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The International Maritime Organization (IMO) administers several maritime conventions affecting ship design and operation. This page summarizes completed IMO activities that are of interest to the naval architecture community. To see current activities, go to Other IMO Activities on the SNAME O-44 website.
Standards for Ship Maneuverability
In 1993, IMO adopted the original Interim Standards for Ship Maneuverability (Resolution A.751(18)), which were intended to be temporary 5-year standards while sea trial data were submitted for analysis. To augment the interim standards, the Maritime Safety Committee adopted the Explanatory Notes to the Interim Standards for Ship Maneuverability (MSC/Circ.644), which presented guidelines on conducting acceptable trials and model simulations. These remained in force for the next nine years until the MSC took up the issue of finalizing the standards.
At MSC 76 (December 2002), the Maritime Safety Committee adopted the final Standards for Ship Maneuverability (Resolution MSC.136(76)) on December 4, 2002. The MSC also adopted a new set of Explanatory Notes to the Standards for Ship Maneuverability (MSC/Circ.1053). These now supercede the original Interim Standards and Explanatory Notes. The final Standards apply to vessels constructed on or after 1 January 2004.
The criteria of the final Standards are different from the interim standards as follows:
- The value of the second overshoot angle in the 10-degree/10-degree zig-zag test should not exceed:
- 25 degrees if L/V is less than 10 seconds (no change);
- 40 degrees if L/V is 30 seconds or more (increased from 35 degrees); and
- (17.5+0.75(L/V)) degrees if L/V is 10 seconds or more, but less than 30 seconds.
- The recommended stopping distance is still not more than 15 ship lengths, but the final standard added the statement that the stopping distance "in no case should exceed 20 ship lengths."
- The sea trial reporting form now includes entries for recording trim and ballast condition.
The final Explanatory Notes are not substantially changed from the original interim explanatory notes. However, documents have been submitted to the MSC proposing a modification to the stopping distance prediction method presented in Appendix 3 to the Explanatory Notes (these documents will be considered at DE 47, March 2004).
Contact - Tom Jordan at Thomas.D.Jordan@uscg.mil
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Bulk carriers
There were a large number of bulk carriers lost at sea in the early 1990s, and over 700 lives
have been lost on these types of ships in the past fifteen years. In 1995 IMO began an initiative
to address these casualties, and it has been a high priority item ever since.
The 1997 SOLAS Conference adopted numerous amendments to the
Convention that address the safety of bulk carriers, including a new SOLAS Chapter XII,
Additional Safety Measures for Bulk Carriers. More recently, in December 2002, MSC 76
added two new regulations to SOLAS Chapter XII. New regulation XII/12 requires the fitting of water level
detectors in cargo hold, ballast and void spaces on both new and existing bulk carriers. New regulation
XII/13 requires the availability of pumping systems on new and existing bulk carriers.
A 3-year International Collaborative Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) Study of
Bulk Carriers, coordinated by the United Kingdom Maritime and Coastguard Agency, recently concluded.
The purpose of the FSA Study was to provide a basis for the IMO MSC's decision-making regarding
possible future regulatory changes for bulk carriers. The FSA Study followed IMO guidelines and
the final report was submitted for consideration to MSC 76.
At MSC 76 (December 2002), the results of the above-mentioned international FSA Study as well as
numerous other documents were considered (list of MSC 76 documents
concerning bulk carrier safety). MSC then selected numerous bulk carrier safety Risk Control
Options for implementation, and tasked various Sub-committees to develop specific regulatory
items as appropriate.
Of these, the DE Sub-committee was tasked with the majority of regulatory items to develop. At DE 46
(March 2003), the following list of DE 46 documents concerning bulk
carrier safety were considered and significant progress was made. Specific items of note include
the following:
- A draft performance standard for water level detectors required by new SOLAS regulation XII/12, together with an associated MSC Resolution, were developed and submitted to MSC 77 for adoption. (This was subsequently adopted at MSC 77 as Resolution MSC.145(77).)
- A draft MSC Circular providing an interpretation to harmonize the water level detector requirements in new SOLAS regulation XII/12 with the pumping availability requirements in new SOLAS regulation XII/13 was developed and submitted to MSC 77 for approval. (This was subsequently approved at MSC 77 as MSC/Circ.1069.)
- A draft MSC Circular providing guidelines on early assessment of hull damage and possible need for abandonment of bulk carriers was developed for referral to NAV 49 and STW 35 for concurrence prior to approval by MSC 78. (STW 35 concurred with the draft circular; NAV 49 determined that it needed more time for review; this item is now expected to be submitted to MSC 79 for approval.)
