Port State Control Guidelines News

The global trade association for merchant shipowners, the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), has modified its stance towards the ratification by governments of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Ballast Water Management Convention, which has still not yet entered into force having been adopted more than 10 years ago. The ICS Board of Directors has agreed that the position of ICS is now as follows: “Notwithstanding the need to resolve outstanding issues and questions concerning the implementation of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention, ICS acknowledges the agreement in principle by the IMO Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meeting in October to address the various concerns raised by the shipping industry.

Governments attending the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) this week have made real progress towards agreeing solutions to major issues that have previously impeded ratification of the IMO Ballast Water Management Convention, says the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the global trade association for ship operators. Speaking at IMO headquarters, ICS Secretary General, Peter Hinchliffe, remarked, “We are very pleased…

The Shipping Coordinating Committee, sponsored by the US Department of State, will conduct several meetings in Washington, DC.  On May 22, the Subcommittee on Flag State Implementation will meet to prepare for the upcoming session of its counterpart group at the IMO.  Topics on the agenda will include port state control guidelines on seafarers’ working hours and marine casualty investigations.  On May 27, the Subcommittee on IMO Administration and Budgeting and the Subcommittee on IMO Technical Cooperation will meet to prepare for the upcoming sessions of their counterpart groups at the IMO.  73 Fed. Reg. 28545  (HK Law)

In an action-packed week at its London headquarters last week, the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC 52) literally moved mountains to get through a huge agenda packed with major issues which will shape the future of the tanker industry, including ballast water treatment guidelines, air emissions, reception facilities, PSSAs, ship recycling, MARPOL Annex II. Guidelines for the Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems were finalised and approved by the IMO with shipboard and laboratory trials now required as part of the approval process. This is contrary to previous approval procedures which traditionally relied on laboratory tests only.