Regulations for Cargo Lifting Safety on the Anvil

Draft mandatory regulations to make lifting appliances such as onboard cargo cranes safer are being developed by the Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE).

According to a press note from International Maritime Organization (IMO), the Sub-Committee aims to finalise the draft SOLAS regulations and related guidelines covering design, construction, installation and maintenance of onboard lifting appliances and anchor handling winches.

The rules are intended to help to prevent accidents and harm to operators and damage to ships, cargo, shore-based structures and subsea structures, as well as the marine environment.

On fire safety matters, the Sub-Committee is working to minimize the incidence and consequences of fires on ro-ro spaces and special category spaces of new and existing ro-ro passenger ships. Current SOLAS regulations and associated codes are being reviewed.

The meeting is expected to further develop draft interim guidelines and draft amendments to the SOLAS Convention and associated Codes. The Sub-Committee will also develop amendments to relevant guidelines for the approval of fixed dry powder systems used on ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk.

Agenda items related to life-saving appliances and arrangements include the work to develop the goal-based standards safety-level approach for the approval of alternative designs and arrangements for regulations on life-saving appliances.

The Sub-Committee is also expected to finalize draft amendments to the Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code on ventilation requirements for survival craft and related draft amendments to the Revised recommendation on testing of life-saving appliances, to ensure a habitable environment is maintained in such survival craft.

Another item on the agenda is the finalization of draft Interim guidelines on life-saving appliances and arrangements for ships operating in polar waters, to support the implementation of the mandatory Polar Code.

On-shore power supply is another item on the agenda. A correspondence group will report on its work to develop draft guidelines on safe operation of on-shore power supply to ships, also known as “cold ironing”, “alternative maritime power” and “shore-side electricity”.

The Sub-Committee is expected to consider whether there is a need for relevant amendments to SOLAS. Plugging a ship into shore-side power - and turning off onboard generators - is one solution to reducing air pollution from ships, as well as limiting local noise.

The SSE 6 meeting was opened by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim and is being chaired by Dr. Susumu Ota (Japan).