Looking back on IMO III 12

The Sub-Committee continued its work in several key areas:

• analysis of reports on marine casualties and incidents, as well as a revision of the IMO Casualty Investigation Code;
• harmonization of Port State control activities, including the development of amendments to the new edition of the IMO Procedures for Port State Control and a training manual for newly appointed inspectors;
• update of the IMO Survey Guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification;
• development of amendments to the IMO Guidelines on Implementation of the International Safety Management Code by Administrations and companies;
• further improvement of the mandatory IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), including the methodology for analysing consolidated reports on findings identified during IMSAS audits. This work is aimed at refining approaches to the analysis of audit findings within the new audit cycle beginning in 2027.

Particular attention was given to the development of recommendations for States on the implementation of provisions of IMO conventions and codes formulated as “to the satisfaction of the Administration” or in similar terms. The Sub-Committee launched substantive work in this area, starting with the compilation of a list of the relevant requirements.

The session produced an updated list of certificates and documents required to be carried on board ships, as contained in circulars FAL.2/Circ.133, MEPC.1/Circ.902, MSC.1/Circ.1646 and LEG.2/Circ.4. The revised list now includes, among other items, the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship Safety Certificate.

A detailed report on the NCSR 13 will soon be available under the section "International Activity" - "Results of sessions of the IMO bodies" on the official RS website.

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Founded in 1913, Russian Maritime Register of Shipping (RS) is a world-renowned classification society that operates within all spheres of the maritime industry with the goal of improving the operational and environmental safety of marine transportation. RS reviews technical documentation, surveys ships and offshore facilities under construction and in service, certifies vessels and companies for compliance with international conventions, recognizes and certifies industrial products and manufacturers, certifies quality management systems for compliance with international and national standards.

Today, RS is actively expanding its scope of services in the field of engineering and consulting, the development of technical documentation for vessels in service, marine warranty surveys, management system certification and recognition of manufacturers. In addition, RS surveys all container types, including tank containers and offshore containers, confirms compliance of packaging for dangerous goods, as well as renders services on the declaration and certification of dangerous goods and bulk cargoes.