IMO MSC 102

Meeting Summary
January 14, 2021

The 102nd session of the Maritime Safety Committee, originally scheduled to be held from 13 to 22 May 2020, was postponed
due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was eventually held remotely from 4 to 11 November 2020.

The Committee, taking into account the limited time available for this session and in order to ensure continuity of the work
of the Sub-Committees, agreed to postpone the consideration of the following agenda items and the related documents to
MSC 103:

1. agenda item 4: Capacity-building for the implementation of new measures

2. agenda item 5: Regulatory scoping exercise for the use of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)
3. agenda item 6: Development of further measures to enhance the safety of ships relating to the use of fuel oil
4. agenda item 8: Measures to improve domestic ferry safety
5. agenda item 9: Measures to enhance maritime security
6. agenda item 10: Piracy and armed robbery against ships
7. agenda item 11: Unsafe mixed migration by sea
8. agenda item 12: Formal safety assessment
9. agenda item 20: Application of the Committee's method of work
10. agenda item 23: Election of Chair and Vice-Chair for 2021

Also postponed was the consideration of proposals for new outputs under agenda item 21 (Work programme).

There were no working groups established at MSC 102.

2. New MSC.1/Circ.1620 on “Guidelines for inspection

and maintenance of mooring equipment including
lines”.
3. Revised MSC.1/Circ.1175/Rev.1 on “Guidance on
shipboard towing and mooring equipment”. The draft
Amendments to SOLAS Regulation II-1/3/8 Relevant to amendments will enter into force on 1 January
Mooring Equipment 2024.
New requirements were adopted on the design of Amendments to B-1 to B-4 of SOLAS Chapter II-1 to ensure
mooring arrangements, the selection of mooring Consistency with regard to Watertight Integrity
equipment including lines, and the regime for
maintenance and inspection of mooring equipment Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-1 (Annex 1 of MSC
including lines. Maintenance and inspection requirements 102/WP.7) were adopted to align the design criteria for
will be given retroactive application for all ships. watertight integrity in parts B-2 to B-4 with the probabilistic
damage stability approach in parts B and B-1. The
The following associated new and revised guidelines were amendments address inter alia assumptions regarding
approved: progressive flooding, valves in the collision bulkhead and
watertight doors.
1. New MSC Circular, MSC.1/Circ.1619, on
“Guidelines on the design of mooring arrangements The draft amendments will enter into force on 1 January,
and the selection of appropriate mooring 2024, with voluntary early implementation of Regulation
equipment and fittings for safe mooring. 12.6.2 on collision bulkhead valves.

IMO MSC 102 - Summary / December 14, 2020 1

Amendments to IGF Code – Safety for Ships using draft amendments enter into force 1 January 2024, subject
Gases of other Low-Flashpoint Fuels. to adoption by the MSC 103, with voluntary early
implementation.
Three (3) amendments to the IGF Code as listed below
were adopted. New Draft SOLAS Regulation II-1/25-1
Following the sinking of ro-ro cargo ship “El Faro” in 2015, a
1. In paragraph 6.7.1.1, to remove tank cofferdams revision of SOLAS was proposed to require installation of
from the scope of requirement of pressure relief water level detectors in cargo ships with multiple cargo
system. holds other than bulk carriers. New draft SOLAS regulation
2. To add new paragraph 11.8, in order to require II-1/25-1, requiring water level detectors on multiple hold
fixed fire-extinguishing system for fuel preparation cargo ships other than bulk carriers and tankers was
rooms. approved and will be applied to ships constructed on or after
3. To modify paragraph 16.3.3.5.1 concerning tensile 1 January 2024.
tests for materials such as Aluminium alloys.
New Draft SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13 and
The draft amendments will enter into force on 1 January Draft Amendment to SOLAS II-1 Regulation 2
2024.
The draft amendments to SOLAS chapter II-1, which will be
Amendments to IGC Code applied to lifting appliances having a Safe Working Load
above 1,000 kg on or after 1 January 2024 were approved.
Amendments to paragraph 6.5.3.5.1 of the IGC Code Once the associated draft Guidelines are finalized at SSE 8,
concerning tensile tests for materials such as Aluminium the amendment to SOLAS chapter II-I would be adopted in
alloys were adopted. conjunction with the approval of the draft Guidelines at
future session.
The draft amendments will enter into force on 1 January
2024. Amendments to 2011 ESP Code

