SOLAS Chapter II-2

-The fire protection arrangements in relation to cabin balconies on passenger ships will enter into force 1 July 2008. -New fire hoses fitted after 1 July 2008 shall comply with the following requirement: The arrangements should be such that at least two jets of water can reach any part of the deck in the cargo area and those portions of the cargo containment system and tanks covers above the deck. The necessary number of fire hydrants should be located to satisfy the above arrangements and to comply with the requirements of SOLAS regulation II-2/10.2.1.5.1 and II-2/10.2.3.3, with hose lengths as specified in regulation II-2/10.2.3.1.1

SOLAS Chapter II-1

This regulation provides technical standards for protective coating in dedicated seawater ballast tanks of all type of ships of not less than 500 gross tonnage and double side skin spaces arranged in bulk carriers of 150m in length .This regulation will enter into force on 1 July 2008.

SOLAS Chapter III

-Free-fall lifeboats on load release systems and rescue boats on load release gear are subject to annual and 5 yearly inspection and tests by the manufacturer or person agreed by properly trained personnel;however,according to MSC Circ 1206, properly trained personnel means the manufacturer's representative or a person appropriately trained and certified by the manufacturer for the work to be done.A report of the test shall be made available to the Surveyor by the party performing the test. The overload tests in five year intervals shall be done in the presence of the Society's surveyor. -Liferafts provided for easy side-to side transfer shall have a mass of less than 185 kg

- The training manual shall be written in the working language of the ship -The general emergency alarm system shall be audible throughout all the accommodation and normal crew working spaces. On passenger ships, the system shall also be audible on all open decks. -New condition for accepting a lifeboat as a rescue boat (its launching and recovery arrangements shall also comply with the requirements for a rescue boat).MSC216(82) -Rescue boats shall be stowed in a fully inflated condition at all times if of the inflated type.

Date of entry:1 July 2008 The area where the remotely located survival craft, required by regulation 31.1.4 of SOLAS III, are stowed should be provided with embarkation ladder or other means of embarkation enabling descent to the water in a controlled manner in accordance with 11.7 of SOLAS III according to the interpretation circulated in IMO circular MSC.1/Circ. 1243. Regarding this, a knotted rope is not acceptable as "other means of embarkation". Above requirements should be applied to all cargo ships regardless of date of construction. And the compliance with this regulation is confirmed at the next annual survey after 1 October 2008 in respect of the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate.

PERIODIC TESTING OF IMMERSION SUIT AND ANTI-EXPOSURE SUIT SEAMS AND CLOSURES (MSC/Circ.1114)
To ensure the maintenance of adequate strength and watertightness of seams and closures of immersion suits and anti-exposure suits with age, each suit should be subjected to an air pressure test at intervals not exceeding three years, or more frequently for suits over ten years of age in accordance with the guidelines set out in IMO Circular MSC/Circ.1114 dated 25 May 2004 as part of the maintenance required to be carried out by SOLAS Reg III/20.3.1

Amendments to SOLAS Chapter III - Life-saving appliances and arrangements In Regulation 7 - Personal life-saving appliances, the amendments add a new requirement for infant lifejackets. For passenger ships on voyages of less than 24 hours, a number of infant lifejackets equal to at least 2.5% of the number of passengers on board is to be provided; and for passenger ships on voyages of 24 hours or greater, infant lifejackets are to be provided for each infant on board. A further amendment relates to the provision of lifejackets for larger passengers and states that, if the adult lifejackets provided are not designed to fit persons with a chest girth of up to 1,750 mm, a sufficient number of suitable accessories are to be available on board to allow them to be secured to such persons. Date of entry:1 july 2010 Amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance Code (LSA Code)

The amendments include the requirement that all life saving appliances should withstand in stowage an air temperature range of 30C to +65C and personal life-saving appliances should remain operational throughout an air temperature range of -15C to +40C. The colour of life-saving appliances is now specified to be "of international or vivid reddish orange, or a comparably highly visible colour on all parts where this will assist detection at sea". The existing section 2.2 on General requirements for lifejackets is revised and replaced. Further amendments relate to specifications for immersion suits and anti-exposure suits.