- A draft MSC Resolution on the application of IACS Unified Requirements S26, S27, S30 and S31 to bulk carriers was developed and submitted to MSC 77 for adoption. These IACS Unified Requirements relate to various structural standards for bulk carriers. (This was subsequently adopted at MSC 77 as Resolution MSC.146(77).)
- A draft MSC Circular on ship design, construction, repair and maintenance together with guidelines for repair surveys was developed and submitted to MSC 77 for approval. (This was subsequently approved at MSC 77 as MSC/Circ.1070.)
- A draft MSC Circular providing guidelines for bulk carrier hatch cover surveys and owners’ inspections and maintenance was developed and submitted to MSC 77 for approval. (This was subsequently approved at MSC 77 as MSC/Circ.1071. Although these are guidelines, the Committee decided that certain provisions should be mandatory for bulk carriers. DE 47 prepared draft standards and a draft resolution to make them mandatory under SOLAS regulation XII/7.2, for consideration at MSC 78.)
- The S/C agreed on a preferred option for implementing the MSC 76 decision to ban alternate hold loading on existing bulk carriers. This matter will now be further considered at MSC 77. (This was subsequently considered at MSC 77 and returned to DE with further guidance. At DE 47, the ban was incorporated as a new proposed SOLAS reg XII/14 for consideration at MSC 78.)
- The S/C made progress developing technical standards for the new double side skin construction requirement for bulk carriers. Specific focus was on minimum internal clearance dimensions for access of 600 - 800 mm, a minimum 1 meter double side width, and longitudinal and local strength issues. This item is scheduled for completion at DE 47. (DE 47 finished this item; the results were incorporated into the proposed draft amendments to SOLAS chapter XII for consideration at MSC 78.)
- The S/C made progress revising the SOLAS definition of bulk carrier and considering the appropriate application of structural standards in SOLAS chapter XII to new and existing bulk carriers. This item is scheduled for completion at DE 47. (DE 47 finished this item; the results were incorporated into the proposed draft amendments to SOLAS chapter XII for approval at MSC 78.)
For complete details, see the Report of DE 46.
Outcome of MSC 77 (May 28-June 6, 2003): In addition to the actions described above, the Committee noted that DE 47 would continue work on improved loading/stability information for bulk carriers, performance standards for protective coatings, and free-fall lifeboats with float-free capability. The Committee also considered the issue of bulkhead strength on existing bulk carriers and decided that no further action was needed at this time (because all of the other measures adopted above are expected to bring about a significant safety improvement). For complete details, see the Report of MSC 77 (pages 31 through 41, and associated annexes).
Outcome of DE 47 (February 25-March 5, 2004): The Sub-Committee finalized its work on many of the above items, mostly by preparing proposed amendments to SOLAS chapter XII as well as some draft resolutions, for consideration at MSC 78. For complete details, see the DE 47 Summary of Decisions (pages 21 through 25, and associated annexes).
Outcome of MSC 78 (May 12-21, 2004): On the basis of submissions from Greece (MSC 78/5/1 and MSC 78/INF.6) indicating their view that mandatory double side skin construction was not cost effective, the Committee reversed its previous decision (at MSC 76) to require double side skin construction on all new bulk carriers of 150m and greater. In a vote, the Committee decided that double side skin construction would only be included in the Chapter XII amendments as an optional alternative. After various drafting changes, the Committee approved the draft amendments to SOLAS Chapter XII ("Additional Safety Measures for Bulk Carriers"). These draft amendments will now be considered for adoption at MSC 79 (December 2004). For complete details, see the Report of MSC 78 (pages 37 through 43, and associated annexes).
Upcoming at MSC 79 (December 1-10, 2004): The draft amendments to SOLAS Chapter XII ("Additional Safety Measures for Bulk Carriers") will be considered by the Committee for adoption - see MSC 79/3/1, Annex 1.
Contact - Jim Person
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IMO documents (archive)
Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) Reports and Selected Documents
Older selected documents for MSC and other IMO committees and sub-committees that work on naval architectural issues follow. The recent documents can be found on the IMO Activities web page.
