MSC
ECDIS – Guidance for Good Practice by IMO
The Maritime Safety Committee, at its ninety-fifth session (3 to 12 June 2015), approved the ECDIS – Guidance for Good Practice (MSC.1/Circ.1503), drawing together relevant guidance from seven previous ECDIS circulars into a single, consolidated document.
The undeniable safety benefits of navigating with Electronic Chart Display and Information Systems (ECDIS) were recognized through Formal Safety Assessments submitted to the Organization and experience gained by the voluntary use of ECDIS for many years. ECDIS was mandated for carriage by High-Speed Craft (HSC) as early as 1 July 2008. Subsequently, the mandatory carriage of ECDIS for ships other than HSC (depending on the ship type, size and construction date, as required by SOLAS regulation V/19.2.10) commenced in a phased manner from 1 July 2012 onwards.
ECDIS is a complex, safety-relevant, software-based system with multiple options for display and integration. The ongoing safe and effective use of ECDIS involves many stakeholders including seafarers, equipment manufacturers, chart producers, hardware and software maintenance providers, shipowners and operators, and training providers. It is important that all these stakeholders have a clear and common understanding of their roles and responsibilities in relation to ECDIS.
ECDIS was accepted as meeting the chart carriage requirements of SOLAS regulation V/19 in 2002. Over the years, IMO Member States, hydrographic offices, equipment manufacturers and other organizations have contributed to the development of guidance on a variety of ECDIS-related matters. Over the years, IMO has issued a series of complementary circulars on ECDIS.
While most useful IMO guidance on ECDIS was developed in this incremental manner, the information needed to be consolidated, where possible, to have ECDIS-related guidance within a single circular, which could be easily kept up to date without duplication or need for continual cross-referencing. Such consolidation of information offers clear and unambiguous understanding of the carriage requirements and use of ECDIS. 6 The consolidated guidance termed “ECDIS – Guidance for Good Practice” is set out in the annex to this circular. Ship operators, masters and deck officers on ECDIS-fitted ships are encouraged to use this guidance to improve their understanding and facilitate safe and effective use of ECDIS.
This circular revokes MSC.1/Circ.1391, SN.1/Circ.207/Rev.1, SN.1/Circ.266/Rev.1, SN.1/Circ.276, SN.1/Circ.312, STCW.7/Circ.10 and STCW.7/Circ.18.
Guidelines for Container Weight Verification
The IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) at its 93rd session (May 2014) approved changes to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention regarding a mandatory container weight verification requirement on shippers. Dangerous Goods, Solid Cargo and Containers (DSC) Sub-committee approved changes to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention that will require verification of container weights before loaded containers may be placed aboard ships.
The DSC report was approved by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in May 2014 and adopted by MSC in November 2014. The requirement making container weight verification a condition for vessel loading became legally binding on July 1, 2016.
The World Shipping Council and its member shipping companies have developed guidelines to explain what the implementation of the regulations will require of shippers, carriers and terminal operators as of July 1, 2016.
AMSA GENERAL MANAGER ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF INTERNATIONAL MARTIME SAFETY COMMITTEE
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) Navigation Safety and International Relations General Manager Brad Groves has been elected as Chairman of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Maritime Safety Committee for 2016.
The election was conducted on 11 June, 2015 during the 95th session of MSC at the IMO’s headquarters in London.
The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) is the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) senior technical body on safety-related matters, and the appointment is a major achievement in the maritime industry.
Mr Groves has been working at AMSA since 1998, and he was appointed General Manager of the then Maritime Standards Division at AMSA in 2010, before heading up Navigation Safety and International Relations.
His current role has responsibility over a number of maritime safety matters, aids to navigation, the management of vessel tracking, coastal pilotage plus government and international coordination matters.
Mr Groves first became involved with the IMO in 2001. He has previously chaired the IMO sub-committee on Human Element, Training and Watch keeping, and prior to becoming MSC Chairman, Mr Groves headed up Australia’s delegation to the MSC and supported AMSA’s Chief Executive Officer at IMO Council.
He has also been responsible for Australia’s involvement in regional arrangements such as the Asia Pacific Heads of Maritime Safety Agencies (APHoMSA).
Mr Groves said he was honoured and humbled to be elected as chairman of the Maritime Safety Committee, and was looking forward to delivering appropriate outcomes for the maritime community.
“Shipping is one of the world’s great industries but it does have its hazards. It’s long been clear that the best way of improving safety at sea is by developing international regulations that are followed by all shipping nations. This remains at the core of the work of the Maritime Safety Committee and the IMO overall,” Mr Groves said.
“I have seen many issues discussed since I was first involved in MSC discussions. Despite the progress we have made, we still have large responsibilities ahead and I look forward to progressing this important work,” he said.
Mr Groves also expressed his appreciation for the work of previous MSC Chairman, Christian Breinholt, Deputy Director-General of the Danish Maritime Authority
Source: AMSA
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