SOLAS Chapter V;

Regulation 20: -All ships of 20 000 gross tonnage and upwards and constructed on or after 1 July 2006;but not later than 1 July 2009 being fitted with a VDR. - All ships of 3000 gross tonnage and upwards,but not less than 20000 gross tonnage and constructed before 1 July 2002;but not later than 1 July 2010 being fitted with a VDR. Res A 861(20): The VDR should provide an interface for downloading the stored data and playback the information to an external computer. The interface should be compatible with an internationally recognized format, such as Ethernet, USB, FireWire, or equivalent.

Regulation 19.2.4:
IMO has developed guidelines on annual testing of AIS set out in the annex of an MSC circular, MSC.1/Circ.1252 (Guidelines On Annual Testing Of The Automatic Identification System (AIS)) dated 22 October 2007 to achieve a uniform and standard method of testing, including a standard format of a test report. The annual inspection and testing of the AIS is part of the survey in respect of the Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, paragraph 1 of MSC.1/Circ.1252 states that "the annual testing of the AIS should be carried out by a qualified radio inspector".

Latest Amendments of Solas is to be Effective on 1 January 2009

1-The amendments primarily revise Parts A, B and B-1 of Chapter II-1 dealing with subdivision and stability of ships resulting in the re-structuring and re-organising of those parts. The amendments also bring about the change of prescribed subdivision and damaged stability criteria for passenger ships from deterministic criteria to probabilistic criteria. This is to harmonise with the prescribed probabilistic criteria for subdivision and damaged stability for cargo ships. 2 The re-structuring and re-organising of those parts in Chapter II-1 leads to consequential editorial change in references to regulation numbers in some regulations in Chapters II-2, VI, IX, XI-1, XI-2 and XII. 4 The significant changes brought about by the amendments are the following new requirements : (a) Passenger ships of 120 metres and upwards in length as defined in the International Convention on Load Lines or having 3 or more main vertical zones constructed on or after 1 July 2010 are required to be designed so that essential shipboard systems remain operational when any single watertight compartment is flooded. (Reg II-1/8-1).

(b) Passenger ships constructed on or after 1 July 2010 are required to be fitted with a flooding detection system for watertight spaces below the bulkhead deck (Reg II-1/22-1). (c) Company as defined in Regulation IX/1 and registered owners of ships are required to be provided with an identification number conforming to the IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme adopted by Resolution MSC.160(78). This identification number is to be inserted on the Document of Compliance (DOC) and the Safety Management Certificate (SMC) required by the International Safety Management (ISM) Code, the Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR) required by Regulation XI-1/5 and the International Ship Security Certificate (ISSC) required by the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code. (Reg XI-1/3-1). (d) The Continuous Synopsis Record issued or updated on or after 1 January 2009 will contain the registered owner identification number and the Company identification number. (Reg XI-1/5.3). Latest Amendments of Solas is to be Effective on 1 July 2009
20 Jan 2009

Amendment to SOLAS chapter IV, to add a new regulation 4-1 on GMDSS satellite providers. The new regulation provides for the MSC to determine the criteria, procedures and arrangements for the evaluation, recognition, review and oversight of the provision of mobile satellite communication services in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS). See also resolution A.1001(25) Criteria for the provision of mobile-satellite communication systems in the GMDSS adopted by the IMO Assembly at its 25th session in November 2007. Amendment to SOLAS chapter VI, to add a new regulation 5-1 on material safety data sheets (MSDS), to require ships carrying MARPOL Annex I cargoes (oil) and marine fuel oils to be provided with a material safety data sheet prior to loading such cargoes. The regulation refers to the Recommendation for material safety data sheets (MSDS) for MARPOL Annex I cargoes and marine fuel oils, adopted by the Organization through resolution MSC.150(77). Amendment to the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium and High-Level Radioactive Wastes on Board Ships (INF Code), specifically, to Chapter 2, on Damage Stability, to bring it into line with updates to SOLAS. Amendments to forms contained in the appendix to the Annex to the 1988 SOLAS Protocol to add a section to cover alternative design and arrangements (Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate and Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate). Also, similar amendments to the forms for the Nuclear Passenger Safety Certificate and the Nuclear Cargo Ship Safety

Certificate contained in the appendix to the Annex to the 1974 SOLAS Convention.

