VDR, AIS, COLREGS amendments, HSC Code and more - MSC 73

January 2001

Extracts from IMO briefings 28 and 29 2000 on Maritime Safety Committee - 73rd session: 27 November - 6 December 2000:

Ships to carry "black boxes" under new regulations

Passenger ships and ships other than passenger ships of 3000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2002 will have to carry voyage data recorders (VDRs) to assist in accident investigations, under new regulations adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The mandatory regulations were among a raft of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS) adopted by IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), at its 73^rd session from 27 November to 6 December 2000.

Like the black boxes carried on aircraft, VDRs enable accident investigators to review procedures and instructions in the moments before an incident and help to identify the cause of any accident. The regulations for VDRs are contained in a revised Chapter V (Safety of Navigation) of SOLAS which also makes it mandatory for certain ships to carry an automatic identification system (AIS). Currently ships are recommended but not required to carry VDRs. Performance standards for VDRs were adopted by IMO in 1997.

VDR requirements

The VDR requirements are part of a new revised Chapter V of SOLAS on Safety of Navigation. The following ships will be required to carry VDRs, under regulation 20 of the new SOLAS Chapter V:

• passenger ships constructed on or after 1 July 2002;
• ro-ro passenger ships constructed before 1 July 2002 not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2002;
• passenger ships other than ro-ro passenger ships constructed before 1 July 2002 not later than 1 January 2004; and
• ships, other than passenger ships, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2002.

VDRs are required to meet performance standards "not inferior to those adopted by the Organization". Performance standards for VDRs were adopted in 1997 and give details on data to be recorded and VDR specifications. They state that the VDR should continuously maintain sequential records of pre-selected data items relating to status and output of the ship's equipment and command and control of the ship. The VDR should be installed in a protective capsule that is brightly coloured and fitted with an appropriate device to aid location. It should be entirely automatic in normal operation. Under the new regulation, all VDRs must undergo an annual performance test.

Administrations may exempt ships, other than ro-ro passenger ships, constructed before 1 July 2002, from being fitted with a VDR where it can be demonstrated that interfacing a VDR with the existing equipment on the ship is unreasonable and impracticable.

Study to examine VDRs for existing cargo ships

The MSC adopted a resolution on the carriage of VDRs on existing cargo ships, which calls for a feasibility study to be carried out to ascertain the need for mandatory carriage of VDRs on these ships. The feasibility study, to be carried out by the Sub-Committee on Safety of Navigation (and other Sub-Committees as appropriate), will take into account such factors as practicability, technical problems relating to the retrofitting of VDRs, adequacy of existing performance standards including the possible development of simplified standards, experience in the use of VDRs on ships already fitted with them, including data that could not have been obtained without VDRs, and relevant financial implications, including a cost-benefit analysis.

The aim is to finalize the study by January 2004 so that, if the study demonstrates a compelling need for mandatory carriage of VDRs on existing cargo ships, relevant amendments to SOLAS Chapter V and the associated performance standards can be drafted. In the meantime, the resolution invites Governments to encourage shipowners to install VDRs on existing cargo ships voluntarily, so that wide experience of their use may be gained.

Update

June 2006 - VDR for Cargo Ships

AIS transponders

Regulation 19 of the new Chapter V -Carriage requirements for shipborne navigational systems and equipment – sets outnavigational equipment to be carried on board ships, according to ship type. Most equipment (gyrocompass, radar etc) was already required under the existing Chapter V, but the new regulation adds a requirement for carriage of automatic identification systems (AISs) capable of providing information about the ship to other ships and to coastal authorities automatically.

The regulation requires AIS to be fitted aboard all ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards engaged on international voyages, cargo ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards not engaged on international voyages and passenger ships irrespective of size built on or after 1 July 2002. It also applies to ships engaged on international voyages constructed before 1 July 2002, according to the following timetable:

• passenger ships, not later than 1 July 2003;
• tankers, not later than the first survey for safety equipment on or after 1 July 2003;
• ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage and upwards, not later than 1 July 2004;
• ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 50,000 gross tonnage, not later than 1 July 2005;
• ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 10,000 gross tonnage, not later than 1 July 2006.
• ships, other than passenger ships and tankers, of 300 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 3,000 gross tonnage, not later than 1 July 2007;

Ships not engaged on international voyages constructed before 1 July 2002, will have to fit AISs not later than 1 July 2008. A flag State may exempt ships from carrying AISs when ships will be taken permanently out of service within two years after the implementation date.

Performance standards for AIS were adopted in 1998. The new regulation requires that AIS shall:

• provide information - including the ship's identity, type, position, course, speed, navigational status and other safety-related information - automatically to appropriately equipped shore stations, other ships and aircraft;
• receive automatically such information from similarly fitted ships;
• monitor and track ships;
• exchange data with shore-based facilities.

Amendments to COLREGs approved

The Committee approved draft amendments to the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972 (COLREGs), to be put forward to the 22nd IMO Assembly in November 2001 for final adoption. The amendments concern:

• whistles and sound signals (Rules 33 and 35);
• action to avoid collision (Rule 8 (a)) - to make it clear that any action to avoid collision should be taken in accordance with the relevant rules in the COLREGs;
• amendments with respect to high-speed craft (relating to the vertical separation of masthead lights); and
• amendments with relation to Wing-In-Ground (WIG) craft, to include a rule that WIG craft should keep well clear of all other vessels and another rule that WIG craft should exhibit a high-intensity all-round flashing red light when taking off, landing and in-flight near the surface.

A new High-Speed Craft Code 2000

Entry into force 1 July 2002 under tacit acceptance. An updated version of the mandatory High-Speed Craft Code adopted in 1994. The Code is mandatory under SOLAS chapter X (Safety measures for high-speed craft). The new International Code for High Speed Craft, 2000 will apply to all HSC built on or after the date of entry into force. The original HSC Code was adopted by IMO in May 1994, but the rapid pace of development in this sector of shipping has meant an early revision of the Code. The original Code will continue to apply to existing high-speed craft. The changes incorporated in the new Code are intended to bring it into line with amendments to SOLAS and new recommendations that have been adopted in the past four years - for example, requirements covering public address systems and helicopter pick-up areas. Consequential amendments to SOLAS chapter X (Safety measures for high-speed craft) - to refer to the new Code - were also adopted.

For the full text of IMO briefing 29, which additionally covers the issues set out below, click here:

• Revised STCW - "White List" agreed
Elimination of sub-standard oil tankers
• Safety of large passenger ships
• Piracy and armed robbery against ships - code approved
• Standardized tests for life-saving appliances approved
• IMDG Code to be made mandatory
• Passenger submersibles - guidelines approved
• Trafficking or transport of illegal migrants by sea
• Seafarer certificate forgery
• Amendments adopted
• Other measures
• List of circulars approved by MSC 73