1. IMO MSC 96 Summary Report London, 11 to 21 May 2016 BUREAU VERITAS
Marine & Offshore Division
Legal, Compliance & Regulations

2. Introduction MSC 96 IMO committee
2. Revision of SOLAS chapter II-1 subdivision and damage stability regulations *
MSC 96 IMO committee
The Committee on Maritime Safety held its ninety sixth session from 11 to 21 May
Scope of the summary report
The scope of this summary report is to provide information on the developments in IMO. It is to be noted that the information included herein are proposals adopted or approved by the majority of countries.
Next MSC Meetings
MSC 97 is scheduled from 21 to 25 November 2016 and MSC 98 tentatively from 7 to 16 June 2017.
Contents
Introduction
Highlights - GBS
Amendments to mandatory instruments
Maritime security
Safety standards for the carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel on board vessels engaged on international voyages
Sub-Committees
Ship Design and Construction

3. MSC 96 – Highlights - GBS
The Committee confirmed that the information provided by the 12 IACS Members demonstrates that, in accordance with SOLAS regulation II-1/3-10.3, their rules conform to the International goal-based ship construction standards for bulk carriers and oil tankers (resolution MSC.287(87)) (GBS Standards); and that ships contracted under the current Submitters' verified rules are deemed to meet the GBS Standards.
Regulation II-1/ applies to oil tankers of 150 m in length and above and to bulk carriers of 150 m in length and above, constructed with single deck, top-side tanks and hopper side tanks in cargo spaces, excluding ore carriers and combination carriers:
.1 for which the building contract is placed on or after 1 July 2016;
.2 in the absence of a building contract, the keels of which are laid or
which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 July 2017; or
.3 the delivery of which is on or after 1 July 2020.
Additional information
Please refer to MSC.1/Circ.1518

4. MSC 96 - Amendments to Mandatory Instruments
amendments to chapter III of the 1974 SOLAS Convention (Resolution MSC.404(96)) together with the Requirements for maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances and release gear (Resolution MSC.402(96))(entry into force 1 January 2020),
Amendments to regulations III/3 and III/20, on operational readiness, maintenance and inspections, are to make the provisions of MSC.1/Circ.1206/Rev.1 mandatory and the a.m. Requirements clarify:
.1 Weekly and monthly inspections and routine maintenance to be conducted by authorised service providers, or by shipboard personnel under the direction of a senior ship's officer.
.2 Annual thorough examinations and operational tests to be conducted by certified personnel of either the manufacturer or an authorised service provider in accordance with section 7 and section 8 of the annex of resolution MSC.402(96).
.3 Five-year thorough examination, any overhaul, overload operational tests and repair to be conducted by certified personnel of either the manufacturer or an authorised service provider.

5. MSC 96 - Amendments to Mandatory Instruments
Amendments to chapter II-2 of the 1974 SOLAS (Resolution MSC.404(96)), as well as to the FSS Code (Resolution MSC.403(96)), new chapter 17 (Helicopter Facilities Foam Firefighting Appliances) and amendments to chapter 8 (Sprinkler systems) of (entry into force 1 January 2020),
Amendments to Regulations II-2/3 and II-2/18 clarify that ships having a helicopter landing area shall be provided with foam firefighting appliances which comply with the relevant provisions of the new chapter 17 of the FSS Code.
Amendments to Regulation II-2/13 on evacuation analysis: extends the requirement for an evacuation analysis to passenger ships other than ro-ro passenger ships, carrying more than 36 passengers, constructed on or after the date of entry into force of the amendments.
Ro-ro passenger ships that have had their escape routes evaluated by an evacuation analysis, in accordance with SOLAS regulation II-2/ or the earlier SOLAS regulation II-2/28-1.3, need not be re-evaluated.

6. MSC 96 - Amendments to Mandatory Instruments
Amendments to the 2011 ESP Code (Resolution MSC.405(96)) (entry into force 1/01/2018);
Amendment to the IMDG Code (Resolution MSC.406(96)) (entry into force 1/01/2018);
Amendments to the 2009 MODU Code (Paragraph 9.16 – Provisions for helicopter facilities, to refer to the new ch.17 of the FSS Code) (Resolution MSC.407(96), recommended application 1/01/2020).

7. MSC 96 - Maritime Security
The Committee
. Noting that there was an urgent need to raise awareness on cyber risk threats and vulnerabilities, approved the Guidelines on Maritime cyber risk management, as Interim MSC Guidelines (could be replaced by a joint FAL/MSC circular once the work of FAL 41 on facilitation aspects is completed).

8. MSC 96 - safety standards for the carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel on board vessels engaged on international voyages
After an in-depth discussion, the Committee agreed on the following principles:
.1 a new chapter to SOLAS should be developed solely for the carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel;
.2 the above new chapter should be supported by a new Code, which could have elements of the 2008 SPS and HSC Codes, as appropriate; and
.3 the number of industrial personnel being transported should be the basis for applying the new SOLAS requirements.

9. MSC 96 – SUB-COMMITTEES Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE)
The Committee:
. approved draft amendments to SOLAS regulations II-2/1 and II-2/10, that delete the requirement for a 135 l foam extinguisher for domestic boilers of less than 175 kW, or for boilers protected by fixed water-based local application fire-extinguishing systems.
Implementation of IMO Instruments (III)
the Committee approved draft amendment to SOLAS chapter XI-1 introducing a new regulation XI-1/2-1, on harmonisation of survey periods of cargo ships not subject to the ESP Code.
Carriage of cargoes and containers (CCC)
the Committee approved a draft amendment to paragraph of the IGC Code, that, in effect, align the requirements of the IGC Code with the requirement for fire-rated windows on tankers in SOLAS chapter II-2, which does not apply to wheelhouse windows, with a view to adoption at MSC 97.

10. MSC 96 – Ship Design and Construction (SDC)
The Committee:
. approved draft amendments to SOLAS chapter II-1 on subdivision and damage stability regulations, regarding the required subdivision index "R" for passenger ships (as proposed by SDC 3), with a view to subsequent adoption at MSC 97, and agreed that the application date of the aforementioned amendments will be 1 January 2020.
. agreed, in principle, to the draft MSC circular on Early implementation of the acceptance of the use of butterfly valves on cargo ships (on the collision bulkhead), for approval at its next session, in conjunction with the associated SOLAS amendments.
. also adopted amendments to chapter 2 of the 2008 SPS Code, related to the reference to the current index R formula. (Resolution MSC.408(96)).
. approved draft amendments to SOLAS Chapters II-1 and III mandating damage control drills for passenger ships.