IMO: letter on amendments to SOLAS, STCW, IGF, LSA, FSS...

The International Maritime Organization has issued a circular letter addressed to all IMO Members:

Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974,
Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978,
Parties to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), 1995,
Director-General of the International Labour Organization,
Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

The subject of Circular Letter No.4772, issued on 8 September 2023, is:

Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974
Amendments to the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or other Low flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code)
Amendments to the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk (Grain Code)
Amendments to the International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections during Surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers, 2011 (2011 ESP Code)
Amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance Code (LSA Code)
Amendments to the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code)
Amendments to the Performance standards for protective coatings for dedicated seawater ballast tanks and the Performance standards for protective coatings for cargo oil tanks of crude oil tankers (resolutions MSC.215(82) and MSC.288(87), respectively)
Amendments to the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code
Revised International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), 1995
Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F) Code

Foreword

The Maritime Safety Committee, at its 107th session (31 May to 9 June 2023), approved draft amendments to:

.1 chapters II-1, II-2 and V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, as set out in annex 1;
.2 the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code), as set out in annex 2;
.3 the International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk (Grain Code), as set out in annex 3;
.4 the International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections during Surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers, 2011 (2011 ESP Code), as set out in annex 4;
.5 the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code, as set out in annex 5;
.6 the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code), as set out in annex 6;
.7 the Performance standards for protective coatings for dedicated seawater ballast tanks and the Performance standards for protective coatings for cargo oil tanks of crude oil tankers (resolutions MSC.215(82) and MSC.288(87), respectively), as set out in annex 7; and
.8 section A-VI/1 of the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Code, as set out in annex 8,
and approved the draft:
.9 revised International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F), 1995, as set out in annex 9; and
.10 new Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F) Code, as set out in annex 10,

for circulation with a view to adoption at its 108th session, tentatively scheduled to take place from 15 to 24 May 2024.

The Secretary-General has the honour to transmit herewith, in accordance with article VIII(b)(i) of the SOLAS Convention, article XII(1)(a)(i) of the STCW Convention and article 10.2.1 of the STCW-F Convention, as appropriate, the text of the aforementioned proposed amendments to the SOLAS Convention; the IGF, Grain, 2011 ESP, LSA and FSS Codes; the Performance standards for protective coatings (resolutions MSC.215(82) and MSC.288(87)); the STCW Code; and the revised STCW-F Convention and new STCW-F Code, set out in annexes 1 to 10, respectively, for consideration with a view to adoption by the Committee at its 108th session, in accordance with article VIII(b)(iv) of the SOLAS Convention, article XII(1)(a)(iv), regulation I/1.2.3 of the STCW Convention and article 10.2.4 of the STCW-F Convention, as appropriate.

In accordance with the procedure established by MSC 75, the Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC), at its ninth session (20 to 29 September 2023), is expected to approve draft amendments to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code with a view to adoption by MSC 108 which will be circulated by means of an addendum to this circular letter in due course.

More information from Circular Letter No.4772, including the abovementioned annexes, is available through the IMODOCS website.