Provisional agendas for MEPC 81, SDC 10, and SSE 10

The International Maritime Organization has released the provisional agendas for MEPC 81, SDC 10, and SSE 10.

MEPC 81

The eighty-first session of the Marine Environment Protection Committee is to be held from Monday, 18 March to Friday, 22 March 2024 at IMO Headquarters, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR.

Session commences at 9.30 a.m. (UTC) on Monday, 18 March 2024.

Opening of the session.

1 Adoption of the agenda.

2 Decisions of other bodies.

3 Consideration and adoption of amendments to mandatory instruments.

4 Harmful aquatic organisms in ballast water.

5 Air pollution prevention.

6 Energy efficiency of ships.

7 Reduction of GHG emissions from ships.

8 Follow-up work emanating from the Action Plan to address marine plastic litter from ships.

9 Pollution prevention and response.

10 Reports of other sub-committees.

11 Identification and protection of Special Areas, ECAs and PSSAs.

12 Technical cooperation activities for the protection of the marine environment.

13 Application of the Committees' method of work.

14 Work programme of the Committee and subsidiary bodies.

15 Any other business.

16 Consideration of the report of the Committee.

Notes:

1 In accordance with the Organization and method of work of the Maritime Safety Committee and the Marine Environment Protection Committee and their subsidiary bodies (MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.5):

.1 documents should be received by the Secretariat as follows*:

.1 documents containing proposals for unplanned outputs, by Friday, 15 December 2023 (13-week deadline);
.2 documents (including information documents) containing more than six pages of text (bulky documents**), by Friday, 15 December 2023 (13-week deadline);
.3 non-bulky documents including information documents (six pages or fewer) and bulky information documents submitted in electronic format, by Friday, 12 January 2024 (nine-week deadline); and
.4 documents (four pages or fewer) commenting on those referred to in sub-paragraphs .1 to .3 above, as well as those commenting on documents previously submitted to MEPC 79 and MEPC 80 and whose consideration had been deferred to MEPC 81, by Friday, 26 January 2024 (seven-week deadline). These documents should start with a paragraph clearly indicating the document on which comments are made and stating that the document is submitted in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 6.12.5 of the Committees' Method of Work;

*Documents other than information documents and reports from sub-committees, working, drafting, correspondence and other working groups and the Secretariat, which contain more than 20 pages, in line with paragraph 6.11 of the Committees' Method of Work, will not be translated in their entirety. Such documents should include, for translation purposes, a summary not longer than four pages, with the technical content submitted as an annex in the language needed by working groups (i.e. English).

**In the case of documents containing more than 50 pages, the provisions of paragraph 6.12.1 of the Committees' Method of Work are to be applied.

.2 for reasons of economy, documents should be submitted in single spacing, and be as concise as possible, and:

.1 all documents should include a brief summary prepared in accordance with the Committees' Method of Work;
.2 substantive documents should conclude with a summary of the action that the Committee is invited to take; and
.3 information documents should conclude with a summary of the information contained therein;

.3 the following word processing format should be observed in order to standardize the presentation of documents:

font: Arial;
font size: 11;
justification: full;
margins: 2 cm top, 2.5 cm bottom, left and right.

A template is available on the IMODOCS website for use in the preparation of documents.

To facilitate processing, documents should be submitted via the new Meeting Document Submission Portal on IMODOCS (Submission Portal), as set out in Circular Letter No.4662.

Should any problems be encountered that prevent submission of a document via the Submission Portal, submitters should contact the Secretariat at imodocs@imo.org and copy MED@imo.org without delay.

2 The Committees' Method of Work, inter alia, requests the Secretariat to strictly apply the rules concerning the submission of documents and not to accept late submissions from Governments or delegations.

3 In order to improve access to information and increase transparency, submitters of meeting documents are invited to give their consent for their documents to be released to the public prior to the meeting by checking the "opt-in box" at the top right corner of the new document template provided on IMODOCS (pre-session public release). In the absence of explicit consent, submissions will not be released to the public prior to the meeting.

