Session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Stability and Load Lines and on Fishing Vessels’ Safety (SLF) 

The following were some of the major agenda items:

Next generation of the Intact Stability Code

In connection with the recent revision of the Intact Stability Code, there was an explicit request for the Code to have a more risk-based approach in general. For reasons of time, this was not incorporated sufficiently for which reason the task is now on the work programme under the working title “Next generation of the Intact Stability Code”.

The Code should, among other things, contain criteria for dynamic stability calculations.

The Sub-Committee agreed that the Code should consist of three levels at which to approve intact stability – beginning with a simple approval, containing a built-in high safety factor. In case of more complex designs, it should be possible to choose an approval by means of direct dynamic stability calculations.

Denmark follows this work closely and takes part in the correspondence group prior to the next session of the Sub-Committee in 2011.

Today, the Intact Stability Code consists of two parts – a mandatory part (Part A) and a non-mandatory part (Part B), which both entered into force in Denmark on 1 July 2009.

Safety of small fishing vessels

The work developing a new safety standard for fishing vessels with a length below 12 metres and fishing vessels without a wheelhouse was finalised and is submitted to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for approval as well as to the Technical Co-operation Committee (TC) for a decision on how to ensure the developing countries’ possibility of implementing the safety standard.

It is expected that the safety standard will be published in 2010, but it is not directly aimed at the Danish fishing fleet, which already complies with the standard as a consequence of national requirements.

Revision of the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969

SLF assessed the possibility of revising the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969, with a view to improving and reaching a common interpretation of the use of the tonnage parameter in connection with, among other things, port dues and the design of dwelling areas.

The Sub-Committee considered that there was an urgent need for a revision, but also recognized that the consequences of any amendments had to be examined in more detail.

A number of issues are outstanding as regards the choice of legal instrument for amending the Convention. This issue will be presented to the Maritime Safety Committee.

Watertight doors

The Sub-Committee discussed, among other things on the basis of a proposal made by the USA and Sweden, the possibilities of Administrations permitting passenger ships to keep the watertight doors open during voyages under special conditions, among other things on the condition that the doors are immediately closable. A number of delegations were not of the opinion that there were any conditions that could justify the granting of such a permit to keep watertight doors open during voyages. It was, for example, discussed whether any requirements for the ship’s buoyancy after a damage should apply to new as well as to existing ships.

The Sub-Committee agreed on simple stability criteria that must be met by the ship prior to any approval of certain doors remaining open during voyages.

The work is co-ordinated with the Sub-Committee on Design and Equipment (DE) and is expected to be finalised in 2011.

The Stockholm Agreement – “water on deck”

Since a number of EU Member States had expressed concern during the previous MSC whether the coming SOLAS regulations on leak stability took sufficient account of water on deck on ro-ro passenger ships (the so-called Stockholm Agreement), SLF had been requested to examine this issue in more detail. For reasons of time, it was, however, not possible to discuss the issue exhaustively. But since it is a high-priority issue, a correspondence group was established with the purpose of discussing whether new regulations take sufficient account of “water on deck”.

Denmark will take an active part in the work of this correspondence group.

It is expected that the next session of the Sub-Committee will be held in January 2011.