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Meeting in the IMO Sub-Committee on Stability, Load Lines and Fishing Vessel Safety (SLF)
From 16 to 20 January 2012, the IMO Sub-Committee on Stability, Load Lines and Fishing Vessel Safety (SLF) held its 54th session.
Among the main items on the agenda were the following:
Next generation of the Intact Stability Code
In connection with the completed revision of the Intact Stability Code (2009), it was agreed that the code should be revised further with a view to incorporating a more risk-based approach to the stability provisions. The code should, inter alia, contain criteria for calculating the dynamic stability. Consequently, the task was placed on the agenda under the working title “next generation of the Intact Stability Code”.
In the Sub-Committee, it was agreed that the code should consist of three levels at which it should be possible to have one’s intact stability approved, starting with a simple approval containing a built-in high safety factor. In case of more complex ship designs, it could be necessary to choose more advanced calculation methods, such as direct calculations of the dynamic stability at level three in order to achieve the necessary approval.
It was decided to continue the work in a correspondence group until the next session of the Sub-Committee to be held in 2013. The Danish Maritime Authority takes part in this work.
Today, the Intact Stability Code consists of two parts – a mandatory part (Part A) and a non-mandatory part (Part B). They both entered into force in Denmark on 1 July 2009. It has not yet been decided which of the two parts (A or B) the “next generation of the Intact Stability Code” should form a part of.
The drafting of updated guidelines for approval of the leak stability of tankers
The Sub-Committee had also established a working group the purpose of which was to draw up updated guidelines for approval of the leak stability of tankers, including the possible introduction of mandatory requirements for a leak stability computer on board tankers (applicable to oil, chemical and gas tankers alike).
The work included a thorough scrutiny of the guidelines already in use concerning the carrying out and approval of leak stability calculations on tankers as well as a scrutiny of the guidelines for the on-board verification of compliance with the leak stability requirements for a given loading conditions. Both are to form part of an overall “package solution”.
The working group also considered any possible amendments to existing regulations in this area (MARPOL Annex I, the IBC and the IGC Codes as well as the International Load Line Convention).
Finally, it was discussed introducing a requirement for mandatory leak stability computers (both intact and leak stability) on board tankers. The work will continue and is expected to be finalised at the next Sub-Committee session.
Regulations on anchor-handling vessels
Norway had submitted a proposal for a number of amendments to Intact Stability Code with a view to including relevant impacts on the ship’s stability during anchor-handling operations. The Norwegian proposal was well-received. However, the other Member States, including Denmark, presented a proposal for a number of clarifications and amendments, for which reason it was decided – considering the current workload revising the code – that Norway should collect proposals from the Member States and submit a revised proposal for the next session of the Sub-Committee.
Leak stability
Also at this session, the Sub-Committee had established a working group the purpose of which was to consider leak stability issues since the introduction of the new probabilistic leak stability chapter in 2009 had led to a need to agree on a number of interpretations in order to ensure homogenous application of the regulations.
At this session, the following were among the issues considered:
It was decided to continue the work in correspondence groups until the next Sub-Committee session. The Danish Maritime Authority takes part in this work.
The Stockholm Agreement – ”water on deck”
Since a number of EU countries had expressed concern whether the new SOLAS provisions on leak stabililty (SOLAS 2009) took sufficient account of water on deck on ro-ro passenger ships (the so-called Stockholm Agreement), the SLF Sub-Committee had been considering this in more detail. The issue was of great priority, but for reasons of time it was, however, not possible to discuss this issue in depth, for which reason a correspondence group was established with the purpose of discussing whether the new regulations took sufficient account of “water on deck”.
At present, there are several international projects, among other things with the participation of the Danish Maritime Authority, which are examining the possibility of incorporating the “water on deck” problem into existing regulations. At this session, several of the on-going projects were presented. Most of them are expected to be finalised during 2012 so that they can form part of the discussions at the next session of the SLF Sub-Committee.
Revision of the International Tonnage Measurement Convention
The SLF Sub-Committee assessed the possibility of revising the Convention on the Tonnage Measurement of Ships, TM 1969, in order to achieve a common interpretation of various measurement parameters in connection with, among other things, port dues and the design of accommodation areas.
The Sub-Committee found that there might be an urgent need for a revision, but recognised at the same time that the consequences of the amendments to the ships should be examined in more detail. Consequently, it was decided to continue the work in a correspondence group until the next session.
The next session of the Sub-Committee is expected to be held in January 2013.
For more information about the meeting, please contact Special Advisor Jeppe Skovbakke Juhl (by telephone +45 39 17 46 15 or by e-mail jj@dma.dk).
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