Amendments to IMDG Code Amendments to 2011 ESP Code, which replace the provision
of thickness measurements at the first renewal survey of
Amendments 40-20 to IMDG Code were adopted, to double hull oil tankers, were approved with a view to
facilitate the multimodal transport of dangerous goods. adoption at MSC 103.
The draft amendments enter into force on 1 January, 2022
(Administrations may apply it on a voluntary basis as from The draft amendments enter into force on 1 January 2024,
1 January 2021). subject to adoption by the MSC 103.

Amendment for Watertight Doors on Cargo Ships to LL, IBC

Code and IGC Code
Amendments for watertight doors on cargo ships to LL
The following draft amendments were approved at this regulation 27(13)(a), relevant parts of IBC Code and IGC
session, and are expected to be adopted at MSC 103 to be Code were approved with a view to adoption at MSC 103
held in May 2021: and MEPC 76, as applicable. The draft amendments enter
into force on 1 January 2024, subject to adoption by the MSC
Amendments to SOLAS Chapter III, LSA Code and 103 and MEPC 76, as applicable.
Resolution MSC.81(70)
Amendments to Chapter 9 of the FSS Code
Amendments to SOLAS regulation III/33, paragraph 4.4.1.3
of LSA Code and the “Revised recommendation on testing Amendments to chapter 9 of the FSS Code in respect of fault
of life-saving appliances” (resolution MSC.81(70), as isolation requirements for cargo ships and passenger ship
amended), to remove the applicability of the cabin balconies fitted with individually identifiable fire
requirements to launch free-fall lifeboats with the ship detector systems, were approved with a view to adoption at
making headway at speeds up to 5 knots in calm water, MSC 103. The draft amendments enter into force on 1
were approved with a view to adoption at MSC 103. The January 2024, subject to adoption by the MSC 103.

IMO MSC 102 - Summary / December 14, 2020 2

 Approval of Unified Interpretations and other Interim
Amendments to STCW Convention and Guidelines and Circulars-
Code
Draft MSC.1/Circ.1318/Rev.1 on revised ‘Guidelines for the
MSC 102 approved the draft definition of “high voltage” as Maintenance and Inspections of Fixed Carbon Dioxide Fire-
an alternating current (AC) or direct current (DC) voltage Extinguishing Systems’ was approved.
in excess of 1,000 volts. to be included in the STCW
Convention Regulation 1/1.1, and inclusion of “electro Draft MSC.1/Circ.1430/Rev.2 on revised guidelines for the
technical officer” in the definition for "operational level" design and approval of fixed water-based fire-fighting
in Section A-1/1 of the STCW Code. The amendments are systems for ro-ro spaces and special category spaces was
subject to adoption at MSC 103. approved.

Amendments to Table B-I/2 of the STCW Code to clarify Draft MSC.1/Circ.1572/Rev.1 on Unified interpretations of
the certificates or documentary evidence for seafarers SOLAS chapters II-1 and XII, of the technical provisions for
required under the STCW Convention were adopted. means of access for inspections (resolution MSC.158(78))
and of the Performance Standards for water level detectors
on bulk carriers and single hold cargo ships other than bulk
Approval of Amendments to Non- carriers (resolution MSC.188(79)) (MSC.1/Circ.1572) were
Mandatory Instruments approved.

Draft MSC.1/Circ.1599/Rev.1 on ‘Revised Interim guidelines

Amendments to the EmS Guide on the application of high manganese austenitic steel for
Draft MSC.1/Circ.1588/Rev.1 on ‘Amendments to the cryogenic service’ was approved.
Revised Emergency Response Procedures for Ships
Carrying Dangerous Goods (EmS) Guide Draft MSC.1/Circ.1621 on ‘Interim guidelines for the safety
(MSC.1/Circ.1588)’ were approved, which is consequential of ships using methyl/ethyl alcohol as fuel’ was approved
to the amendments (40-20) to the IMDG Code, as adopted due to current lack of provisions in the IGF Code on the use
by MSC 102. of methyl/ethyl alcohol as fuel.

