SUBJECT:   Draft Delegation Report:   Sub-Committee on Stability and Load Lines and on Fishing Vessels Safety (SLF), 50th Session, International Maritime Organization (IMO), London, April 30 to May 4, 2007

NOTE:   Report to the Maritime Safety Committee, 50th Session has been posted, along with the following working papers from the session:
      Report of the SDS Working Group (WP.1)
      Report of the IS Working Group - Part 1 (WP.2);
      Report of the Safety of Small Fishing Vessels (WP.3);
      Report of the informal group on amendments to the MODU Code (WP.4)

1.   SUMMARY: The IMO SLF S/C held its 50th session at International Coffee Organization headquarters on Berners Street, London from 30 April - 4 May 2007, under the chair of Mr. Robin Gehling (Australia). 63 Member Governments, 1 Associate Member, 2 representatives from United Nations Specialized Agencies, 1 observer from an Inter-governmental Organization, and 12 observers from Non-governmental Organizations participated. Following is the size of several delegations: United Kingdom - 13, China - 12, Japan - 12, Germany - 11, USA - 9, and Norway - 8.

The following Working Groups were established with the associated attendance of countries and observers: Subdivision and Damage Stability (21 countries, 3 observers), Intact Stability (20 countries, 1 observer), and Safety of Small Fishing Vessels (20 countries, 4 observers). Accomplishments and outcomes of particular interest include the following:

A. The Intact Stability Working Group finalized the draft International Code on Intact Stability, which was then agreed to by the S/C together with an associated draft MSC Resolution for submission to MSC 83 for approval and subsequent adoption. The S/C also agreed to draft amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/5 and the 1988 Load Line Protocol regulation 1, which will make Part A of the International Code on Intact Stability mandatory under these IMO instruments, and forwarded them to MSC 83 for approval and subsequent adoption. The IS Working Group finalized draft Explanatory Notes to the new IS Code, which were then agreed to by the S/C for submission to MSC 83 for approval as an MSC Circular. The IS Working Group also continued work on dynamic stability issues and development of new generation performance-based intact stability criteria.

B. The Subdivision and Damage Stability (SDS) Working Group completed a draft MSC Circular on "Guidelines for damage control plans and information to the master", which was then agreed to by the S/C for submission to MSC 83 for approval. The SDS Working Group also completed a draft MSC Resolution "Recommendation on a standard method for evaluating cross-flooding arrangements", which was agreed to by the S/C for submission to MSC 83 for adoption. This new guidance is important to ensure uniform application of the new SOLAS Chapter II-1 damage stability regulations that will enter into force 1 January 2009.

C. The SDS Working Group completed work on draft amendments to the Special Purpose Ships (SPS) Code, which were then agreed to by the S/C for referral to the Ship Design and Equipment (DE) S/C for inclusion in the draft revised SPS Code.

D. The Working Group on Safety of Small Fishing Vessels finalized draft safety recommendations for small fishing vessels, which the S/C then agreed to circulate to the relevant S/C's for their review and comments. The S/C also submitted justification to MSC 83 for approval to expand the scope of this work program item to include development of guidelines to assist Competent Authorities in implementing the safety recommendations.

END SUMMARY.

2.    Development of Explanatory Notes for Harmonized Chapter II-1. The SDS Working Group met the entire week and continued development of additions and improvements to the Interim Explanatory Notes for the new harmonized damage stability regulations in SOLAS Chapter II-1. Significant progress was made that should enable final Explanatory Notes to be completed at SLF 51, which would allow MSC approval prior to entry into force of the new regulations on 1 January 2009. The SDS Working Group completed a draft MSC Circular on “Guidelines for damage control plans and information to the master”, which was then agreed to by the S/C for submission to MSC 83 for approval. Work also continued with the development of draft Guidelines for flooding detection systems, which are required by new SOLAS regulation II-1/22-1. Several key decisions were agreed to regarding continuous flood level monitoring and size limits on spaces required to be equipped with detection systems. The SDS Working Group also considered the DE 50 drafted definition of “unfavourable conditions of trim and list” for SOLAS Chapter III. It was agreed the proposed definition was an improvement from the previous proposal but was still open to interpretation. It was noted that reasonable trim angles for lifesaving appliances are arrangement dependent and it was not possible to give general guidance based on damage stability requirements. These views were referred to the DE S/C. The SDS Correspondence Group was re-established to: (a) finalize the draft Explanatory Notes to the SOLAS Chapter II-1 subdivision and damage stability regulations; (b) develop draft Guidelines for flooding detection systems required by new SOLAS regulation II-1/22-1; and (c) consider the list of SOLAS Chapter II-1 regulations identified as needing future improvement and make relevant recommendations. Sweden and the United States, as they have for over a decade, will co-coordinate the Correspondence Group.

