Bahamas: Voluntary early implementation of SOLAS and IMSBC Code

The Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) on 22 June 2023 issued three technical alerts, valid until 31 December 2023.

Voluntary early implementation of revised IMSBC Code

The purpose of this Technical Alert is to provide the position of the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) on the amended International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code, which enters into force on 01 January 2024.

This Alert applies to all ships registered in The Bahamas to which the IMSBC Code is applicable.

The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted amendments to the IMSBC Code at its 105th session – see Resolution MSC.500(105).

The planned entry into force date for the amended IMSBC Code is 01 January 2024.

The Maritime Safety Committee also agreed that SOLAS contracting governments may apply the amended IMSBC Code in whole or in part from 01 January 2023.

Accordingly, The Bahamas has advised its early acceptance of the amended IMDG Code and has entered this in the IMO Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) (click here).

Where a Company wishes to voluntarily apply the amended IMSBC Code to its ships, it shall apply to the Recognised Organisation that classes the ship for the issue of a new Document of Compliance for Carriage of Dangerous Goods, referring to the new Schedules in Appendix 1 of the amended IMSBC Code.

Voluntary early implementation of SOLAS II-1

The purpose of this Technical Alert is to provide the position of the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) on the forthcoming amendments to Chapter II-1 of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS), which enters into force on 01 January 2024.

The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-1 at its 102nd session – see Resolution MSC.474(102).

The amendments include new paragraph 6.2 under Regulation 12 which provides:

“For ships constructed on or after 1 January 2024, except as provided in paragraph 6.3, the collision bulkhead may be pierced below the bulkhead deck of passenger ships and the freeboard deck of cargo ships by not more than one pipe for dealing with fluid in the forepeak tank, provided that the pipe is fitted with a remotely controlled valve capable of being operated from above the bulkhead deck of passenger ships and the freeboard deck of cargo ships. The valve shall be normally closed. If the remote control system should fail during operation of the valve, the valve shall close automatically or be capable of being closed manually from a position above the bulkhead deck of passenger ships and the freeboard deck of cargo ships. The valve shall be located at the collision bulkhead on either the forward or aft side, provided the space on the aft side is not a cargo space. The valve shall be of steel, bronze or other approved ductile material. Valves of ordinary cast iron or similar material are not acceptable”.

This amendment may be applied to Bahamian ships prior to 01 January 2024. The Bahamas has advised its early acceptance of the amended regulation and has entered this in the IMO Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) (click here).

Voluntary early implementation of draft amendments to SOLAS III {2} LSA Code

The purpose of this Technical Alert is to provide the position of the Bahamas Maritime Authority (BMA) on the forthcoming amendments to Chapter III of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS) and the International Life-Saving Appliances Code (LSA Code), which enter into force on 01 January 2024.

The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted amendments to SOLAS Chapter III at its 103rd session – see Resolutions MSC.482(103) and MSC.485(103).

The amendments include:

i. a replacement of paragraph 2 under Regulation 33 of SOLAS Chapter III which now reads:

"On cargo ships of 20,000 gross tonnage and upwards, davit launched lifeboats shall be capable of being launched, utilizing painters where necessary, with the ship making headway at speeds up to 5 knots in calm water".

and

ii. a replacement of paragraph 4.4.1.3.2 of the LSA Code which now reads:

"except for free-fall lifeboats, be capable of being launched and towed when the ship is making headway at speeds up to 5 knots in calm water".

These amendments may be applied to Bahamian ships prior to 01 January 2024.

The Bahamas has advised its early acceptance of the amended regulation and has entered this in the IMO Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) (click here).

LINK TO THE BMA'S TECHNICAL ALERTS

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