In the documents below, the annotated agendas present the specific agenda items for that session, the working papers report on the deliberations of the working groups during the session, and the reports summarize the decisions and future action of the committee.
| Paper |
Title |
| MSC 80/1/1 |
Annotated Agenda for MSC 80 (May 2005) |
| MSC 80/3 |
Reanalysis of collision database (by Italy) |
| MSC 80/3/1 |
Explorative analysis of the collision database (by Italy) |
| MSC 80/3/2 |
Proposed new regulation 7-1 of revised SOLAS chapter II-1 (by Italy) |
| MSC 80/3/4 |
Consideration and adoption of amendments to mandatory instruments |
| MSC 80/3/5 |
Report of the SDS Intersessional Working Group |
| MSC 80/3/8 |
Damage stability information - revised SOLAS chapter II-1 (by UK) |
| MSC 80/3/9 |
Numbers of persons/ lifeboats - revised SOLAS chapter II-1 (by CESA) |
| MSC 80/3/10 |
Amendments - bilge pumping arrangements |
| MSC 80/3/11 |
SDS validation results for subdivision index R |
| MSC 80/4 |
Outcome of STW 36, FP 49, COMSAR 9 and DE 48 affecting LPS |
| MSC 80/4/2 |
Time to remain habitable (by ICCL) (Passenger Ship Safety) |
| MSC 80/WP.11 |
Drafting Group report (Passenger Ship Safety) |
| MSC 80/WP.11/c |
Drafting Group report corrigendum |
| MSC 80/WP.11/A |
Report of the ad hoc Technical Group (time to remain habitable) |
| MSC 80/6 |
Goal-based construction standards (GBS) - report WG at MSC 79 |
| MSC 80/6/1 |
Proposal for tier I and II of GBS construction standards (by Japan) |
| MSC 80/6/2 |
GBS - Quantitative criteria (by Poland) |
| MSC 80/6/3 |
GBS - Comments on the Working Group (WG) report (by Bahamas) |
| MSC 80/6/4 |
GBS - Alternative regulatory framework (by Germany) |
| MSC 80/6/5 |
GBS - Comments on the WG report (by Greece) |
| MSC 80/6/6 |
GBS - Risk principles (by Denmark and Norway) |
| MSC 80/6/7 |
GBS - Risk-based building blocks (by Denmark and Norway) |
| MSC 80/6/8 |
GBS - Comments on the WG report (by IACS) |
| MSC 80/6/9 |
GBS - Comments on the WG report (by IACS) |
| MSC 80/6/10 |
GBS - Comments on the WG report (by Iran) |
| MSC 80/6/11 |
GBS - Comments on the WG report (by Korea) |
| MSC 80/6/12 |
GBS - Comments on the WG report (by United States) |
| MSC 80/6/13 |
GBS - Comments on the WG report (by CESA) |
| MSC 80/Inf.3 |
GBS - Safety factors and safety margins (by Poland) |
| MSC 80/Inf.4 |
GBS - Response of ship's structure to waves (by Poland) |
| MSC 80/WP.8 |
GBS - Report of the Working Group |
| MSC 80/18/1 |
Interpretation needed for SOLAS regulation XII/6.5 (by BIMCO) |
| MSC 80/18/2 |
Proposed interpretation of SOLAS regulation XII/6.5 (by IACS) |
| MSC 80/18/3 |
Proposed interpretation of SOLAS regulation XII/6.5 (by Korea) |
| MSC 80/18/4 |
Proposed interpretation of SOLAS regulations XII/4.2 and 5.1 (by IACS) |
| MSC 80/18/5 |
Comments on IACS proposals (by BIMCO) |
| MSC 80/18/6 |
Comments on IACS proposals (by Greece) |
| MSC 80/18/7 |
Comments on IACS proposals (by Greece) |
| MSC 80/24 |
Report of MSC 80 |
| MSC 80/24/Add |
Annex (excerpts) with amendments |
| MSC 80/24/A.1/c.1 |
Corrigenda to the report for MSC 80 (MSC 80/24/Add.1/corr.1) |
| MSC 79/1/1 |
Annotated Agenda for MSC 79 (December 2004) |
| MSC 79/4 |
LPS/Outcome of MSC 78, NAV 50 and SLF 47 (by Secretariat) |
| MSC 79/4/3 |
Definition of "large passenger ships" (by France) |
| MSC 79/6 |
Goal-based construction standards (GBS)/summary (by Secretariat) |
| MSC 79/6/1 |
Issues for consideration (by Chairman, MSC) |
| MSC 79/6/2 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by Marshall Islands) |
| MSC 79/6/3 |
Guiding strategy (by Germany) |
| MSC 79/6/4 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by Poland) |
| MSC 79/6/5 |
Concept on ship safety assurance system (by Poland) |
| MSC 79/6/6 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by India) |
| MSC 79/6/7 |
Role of the human element (by UK and Denmark) |
| MSC 79/6/8 |
Refined approach to GBS (by Greece) |