**********MSDS requirement for fuel deliveries from 1st July 2009 With effect from 1st July 2009, SOLAS REG VI/5-1 will require marine fuel suppliers to provide the ship's crew , prior to delivery, with a material safety data sheet for each type of oil fuel to be loaded to the ship

**********As of 1 July 2009, within a 24 mile limit off the coast of California, ships must use DMA and DMB fuels exclusively. The following limits are applicable to sulphur content: Marine gas oil (DMA) => 1.5% Marine diesel oil (DMB) => 0.5% These limits apply to main engines, auxiliary engines and boilers alike. From 1 January 2012 a limit of 0.1% sulphur content will apply to both DMA and DMB, unless otherwise advised by Californian authorities

MARPOL AMMENDMENTS:
AMENDMENTS TO MARPOL ANNEX I TO ADD CHAPTER 9 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OR CARRIAGE OF OILS IN THE ANTARCTIC AREA A new chapter 9 is added as follows: "CHAPTER 9 SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR THE USE OR CARRIAGE OF OILS IN THE ANTARCTIC AREA Regulation 43 Special requirements for the use or carriage of oils in the Antarctic area 1 With the exception of vessels engaged in securing the safety of ships or in a search and rescue operation, the carriage in bulk as cargo or carriage and use as fuel of the following: .1 crude oils having a density at 15C higher than 900 kg/m3; .2 oils, other than crude oils, having a density at 15C higher than 900 kg/m3or a kinematic viscosity at 50C higher than 180 mm2/s; or .3 bitumen, tar and their emulsions, shall be prohibited in the Antarctic area, as defined in Annex I, regulation 1.11.7. 2 When prior operations have included the carriage or use of oils listed in paragraphs 1.1 to 1.3 of this regulation, the cleaning or flushing of tanks or pipelines is not required." ( Resolution MEPC.189(60) deals with the amendment to MARPOL 73/78 by adding a new chapter (Chapter 9) comprising a new regulation (Regulation 43) to Annex I of the Convention. The new Regulation 43 stipulates the special requirements for the use or carriage of oils in the Antarctic area including the prohibition of the use and carriage of Heavy Grade Oil in the area.)

********* The Revised MARPOL Annex VI enters into force on1 July 2010. One of the requirements, under Regulation 12, calls for all ships to maintain a list of equipment containing ozone depleting substances (ODS) and an ODS record book. The regulation covers the recording of ODS use, deliberate and non-deliberate emission of ODS and the disposing of equipment containing ODS from ships. The purpose of this ODS data recording is to keep a record of the condition and quantities of ODS on board a ship and serves as the basis for data collection by the relevant Flag State. Key elements of this regulation requirement are as follows: Ozone depleting substances means controlled substances as defined in paragraph 1.4 of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, 1987, and listed in Annexes A, B, C or E to the said Protocol in force at the time of application or interpretation of Annex 13 to the Revised MARPOL Annex VI.

