Regulation

Captain John Hafner, International Registries, Inc., provides feedback on how the Maritime Labour Convention, which became effective four years ago, has succeeded in  improving working & living conditions on board. 

The US Coast Guard announced the publication of a Final Rule to eliminate outdated regulations that impose not necessary screening requirements on cruise ships and cruise ship terminals, in order to improve cruise ships security.

Denmark introduced new regulation, aiming to simplify the handling of medical supplies for survival craft and the handling of medicine onboard Danish ships abroad. Upon the new regulations become effective on 1 July 2018, the requirement for ships’ medicine to be bought from a Danish pharmacy will be abolished.

From January 2018, tanker operators are required to use TMSA3 to monitor and improve performance. In comparison with TMSA2, the new edition of TMSA is more extended in length and presents new challenges to ship operators with the introduction of new requirements.

USCG informed of how Subchapter M may affect a towing vessel’s ability to be used as a resource provider in a Vessel Response Plan, from two perspectives: the towing vessel owner/operator and the VRP holder. USCG will begin enforcing Subchapter M towing vessel regulations, on 20 July 2018.

ECSA and WSC have called on EU Institutions to implement a new European reporting formalities framework that benefits maritime carriers and the wider EU economy, noting that the current complex, repetitive and duplicative reporting requirements result in productivity losses for carriers, but also create unnecessary workload for ship crews.

In a bid to professionalize governance of India's major ports, the Government has introduced the Major Port Authorities Bill in Parliament, to replace the existing Major Port Trusts Act, 1963. Under the proposed Bill, all major ports will be empowered to make their own master plan for areas within their port limit to the exclusion of any State or local regulations.

The US Coast Guard issued a reminder on the MARPOL Annex VI amendment, regarding the implementation of an exemption for ships not intended for service within North American ECA, to be allowed to enter and depart the ECA with an IMO Tier II compliant engine. The amendment is entering into force on 1 January 2019.

During its Technical and Executive Committees’ meetings in Singapore on 5 and 6 March, INTERCARGO re-iterated its commitment to a safe, efficient, high quality and environmentally-friendly dry cargo shipping industry and its support, at the same time, for an industry governed by free and fair competition. 

On 1 March 2018, the amendments to update Form B of the Supplement to the International Oil Pollution Prevention Certificate, in relation to segregated ballast tanks, entered into force. On 1 March 2018, the Ship fuel oil consumption data reporting requirements and the Garbage requirements under MARPOL Annex V also became effective.