3.    Revision of the Intact Stability Code. The IS Working Group met the entire week and continued work on a variety of intact stability tasks. After a brief technical debate, the IS Working Group finalized the draft International Code on Intact Stability (IS Code), which was then agreed to by the S/C together with an associated draft MSC Resolution for submission to MSC 83 for approval and subsequent adoption. With regard to making Part A of the new IS Code mandatory, the S/C decided that both SOLAS and the 1988 Load Line Protocol should be amended to accomplish this (using the same entry into force date for both amendments at the first opportunity after 1 January 2009). Accordingly the S/C agreed to draft amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/5 and the 1988 Load Line Protocol regulation 1, which will make Part A of the International Code on Intact Stability mandatory under these instruments, and forwarded them to MSC 83 for approval and subsequent adoption. After extensive discussion and the inclusion of an alternative criteria for certain wide beam/small depth ships, the IS Working Group completed draft Explanatory Notes to the new IS Code, which were then agreed to by the S/C for submission to MSC 83 for approval as an MSC Circular. In addition, the IS Working Group continued work on dynamic stability issues and development of new performance-based intact stability criteria, which is a long-term effort. The S/C re-established the Correspondence Group, under the coordination of Germany, to: (a) continue work on items in the updated plan of action (related to dynamic stability and development of new performance-based intact stability criteria); (b) collect information regarding the reduction of pressure in the application of the weather criterion; and (c) develop an enhanced framework and define terms to be used for the development of the new generation intact stability criteria.

4.    Safety of Small Fishing Vessels. The Working Group on Safety of Small Fishing Vessels finalized the draft “Safety recommendations for decked fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length and undecked fishing vessels”, which the S/C then agreed to circulate to the relevant S/C's for their review and comments. In addition, the S/C submitted justification to MSC 83 for approval to expand the scope of this work program item to include the development of guidelines to assist Competent Authorities in implementing the Safety recommendations. The S/C re-established the Correspondence Group, under the coordination of South Africa, to: (1) examine the draft “Safety recommendations for decked fishing vessels of less than 12 metres in length and undecked fishing vessels” relative to the pending ILO Convention and Recommendation concerning work in fishing, to ensure consistency between them; and (2) review the pending FAO study on scantlings of wooden fishing vessels.

5.    Development of options to improve effect on ship design and safety of the 1969 Tonnage Measurement (TM) Convention. The S/C considered the proposal from Australia to introduce a third type of tonnage based on “maritime real estate” principles (length x breadth x summer draught) into the TM Convention. There was only mixed support for the proposal, or the need to amend the TM Convention. Consequently the S/C agreed to establish a Correspondence Group, under the coordination of Australia, to: (1) develop “maritime real estate” and other options to improve the effect on ship design and safety of the 1969 TM Convention, both involving amendments to the Convention and not requiring such amendments; (2) identify pros and cons of the identified options, taking into account safety, the training and welfare of seafarers, and the anticipated effectiveness of the options; and (3) consider the merits of amending the Convention to incorporate tacit amendment provisions, or adopting a Protocol to the Convention, to help facilitate future amendments.

6.    Guidelines for uniform operating limitations on high-speed craft (HSC). The S/C considered a summary of the research conducted by the United Kingdom on the behavior of high-speed craft in following and stern-quartering seas together with the operational guidelines derived from the work. There was general support for the proposed information, and the S/C agreed that the guidelines should be primarily for Administrations, taking into account sea-keeping, stability and measurement of wave heights for operational matters. It was noted that the DE S/C, which has overall coordination responsibility for this task, had established a Correspondence Group at DE 50 to develop draft “Guidelines for uniform operating limitations of high-speed craft”, taking into account contributions from the COMSAR, NAV and SLF S/C's as they become available. Consequently the S/C invited contributions directly to the DE Correspondence Group and also to submit proposals to SLF 51. In this context, it was noted that DE 51 may finalize the draft “Guidelines for uniform operating limitations of high-speed craft” for submission to MSC 85 for approval, subject to consideration by SLF 51 for items under SLF purview.

