Relevant for ship owners, managers, seafarers, maritime training institutes and flag states.
The 9th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC 9) was held from 23 to 27 January. SDC 9 agreed to extend the requirements for on-board emergency towing devices to all ships over 20,000 gross tonnage to reduce the risk of drifting and grounding in case of an emergency. A revision of the interim explanatory notes to the Safe Return to Port requirements were initiated, intending to improve unified implementation of the concept that passenger ships shall be able to return safely to port after a fire or flooding casualty.