Busy agenda for IMO MSC

To address matters of passenger ship safety, the MSC is expected to establish a working group at this month’s session which takes place from 26 to 30 November 2012. An update from the Italian Government on the status of the Costa Concordia casualty investigation is also expected, one of the key issues in discussion.

In addition, MSC will be invited to consider draft amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). These include the requirement for ships to have plans and procedures to recover persons form the water, and a requirement for new ships to be constructed to reduce onboard noise and to protect personnel from noise.

MSC is also expected to approve SOLAS amendments on emergency training and drills to mandate enclosed space entry and rescue drills. These draft revisions are aimed at increasing the protection of seafarers’ lives by requiring drills to be held to ensure that seafarers are familiar with precautions they need to take before entering enclosed spaces and the most appropriate action they should take in the event of an accident.

Following a debate on arms on board ships at the MSC’s last session, the latest statistics on piracy and armed robbery against ships will be reviewed and current plans to suppress piracy will be discussed.