Page 3 - The Flag March 2018

uIMO
IMO UPDATE
In November 2017, 164 International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Member States met at the 30th Assembly to endorse the work done over the past two years and agree on the agenda for 2018 – 2019.
u JOHNAKHURST
BMA DEPUTY DIRECTOR
In terms of the number of Assembly Resolutions on technical matters, this was a relatively quiet affair although the issue of the updated Procedures on Port State Control A.1119(30) and the Harmonized System of Survey and Certi cation A.1120(30) are instruments that will have a high relevance to shipping. In the course of the meeting, The Bahamas was also successful in its bid for re-election to the IMO CouncilinCategoryC.Thisisa signi cant achievement for a country the size of The Bahamas and takes a huge diplomatic
effort to secure the necessary support of other countries.
Looking forward to the 2018 – 2019 biennium, one of the major in uences on the agenda is the new Strategic Framework that replaces the old Strategic Directions and High Level Action Plan of the IMO. Seven Strategic Directions (SD) have been agreed for the six-year period to 2023 in place of the biennial system of a revised plan that previously governedIMOwork.Themain reason for this change was to establish a more stable basis for theworkandtofacilitatetargeting of resources to the best effect and the Strategic Framework is underpinnedbyrevisedMission and Vision Statements.
Work will continue on technical and policy issues that have been commenced, or progressed, in the previous biennium including many important technical safety and pollution prevention measures: availability of electrical power in passenger ships following ooding; carriage of industrial personnel; mooring arrangements; consideration
of the effects of black carbon on the Arctic; implementation of the 0.5% sulphur in fuel regulations; electronic Record Books; S-mode; GMDSS modernization; Polar Code; lifting appliances and ventilation of liferaft, amongst many others, will ensure that our delegation will be kept fully occupied.
However, there are two issues that will, perhaps, prove to have the longest and most signi cant impact and the highest importance. First is the response of the IMO, and the whole maritime industry, to the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The rst step, which will occur at MEPCinApril2018,willbethe nalization of a comprehensive IMOStrategyonthereduction of GHG emissions from ships. This will include, according to the Roadmap agreed by MEPC 70, “...inter alia, a list of candidate short, mid and long term further measures with possible timelines, to be revised as appropriate as additional information becomes available.”
The second issue is new to the IMO but something
that has received intense and increasing interest over the past few years – autonomous ships (Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)). Everyone in the industry will acknowledge that if such ships are introduced into maritime operations, it is vital that it is done in a regulated and consistent way. IMO will start with a scoping exercise to work out what needs to be done, how it can be done, and whenitneedstobedone.Itis clear that there are signi cant technical and legal issues to be considered and agreed but just as important are the human element issues that may arise fromthepossiblereductionin crew numbers on board ships.
Fromtheaboveitcanbeseen thatthe2018–2019bienniumwill beasbusyandaswide-ranging as ever and, of course, other important but unanticipated issues may arise requiring urgent responses. The Bahamas remains committed to full participation inallIMOmeetingsandtowork to ensure that new regulations and requirements are justi ed, proportionate,fairandclear.
E-CERTIFICATION: FEEDBACK ON DIGITALISATION
DNVGLisoneofThe Bahamas Recognised Organisation that has rolled out IMO- compliant electronic class and statutory certificates to mark a historic milestone in leveraging digitalisation to continuously improve customer experience. Within 3 months after the launch of the DNV GL electronic certi cate platform, more than 3000 electronic certi cates have been issued on 300 vessels ying the Bahamas Flag and classed by DNV GL. The DNV GL experience (more than 42,000 e-certi cates issued) re ects a very positive response from all the stake holders towards embracing an electronic regime.
DNV GL also nds it highly encouraging to note that more than 300 port state inspections have been successfully carried out globally on the DNV GL eet of vessels trading with electronic
certi cates. No negative experience has been reported in this regard. DNV GL continues to see growing interest from the owners to switch to an electronic regime at the earliest
opportunity to reduce the administrative burden and to derive the associated bene ts from global digitalisation.
The BMA supports efforts to reduce administrative burden and increase operational ef ciency on ships. The BMA recognises the use of e-certi cates in lieu of traditional paper certi cates and the use of e-certi cates is accepted onboard Bahamas agged ships provided that the provisions of IMO Circular FAL.5/Circ.39/Rev.21 are followed. BMA Information Bulletin 175 on “Electronic Statutory Certi cates” provides guidance on The Bahamas approach to e-certi cates.
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CREDIT: DNV GL