SDC 10

The tenth session of the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction is to be held at IMO Headquarters, 4 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7SR, from Monday, 22 January to Friday, 26 January 2024.

Session commences at 9.30 a.m. (UTC) on Monday, 22 January 2024.

Opening of the session.

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 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.

*Output number to be assigned in due course.

Notes:

1 In accordance with the Organization and method of work of the Maritime Safety Committee and Marine Environment Protection Committee and their subsidiary bodies (MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.5):

.1 documents should be received by the Secretariat as follows*:

.1 documents (including information documents) containing more than six pages of text (bulky documents**), by 20 October 2023 (13-week deadline);
.2 non-bulky documents including information documents (six pages or fewer) and bulky information documents submitted in electronic format, by 17 November 2023 (nine-week deadline); and
.3 documents (four pages or fewer) commenting on those referred to in sub-paragraphs .1 and .2 above, by 1 December 2023 (seven-week deadline). These documents should start with a paragraph clearly indicating the document on which comments are made and stating that the document is submitted in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 6.12.5 of MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.5;

*Documents other than information documents and reports of sub-committees, working, drafting, correspondence and other groups and the Secretariat, which contain more than 20 pages, in line with paragraph 6.11 of MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.5, will not be translated in their entirety. Such documents should include, for translation purposes, a summary not longer than four pages, with the technical content submitted as an annex in the language needed by working groups (i.e. English).

**In the case of documents containing more than 50 pages, the provisions of paragraph 6.12.1 of MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.5 apply.

.2 for reasons of economy, documents should be submitted in single spacing, be as concise as possible and:

.1 all documents should include a brief summary prepared in accordance with section 6 of the annex to MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.5;
.2 substantive documents should conclude with a summary of the action the Sub-Committee is invited to take; and
.3 information documents should conclude with a summary of the information contained therein;

.3 the following word-processing format should be observed in order to standardize the presentation of documents:

font: Arial;
font size: 11;
justification: full;
margins: 2 cm top, 2.5 cm bottom, left and right.

A template is available on the IMODOCS website for use in the preparation of documents.

To facilitate processing, documents should be submitted through the IMODOCS homepage (https://docs.imo.org) under the "Document Submission Portal" (Submission Portal) in Microsoft Word, as set out in Circular Letter No.4662.

To submit any electronic files for processing by the Secretariat, submitters should click on the tab and use the templates available for submissions.

Detailed information on how to use the Portal is set out in the annex to Circular Letter No.4662. All submissions will be acknowledged via notification sent from the Submission Portal.

The status of a submitted document can be checked on the Submission Portal.

For any queries relating to the Submission Portal, please email the Secretariat at imodocs@imo.org.

SSE 10

The tenth session of the Sub-Committee on Ships Systems and Equipment is to be held at IMO Headquarters, 4 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7SR, from Monday, 4 March to Friday, 8 March 2024.

Session commences at 9.30 a.m. (UTC) on Monday, 4 March 2024.

Opening of the session.

1 Adoption of the agenda.

2 Decisions of other IMO bodies.

3 New requirements for ventilation of survival craft (7.36).

4 Development of design and prototype test requirements for the arrangements used in the operational testing of free-fall lifeboat release systems without launching the lifeboat.

5 Revision of SOLAS chapter III and the LSA Code (2.16).

6 Amendments to SOLAS chapter III and chapter IV of the LSA Code to require the carriage of self-righting or canopied reversible liferafts for new ships*.

*Output number to be confirmed in due course.

7 Development of amendments to paragraph 8.3.5 and annex 1 of the 1994 and 2000 HSC Codes.

8 Revision of the 2010 FTP Code to allow for new fire protection systems and materials.

9 Revision of the provisions for helicopter facilities in SOLAS and the MODU Code (OW 13).

10 Development of amendments to SOLAS chapter II-2 and the FSS Code concerning detection and control of fires in cargo holds and on the cargo deck of containerships (7.15).