Amendments to the MFAG Draft MSC.1/Circ.1622 on ‘Guidelines for the acceptance of

alternative metallic materials for cryogenic service in ships
Draft Amendments to the IMO/WHO/ILO Medical First carrying liquefied gases in bulk and ships using gases or
Aid Guide (MFAG) for Use in Accidents involving other low-flashpoint fuels’ was approved to provide
Dangerous Goods (MFAG) (MSC/Circ.857) were approved. guidance for alternative metallic materials to be used for the
construction and safe operation of low-temperature fuel
Amendments to the CSS Code and cargo-carrying ships.
Draft MSC.1/Circ.1623 on amendments to the ‘Code of
Draft MSC.1/Circ.1625 on Unified Interpretation of the IGC
Safe Practice for Cargo Stowage and Securing (CSS Code)’
Code which clarifies that, for example, paragraph 4.20.1.2 of
the IGC Code where tee welds could be accepted in type A
In order to include conditions for weather-dependent
or type B independent tanks, and the paragraph is applicable
lashing, were approved. Draft MSC.1/Circ.1353/Rev.2 on
to type C independent bi-lobe tank with centreline
amendments to the associated ‘Guidelines for the
bulkhead, and includes interpretations of other
Preparation of the Cargo Securing Manual’ and draft
miscellaneous paragraphs of the Code was approved, to
resolution A.581(14), as amended on amendments to
facilitate the consistent and global implementation of the
‘Guidelines for securing arrangements for the transport of
Code. (UI GC20, GC21, GC22, GC25, GC26, GC27, GC28,
road vehicles on ro-ro ships’ and draft MSC.1/Circ.1624 on
GC29).
amendments to the ‘Code of Safe Practice for Ships
Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes, 2011 (2011 TDC Code)’
Unified interpretation regarding the outer duct in gas fuel
were also approved.
piping systems, as referred to in paragraphs 5.4.4 and
5.13.2.4 of the IGC Code will be reconsidered at CCC Sub-
Committee.

IMO MSC 102 - Summary / December 14, 2020 3

Draft MSC.1/Circ.1626 on Unified interpretation of the
IMDG Code, paragraph 7.1.4.4.2 was approved to clarify
the target of term "life-saving appliances".

Draft MSC.1/Circ.1627 on ‘Interim Guidelines for the

second generation intact stability criteria’ was approved
to provide performance-based criteria for assessing five
dynamic stability failure modes in waves, namely, dead
ship condition, excessive acceleration, pure loss of
stability, parametric rolling and surf-riding/broaching.

Draft MSC.1/Circ.1634 on Unified interpretation of SOLAS

Chapter II-2 to clarify "Isolated pantries containing no
cooking appliances in accommodation spaces" under
SOLAS Regulation II-2/9.2.2.3.2.2(9), was approved.

MSC.1/Circ.1636 on Industry recommended framework of

protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel
during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic was
approved to provide all stakeholders a framework of
protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes.

Draft MSC.1/Circ.1637 on Unified interpretation of SOLAS

regulation II-1/3-10 concerning the term "unforeseen
delay in delivery of ships" during the Coronavirus (COVID-
19) pandemic was approved, having noted that possible
modifications could be considered at a future session.

PPR.1/Circ.9 on ‘Revised carriage requirements for methyl

acrylate and methyl methacrylate’ was endorsed and the
Committee concurred with the recommendation of the
PPR Sub-Committee that chapter 17 of the IBC Code
should be amended to include the updated carriage
requirements for methyl acrylate and methyl
methacrylate.

Revised draft MSC-MEPC.5/Circ.7 on guidance on the

timing of replacement of existing certificates by revised
certificates as a consequence of the entry into force of
amendments to chapters 17 and 18 of the IBC Code were
approved, subject to concurrent approval by the MEPC 75
to address the new carriage requirements for IBC Code
products which enter into force on 1 January 2021.
Consequently, vessels holding a Certificate of Fitness or an
NLS certificate will need to be provided with new
certificates and corresponding product lists based on the
new carriage requirements.

For further information please contact: imo@liscr.com

IMO MSC 102 - Summary / December 14, 2020 4