| MSC 79/6/9 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by ICS) |
| MSC 79/6/10 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by Ireland) |
| MSC 79/6/11 |
Considerations for improvement (by Brazil) |
| MSC 79/6/12 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by Brazil) |
| MSC 79/6/13 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by Korea) |
| MSC 79/6/14 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by Korea) |
| MSC 79/6/15 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by Denmark, Iceland, and Norway) |
| MSC 79/6/16 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by Canada) |
| MSC 79/6/17 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by United States) |
| MSC 79/6/18 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by Iran) |
| MSC 79/6/19 |
Limitations of FSA (by Bahamas) |
| MSC 79/6/20 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by Bahamas) |
| MSC 79/6/21 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by IACS) |
| MSC 79/6/22 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by Japan) |
| MSC 79/6/24 |
Comments on GBS principles (by the United Kingdom) |
| MSC 79/6/25 |
Response to "issues for consideration" (by the United Kingdom) |
| MSC 79/6/26 |
Response to "issues for consideration" and GBS principles (by Intertanko) |
| MSC 79/inf.5 |
Supporting information (by Denmark, Iceland, Norway, and the Faroe Islands) |
| MSC 79/11 |
Urgent matters from SLF 47 (by Secretariat) |
| MSC 79/11/1 |
Questions SLF 47 draft regulations (by Italy) |
| MSC 79/11/2 |
Comments on draft Regulation 19 (by France and Sweden) |
| MSC 79/11/3 |
Life-saving appliances and watertight doors (by Finland) |
| MSC 79/11/4 |
"A" index for cargo ships (by Norway) |
| MSC 79/11/5 |
Information and comments on the role of the HARDER project (by Norway) |
| MSC 79/11/6 |
Reinforces validity of SLF draft regulations (by Norway) |
| MSC 79/23 |
Report of MSC 79 |
| MSC 78/1/1 |
Annotated Agenda for MSC 78 (May 2004) |
| MSC 78/inf.7 |
LPS/Damage survivability assessment system for ships (by Korea) |
| MSC 78/5/1 |
Comparative FSA on single- and double-skin bulk carriers (by Greece) |
| MSC 78/5/2 |
Comments on MSC 78/5/1 and MSC 78/Inf.6 (by ICS) |
| MSC 78/5/4 |
Cost Benefits of Double Side Skin Bulk Carriers (by UK) |
| MSC 78/inf.6Prt1 |
Comparative FSA Part 1: Exec Summary thru page 63 (by Greece) |
| MSC 78/inf.6Prt2 |
... Part 2: page 64 thru Conclusion (by Greece) |
| MSC 78/inf.6Prt3 |
... Part 3: Appendices A1 thru A4 (by Greece) |
| MSC 78/inf.6Prt4 |
... Part 4: Appendices A5 and A6 [3.2MB] (by Greece) |
| MSC 78/inf.6Prt5 |
... Part 5: Appendices A7 and A8 (by Greece) |
| MSC 78/6 |
Goal-based Ship Construction Standards (by Secretariat) |
| MSC 78/6/1 |
Outcome of MEPC 49 (by Secretariat) |
| MSC 78/6/2 |
Shipbuilding standards, design, construction (by Bahamas, Greece & IACS) |
| MSC 78/6/3 |
Proposal for standards based on sea conditions (by Poland) |
| MSC 78/6/4 |
Comments on and Proposed Modifications to MSC 78/6/2 (by AWES) |
| MSC 78/6/5 |
Goal-based New Ship Construction Standards (by Japan) |
| MSC 78/12 |
Report to MSC on outcome of SLF 46 |
| MSC 78/12/1 |
Studies on large passenger ship damage stability, Harmonization (by Italy) |
| MSC 78/12/2 |
Large passenger ship damage stability, Harmonization (by ICCl) |
| MSC 78/12/3 |
Harmonization of cargo and passenger ship damage stability (by Norway) |
| MSC 78/12/4 |
Harmonization & passenger ship damage stability (by United States) |
| MSC 78/24/1 |
Revision of Intact Stability Code (by Germany) |
| MSC 78/inf.5 |
Intact Stability Code (by Germany) |
| MSC 78/26 |
Report for MSC 78 |
| MSC 77/1/1 |
Annotated Agenda for MSC 77 (May 2003) |
| MSC 77/26 |
Report for MSC 77 |
| MSC 76/1/1 |
Annotated Agenda for MSC 76 (December 2002) |
| MSC 76/23 |
Report for MSC 76 |
| MSC 75/1/1 |
Annotated Agenda for MSC 75 (May 2002) |
| MSC 75/24 |
Report for MSC 75 |
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