Bulk Carriers - SOLAS Amendments

IMO has adopted new regulations for bulk carriers as part of a programme of measures aimed at improving bulk carrier safety. The measures were adopted during 76th session of IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which met in December 2002.* 

The Committee adopted amendments to Chapter XII (Additional Safety Measures for Bulk Carriers) of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as amended, to require the fitting of high level alarms and level monitoring systems on all bulk carriers, in order to detect water ingress.

The recommendation for the fitting of such alarms was first highlighted during the meeting of the Working Group on Bulk Carrier Safety held during the MSC's 74th session in December 2001, following on from recommendations of the United Kingdom Report of the re-opened formal investigation into the loss of the mv Derbyshire.

• The new regulation XII/12 on Hold, Ballast and Dry Space Water Level Detectors will require the fitting of such alarms on all bulk carriers regardless of their date of construction. The requirement is expected to enter into force on 1 July 2004, under the tacit acceptance procedure.
• In addition, a new regulation XII/13 on Availability of Pumping Systems would require the means for draining and pumping dry space bilges and ballast tanks any part of which is located forward of the collision bulkhead to be capable of being brought into operation from a readily accessible enclosed space.
• A further regulation affecting bulk carriers was also adopted: Access to spaces in cargo areas of oil tankers and bulk carriers. The new regulation II-1/3-6 in SOLAS Chapter II-1 (Construction - Structure, Subdivision and Stability, Machinery and Electrical Installations), Part B (Subdivision and Stability), is intended to ensure that vessels can be properly inspected throughout their lifespan, by designing and building the ship to provide suitable means for access. Associated Technical provisions for means of access for inspections, also adopted, are mandatory under the new regulation.

Other issues covered by the MSC included recommendations for further work on bulk carrier safety, maritime security and places of refuge. These are reported in IMO briefing 43/2002.

* MSC 76th Session: 2 to 13 December. This was in parallel with a Diplomatic Conference on Maritime Security, which adopted new measures to enhance maritime security.