Ozone depleting substances that may be found on board ships include but are not limited to: Halon 1211 Halon 1301 Halon 2402 CFC-11 CFC-12 CFC-113 CFC-114 CFC-115 The definition of ODS and the phase out dates in the Revised MARPOL Annex VI are aligned with the Montreal Protocol, 1987. Regulation 12 does not apply to permanently sealed equipment where there are no refrigerant charging connections or potentially removable components containing ODS. Each ship is to maintain a list of equipment containing ODS and also an ODS Record Book, recording each occasion of actions affecting that equipment such as servicing, maintaining, repairing or disposing of the system or the equipment containing ODS. Entries in the ODS Record Book are to be recorded in terms of mass (kg) of the substance and be completed without delay on each occasion with respect to the following: Recharge, full or partial, of equipment containing ODS Repair or maintenance of equipment containing ODS Discharge of ODS to atmosphere - deliberate and non-deliberate Discharge of ODS to land-based facilities Supply of ODS to ship The ODS Record Book can be a part of an existing log book or electronic recording system, as approved by the Administration. To assist owners/operators/charterers in complying with Regulation 12, ABS has prepared templates for the List of Equipment containing ODS and the ODS Log Sheet for general use, which are available below for download.

***********Revised Annex II
Parties to MARPOL 73/78 adopted the revised Annex II for the control of pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in bulk.For the purpose of the regulations of this Annex,noxious substances shall be divided into four new categories, categories as follows: Category X Substances considered a major hazard Category Y Substances considered a hazard Category Z Substances considered a minor hazard Category OS Substances considered not to be a hazard to sea Vegetable oils is required to be carried in chemical tankers complying with the revised IBC Code as a ship type 2 with double hull

************MARPOL ANNEX IV SEWAGE

All ships falling under the scope of the MARPOL Annex IV and flying the flag of a Government which is a party to MARPOL Annex IV shall be certified by 27 September 2008. MARPOL Annex IV, applies to ships engaged in international voyages:

New ships over 400 Gross Tonnage and New ships of less than 400 Gross Tonnage, certified to carry more than 15 persons (crew and passengers)

For the purpose of MARPOL Annex IV, a new ship is a ship which meets one of the following criteria: - Contracted for construction on/after 27 September 2003 or, in the absence of a construction contract, the keel is laid on/after 27 September 2003; or - The ship is delivered on/after 27 September 2006. New ships under MARPOL Annex IV are bound to comply with applicable provisions as from 27 September 2003. Existing ships are bound to comply with applicable provisions and need to be certified no later than 27 September 2008 (5 years after entry into force of the Annex).

********MARPOL,Annex V(MEPC 172(57)

The International Maritime Organizations Marine Environment Protection Committee has decided that the Mediterranean Sea area will become a Special Area under MARPOL Annex V from 1st of May 2009. Member Governments are encouraged to comply immediately on a voluntary basis with the Special Area requirements.
MARPOL Annex V New Wider Caribbean special area
Takes effect from May 1, 2011

On May 1, 2011, the garbage discharge provisions for special areas under MARPOL Annex V will become effective for the Wider Caribbean*.

At the 60th session of the IMO's Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC) in March 2010 it was agreed that adequate reception facilities for garbage are now available in the Wider Caribbean area under the Annex V provisions, and therefore the garbage discharge provisions for special areas can be implemented. MARPOL Annex V states that within a special area garbage may only be disposed of as follows: "(a). disposal into the sea of the following is prohibited: (i). all plastics, including but not limited to synthetic ropes, synthetic fishing nets, plastic garbage bags and incinerator ashes from plastic products which may contain toxic or heavy metal residues; and (ii). all other garbage, including paper products, rags, glass, metal, bottles, crockery, dunnage, lining and packing materials; (b). except as provided in subparagraph (c) disposal into the sea of food wastes shall be made as far as practicable from land, but in any case not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land; (c). disposal into the Wider Caribbean Region of food wastes which have been passed through a comminuter or grinder shall be made as far as practicable from land, but in any case not less than 3 nautical miles from the nearest land. Comminuted or ground food wastes shall be capable of passing through a screen with openings no greater than 25 millimetres." * The Wider Caribbean is defined by MARPOL Annex V as the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea proper including the bays and seas therein and that portion of the Atlantic Ocean within the boundary constituted by the 30 N parallel from Florida eastward to 7730 W meridian, thence a rhumb line to the intersection of 20 N parallel and 59 W meridian, thence a rhumb line to the intersection of 720 N parallel and 50 W meridian, thence a rhumb line drawn south-westerly to the eastern boundary of French Guiana.