11 Validated model training courses (6.2).

12 Unified interpretation of provisions of IMO safety, security, and environment-related conventions (7.1).

13 Development of provisions to consider prohibiting the use of fire-fighting foams containing fluorinated substances, in addition to PFOS, for fire-fighting on board ships (7.41).

14 Comprehensive review of the Requirements for maintenance, thorough examination, operational testing, overhaul, and repair of lifeboats and rescue boats, launching appliances, and release gear (resolution MSC.402(96)) to address challenges with their implementation.

15 Amendments to the LSA Code for thermal performance of immersion suits (OW 14).

16 Evaluation of adequacy of fire protection, detection, and extinction arrangements in vehicle, special category, and ro-ro spaces in order to reduce the fire risk of ships carrying new energy vehicles.

17 Biennial status report and provisional agenda for SSE 11.

18 Election of Chair and Vice-Chair for 2025.

19 Any other business.

20 Report to the Maritime Safety Committee.

Notes:

1 In accordance with the Organization and method of work of the Maritime Safety Committee and the Marine Environment Protection Committee and their subsidiary bodies (MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.5):

.1 documents should be received by the Secretariat in accordance with paragraph 6.12 of the annex to MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.5, as follows*:

.1 bulky documents** (those containing more than six pages) by Friday, 1 December 2023 (13 weeks deadline);
.2 non-bulky documents (those containing six pages or fewer) and also bulky information documents by Friday, 29 December 2023 (nine weeks deadline); and
.3 documents commenting on those referred to in subparagraphs .1 and .2 above and containing four pages or fewer, by Friday, 12 January 2024 (seven weeks deadline).

*Documents other than information documents and reports from sub-committees, working, drafting, correspondence and other working groups and the Secretariat, which contain more than 20 pages, in line with paragraph 6.11 of the annex to MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.5, will not be translated in their entirety. Such documents should include, for translation purposes, a summary not longer than four pages, with the technical content submitted as an annex in the language needed by working groups (i.e. English).

**In case documents contain more than 50 pages, the provisions of paragraph 6.12.1 of the annex to MSC MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.5 are to be applied.

.2 for reasons of economy, documents should be submitted in single spacing and be as concise as possible, and:

.1 all documents should include a brief summary prepared in accordance with section 6 of the annex to MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.5;
.2 substantive documents should conclude with a summary of the action that the Sub-Committee is invited to take; and
.3 information documents should conclude with a summary of the information they contain; and

.3 the following word processing format should be observed in order to standardize presentation:

font: Arial;
font size: 11;
justification: full;
margins: 2 cm top, 2.5 cm bottom, left and right.

A template is available on the IMODOCS website for use in the preparation of documents.

To submit any electronic files for processing by the Secretariat, submitters should click on the tab and use the templates available for submissions.

Detailed information on how to use the Portal is set out in the annex to Circular Letter No.4662.

All submissions will be acknowledged via notification sent from the Submission Portal.

The status of a submitted document can be checked on the Submission Portal.

For any queries relating to the Submission Portal, please email the Secretariat at imodocs@imo.org.

2 The Maritime Safety Committee has recommended that the sub-committees should strictly observe the provisions in the annex to MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.5, which, inter alia, provide that the Secretariat should strictly apply the rules concerning the submission of documents and not accept late submissions from Member States or international organizations.

3 In order to improve access to information and increase transparency, submitters of meeting documents are invited to give their consent for their documents to be released to the public prior to the meeting by checking the 'opt-in box' at the top right corner of the new document template provided on IMODOCS (pre-session public release). In the absence of explicit consent, submissions will not be released to the public prior to the meeting.

These committee documents were released on 27 and 28 July 2023.

For more information, please see the documents below (available only to subscribers):