THE INTERNATIONAL Maritime Organization’s Maritime Safety Committee has adopted a mandatory code for ships carrying industrial workers to offshore facilities.
The IMO Maritime Safety Committee adopted the code at the MSC 106 meeting, which ran from 2-11 November. The meeting also covered other developments and decisions in the maritime space.
The International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP Code) aims to address risks of maritime operations within offshore and energy sectors, such as personnel transfer operations.
The IMO Sub-committee on Ship Design and Construction developed the code for workers involved in construction, maintenance, decommissioning, operation and servicing of offshore facilities.
It lists offshore facilities such as windfarms, offshore oil and gas installations, aquaculture and ocean mining facilities.
IMO expects the amendments to enter into force on 1 July 2024.
Also at MSC 106, the safety committee said it made progress on developing an instrument regulating the operation of maritime autonomous surface ships.
The MSC also approved a revision of the guidelines on places of refuge for ships in need of assistance.
And, the committee urged member states and international organisations to combine efforts to vaccinate seafarers. It encouraged member states to respect seafarers’ medical needs and facilitate repatriation and access to medical care.
The MSC said it also received an update on the Black Sea Grain Initiative.It encouraged the United Nations and IMO to continue their efforts to evacuate all stranded ships and seafarers in the conflict area.
