contractual issues and risk allocation”, August 2011
  • “Damage to cargoes of wind turbine blades”, January 2011
  • “Stowing and securing of jumbo bags filled with granulated cargo”, April 2011
  • “The dangers of hot work on cargo securings”, April 2010
  • “Improper lashing and securing of cargo”, February 2004
  
  

We provide assistance to shipping companies, ship operators, ship owners, ports and harbours, insurance teams and any other interested party for all cases whereby it is important to have someone with a marine background at the scene in case of incident, accident or dispute.