7.    Time-dependent survivability of passenger ship in the damaged condition. The S/C noted the information provided by the International Towing Tank Conference regarding benchmark testing of numerical codes for time-to-flood prediction of damaged passenger ships, and requested additional information be submitted to SLF 51. Also under this agenda item, the S/C gave preliminary consideration to a new work program item "Stability and seakeeping characteristics of damaged passenger ships in a seaway when returning to port by own power or under tow", as directed by MSC 82. The task is to develop amendments to new SOLAS regulation II-1/8-1 to give effect to design requirements for safe return to port, and also to develop associated operational damage stability guidelines for ship masters. After an extensive debate, the S/C agreed to establish a Correspondence Group, under the coordination of the United Kingdom, to: (1) develop design and damage stability criteria for passenger ships for safe return to port, determining loading conditions, heel/trim and environment limits, and the extent to which damage control measures should be taken into account; and (2) develop an initial draft of guidelines for operational information for masters of passenger ships for safe return to port, which include weather conditions, ship and shore-based information and computer support, and guidance on implementation of damage control measures.

8.    Revision of resolution A.266(VIII). The S/C initially discussed the future application of the revised Resolution and agreed that it should generally apply to new ships but recognized the guidance was not mandatory and provided a calculation methodology which could be applied to any type of ship. The SDS Working Group then finalized the draft MSC Resolution “Recommendation on a standard method for evaluating cross-flooding arrangements”, which includes new guidance for calculating cross-flooding times through structural ducts and accounts for the restrictive effect of air counter-pressure in tanks. The S/C agreed to the draft MSC Resolution for submission to MSC 83 for adoption. This updated guidance is important to ensure uniform application of the new SOLAS Chapter II-1 damage stability regulations that will enter into force 1 January 2009. This concludes the S/C's work under this agenda item, and it was agreed to delete it.

9.    Review of the Special Purpose Ships (SPS) Code. The S/C considered the Correspondence Group report and, after extensive debate, agreed to finalize the draft amendments to the SPS Code using the U.S. supported option which is based on SOLAS Chapter II-1 passenger ship damage stability requirements. The SDS Working Group then completed the draft amendments to the SPS Code, which were subsequently agreed to by the S/C for referral to the DE S/C for inclusion in the draft revised SPS Code. This concludes the S/C's work under this agenda item, and it was agreed to delete it.

10.    Revision of MSC/Circ.650. The S/C considered this item and generally agreed to the alternative proposal by Norway for the revised MSC Circular. The SDS Working Group then finalized the draft MSC Circular on “Interpretation of alterations and modifications of a major character”, which will supersede MSC/Circ.650. The S/C agreed to the draft MSC Circular for submission to MSC 83 for approval. This concludes the S/C's work under this agenda item, and it was agreed to delete it.

11.    Interpretations of alterations and modifications of a major character under the revised SOLAS chapter II-1. The S/C considered this item regarding the treatment of “alterations and modifications of a major character” for ships with keels laid before 1 January 2009, when the revised SOLAS Chapter II-1 enters into force, and instructed the SDS Working Group to prepare a draft interpretation. However a clear majority in the SDS Working Group considered that guidance was not necessary, since the application of the revised SOLAS Chapter II-1 was clearly defined in regulation II-1/1 (i.e. if a passenger ship built before 1 January 2009 undergoes alterations or modifications of major character after that date it would still remain under the damage stability regulations of the current SOLAS Chapter II-1). Although the U.S. did not agree with this view, the majority of the S/C agreed with the SDS Working Group and it was concluded that no further work on this item was necessary, and invited MSC to delete this item from the S/C work program.

12.   Guidance on the impact of open watertight doors on existing and new ship survivability. The S/C considered the proposed guidance submitted by Sweden and the U.S., as well as the comments provided by the Cruise Lines International Association expressing various concerns with the proposal. Greece expressed their strong view that watertight doors should remain closed during a voyage. Given the mixed views on the proposed guidance and the intention of some delegations to contribute proposals to SLF 51, the S/C invited the submission of proposals and comments to SLF 51 with a view to finalizing the guidance at that session.

13.    Next Session. The S/C unanimously re-elected Mr. Rob Gehling (Australia) as Chairman for 2008. Professor Zbigniew Szozda (Poland) was also re-elected as Vice-Chairman. The fifty-first session of the S/C is tentatively scheduled for July 14 to 18, 2008.