IMO SDC 10

The tenth session of the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and construction is to be held at IMO Headquarters, London, from Monday, 22 January to Friday, 26 January 2024.

 

Provisional Agenda:

1. Adoption of the agenda
2. Decisions of other IMO bodies
3. Development of Guidelines for emergency towing arrangements for ships other than tankers (2.20)
4. Further development of the IP Code and associated guidance (2.4)
5. Review of the 2014 Guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise from commercial shipping to address adverse impacts on marine life (MEPC.1/Circ.833) (2014 Guidelines) and identification of next steps (1.16)
6. Amendments to the 2011 ESP Code (6.22)
7. Safety objectives and functional requirements of the Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for SOLAS chapter II-1 (2.5)
8. Revision of SOLAS chapters II-1 (part C) and V, and related instruments regarding steering and propulsion requirements, to address both traditional and non-traditional propulsion and steering systems (2.[..])*
9. Amendments to the Guidelines for construction, installation, maintenance and inspection/survey of means of embarkation and disembarkation (MSC.1/Circ.1331) concerning the rigging of safety netting on accommodation ladders and gangways (7.[..])*
10. Unified interpretation of provisions of IMO safety, security, and environment-related conventions (7.1)
11. Amendment to regulation 25 of the of the 1988 Load Line Protocol regarding the requirement for setting of guard rails on the deck structure (7[..])*
12. Guidelines for use of fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) within ship structures (2.[..])*
13. Revision of the Interim explanatory notes for the assessment of passenger ship systems’ capabilities after a fire or flooding casualty (MSC.1/Circ.1369) and related circulars (7.42)
14. Biennial status report and provisional agenda for SDC 11
15. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair for 2025
16. Any other business
17. Report to the Maritime Safety Committee

 

IACS Proposal to allow the use of remote inspection techniques (RIT)

This document proposes draft amendments to the 2011 ESP Code, as amended, with a view to allowing the use of remote inspection techniques (RIT) for close-up surveys of existing ships.

 

The maritime industry is increasingly applying remote inspection techniques (RIT), such as remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) and real-time sensing devices that are carried by drones. IACS considers that these new techniques offer greater efficiency, higher flexibility, and increased reliability in the day-to-day activities of survey and inspection without impairing the result of those surveys.

 

In order to permit the use of such techniques and to realize the benefits that they can potentially offer (safer surveys, decreased fault rate and reduction of cost of maintenance), IACS has updated its relevant unified requirements accordingly, i.e. IACS Unified Requirements (URs) Z3 (Rev.7), Z7 (Rev.26), Z7.1 (Rev.14), Z7.2 (Rev.7), Z10.3 (Rev.18) and Z15 (Rev.2).

 

Having permitted the use of RIT in its URs (including unmanned robot arms, ROVs, and unmanned aerial vehicles or drones) for close-up surveys of existing ships, IACS has developed the technical requirements for the approval of firms engaged in undertaking surveys using RIT for a close-up survey of the structure of ships and mobile offshore units, i.e. section 16 of IACS UR Z17 (Rev.13).

 

 

Source IMO