Vincent Toritseju
Lagos — SECRETARY General of the International Maritime Organization, IMO Kitack Lim said that the agency has adopted New Technologies for Greener shipping as the theme for this year’s world maritime celebration.
Speaking at the Opening of The Eighth Session of The Sub-Committee on Ship Design, Lim said that
He also said that despite the ongoing pandemic and the difficult circumstances, the work of this Organization has continued in an exemplary fashion, and so has the maritime transport sector as a whole. I sincerely hope that the international community, and shipping in particular, will remain upbeat and resilient after almost two years of extraordinary sacrifices and challenges.
He said: “We must also not relent in our efforts to support seafarers to get vaccinations and boosters, to re-join their families and facilitate their access to work and to crew change by engaging with Administrations and national authorities and by continuing to work together at the national and international level to recognize them as essential workers and to preserve their rights.
This year’s World Maritime Theme is “New Technologies for greener shipping”, highlighting IMO’s commitment to support the transition of the maritime sector into a sustainable green future through technological innovation. The theme provides an opportunity for the entire Organization to focus on the importance of clean maritime transport and the need to build back better and greener in a post-pandemic world.
“It has been almost two years since the last session of your Sub-Committee in February 2020. Despite the delay of this session due to the pandemic, I am pleased to note that the Sub-Committee has been taking proactive action and making pragmatic arrangements during the past two years, through a smooth continuation of the work of correspondence groups, an intersessional working group and many informal meetings to prepare for this session.
“Regarding the business at hand for this week, I would firstly like to highlight those two items of work which this Sub-Committee is expected to complete at this session.
This includes the finalization of the new SOLAS chapter XV and the associated new Code for Industrial Personnel, both of which provide mandatory provisions for ships carrying industrial personnel to ensure the safety of such personnel on ships carrying them. While I understand that some challenges remain, I am confident that these issues can be solved amicably so that the SOLAS chapter XV and the IP Code can enter into force on 1 July 2024.
“The other instrument that awaits completion at this session is the draft Explanatory Notes to the Interim guidelines on second generation intact stability criteria. You may recall that, at your last session, I urged you to complete the work on the Interim Guidelines for second generation intact stability criteria after more than 20 years of hard work.
“This Sub-Committee delivered, and now the approved Interim Guidelines are being used on a trial basis. It is therefore absolutely paramount that we provide Administrations and the shipping industry with the specific guidance to assist in the uniform interpretation and application of the new Interim Guidelines. Hence, I urge you again to overcome any differences you may have to provide the complete package for approval by the Committee.
I would also like to single out a new output on your Sub-Committee’s agenda, and that is the review of the MEPC Guidelines for the reduction of underwater noise.
“There is limited uptake of the current guidelines. The experts in this meeting will examine the barriers to the uptake of the guidelines with a view to addressing them in support of efforts towards a significant and measurable reduction of underwater-radiated noise from ships, which recognize the advancements in technology and research and incorporate this knowledge to make ships quieter and to protect the world’s oceans and their inhabitants from ship-induced noise pollution.
You will further consider other important matters, such as safety objectives and functional requirements of the Guidelines on alternative design and arrangements for SOLAS chapter II-1, amendments to the ESP Code, requirements for emergency towing equipment for ships in addition to those already in place for tankers, the revision of the MODU Codes to prohibit the use of asbestos, as well as the revision of the performance standards for water level detectors to address multi-cargo hold cargo ships.
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