*******Resolution MEPC.164(56)-Amendments to MARPOL

Annexes I and IV
The amendments to MARPOL Annex I (reception facilities outside Special Areas) and Annex IV (discharge of sewage) are adopted by this Resolution. The amendments are expected to be accepted on 1 Jun 08 and enter into force on 1 Dec 08 The amendment to Annex I adds reference to regulation 34 (Control of discharge of oil) in regulation 38.2.5 of Annex I of MARPOL 73/78. Under the amended text of regulation 38.2.5, reception facilities will be required to be provided in ports for oily bilge waters and other residues from tankers, which cannot be discharged in accordance with regulation 34. The amendments to Annex IV provide that the sewage originating from spaces containing living animals, should not be discharged instantaneously but at a moderate rate when the ship is en route and proceeding at not less than 4 knots. Source IMO MEPC.164(56)

DANISH MARITIME AUTHORITY - MARPOL Reg. 12.2.2

The following requirement and clarification has been received from the DMA, in relation with the application of the new regulation 12.2.2 of MARPOL Annex I which entered into force on 1st January 2011: The regulation, which is applicable to every ship of 400 GT and above, requires that oil residue (sludge) tanks shall have no discharge connections to the bilge system, oily bilge water holding tank(s), tank top or oily water separators. For ships constructed on or after 31st December 1990, this matter was dealt with under the previous version of regulation 12 and Interpretation 17 (paragraph 17.1.3). However, this interpretation was not mandatory and its application depended on individual flag state requirements; consequently, some ships built between 1991 and 2010 do not comply with the interpretation. There is no applicable requirement/interpretation for ships built prior to 31st December 1990. It is the understanding of the Danish Maritime Authority (DMA) that regulation 12.2.2 applies to both new and existing ships. We also understand that it was accepted during the development of the regulation that modifications would be required to the piping systems of ships not built in compliance with the new requirements. However, we have become aware that some recognised organisations either do not require modifications to be carried out at all or they may allow modifications to be deferred until the next scheduled IOPPC renewal survey. On this background, please note that the DMA require the piping systems of non-compliant ships to be modified as necessary not later than the first IOPPC survey (annual, intermediate or renewal as applicable) conducted on or after 1st January this year. Source:Veristar

MARPOL,Annex I:STS Operations

13 08 2010 Ship to Ship (STS) operations between tankers will become regulated with the adoption of Resolution MEPC.186(59) to amend MARPOL 78/73 Annex I and introduce a new chapter eight intended to prevent pollution during transfer of oil cargo between oil tankers at sea. With the regulation entering into force on 1 January 2011, any oil tanker involved in STS operations will be required to have on board an STS operations plan, approved by the Administration no later than the date of the first annual, intermediate or renewal survey under MARPOL 73/78 Annex I carried out on or after 1 January 2011 but not later than 1 April 2012. The approved plan is to be developed taking into account information contained in the IMO Manual on Oil Pollution and the ICS and OCIMF STS Guide (Petroleum). The plan is required to prescribe how to conduct STS operations and should be written in the working language of the ship. The person supervising STS operations should be qualified to a level that satisfies training requirements outlined in the OCIMF STS Guide. Records of all STS operations are to be noted in the oil record book and retained on board for at least three years. Vessels subject to the regulation that plan STS operations within the territorial sea or the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of a Party to MARPOL are required to notify the relevant coastal state Authority at least 48 hours in advance of any STS operation. When the estimated time of arrival at the location or area for the STS operation changes by more than six hours, a revised estimated time of arrival is to be given. These regulations do not cover;

fuel oil bunkering operations oil transfer operations associated with fixed or floating platforms STS operations necessary for securing the safety of a ship or saving life at sea or for combating specific pollution incidents in order to minimize the damage from pollution, and STS operations where either of the ships involved is a warship, naval auxiliary or other ship owned or operated by a State and used, temporarily only on government non-commercial service.