The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) will meet for its 109th session at IMO Headquarters in London (in-person with hybrid participation) from 2 to 6 December 2024. The meeting will be chaired by Mrs. Mayte Medina of the United States, supported by Vice-Chair, Capt. Theofilos Mozas of Greece.
The MSC deals with all matters related to maritime safety and maritime security which fall within the scope of IMO, including autonomous vessels, safety of alternative fuels and technologies, piracy and armed robbery against ships, cyber security and e-navigation and many others.
MSC 109 highlights:
- Amendments to IGC and IGF Codes
- Goal-based new ship construction standards
- Development of a Code to regulate autonomous ships
- Development of a safety regulatory framework to support the reduction of GHG emissions from ships using new technologies and alternative fuels
- Cyber risk management
- Measures to enhance maritime security
- Piracy and armed robbery updates
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1. Amendments to mandatory IGC and IGF Codes
The Committee is expected to adopt amendments to the following mandatory Codes under SOLAS:
- International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code), related to the use as fuel of cargoes identified as toxic products, in the context of alternative fuels and new technologies.
- International Code of Safety for Ship Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code), related to ship design, fire safety, ventilation and other safety issues.
The Committee will be invited to approve an MSC circular on voluntary early application of the IGC Code, associated with the draft amendments.
A drafting group will be established.
2. Goal-based new ship construction standards
The Committee will consider the outcome of the 2024 combined Goal-based new ship construction standards (GBS) audit. This includes the results and final reports from:
- Initial GBS Verification Audit of Biro Klasifikasi Indonesia (BKI); and
- GBS Audit of IACS Recommendation 34/Rev.2 on Standard wave data.
3. Development of a Code for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS)
The Committee will consider the reports of the Intersessional Working Group on MASS, which met in September 2024.
The Intersessional Working Group has progressed draft Chapter 17 (Safety of navigation), one of the challenging chapters in the draft Code, and Chapter 20 (Fire protection). A verbal report of the MASS Correspondence Group, established by MSC 108, will be provided.
A working group is expected to be established to develop further draft non-mandatory MASS Code.
4. Development of a safety regulatory framework to support the reduction of GHG emissions from ships using new technologies and alternative fuels
The Committee will receive an oral update on the work of the Correspondence Group on Development of a Safety Regulatory Framework to Support the Reduction of GHG Emissions from Ships using New Technologies and Alternative Fuels (GHG safety).
The Correspondence Group, established at MSC 108, has been working on capturing detailed information (technical background, hazards, and risks to ship/shoreside) for the new technologies and alternative fuels. Safety obstacles and gaps in existing regulations are being assessed.
A working group is expected to be established to further consider the list of various alternative fuels and new technologies.
5. Cyber risk management
At the last session (MSC 108), the Committee approved the revised Guidelines on Maritime Cyber Risk Management (MSC-FAL.1/Circ.3/Rev.2). MSC 109 is expected to identify next steps to enhance maritime cybersecurity.
Proposals to develop cybersecurity standards for ships and port facilities will also be discussed.
6. Measures to enhance maritime security
The Committee will consider an update on key developments in the IMO’s work to enhance maritime security. This includes information about the submission of security-related information for port facilities in GISIS, and a report on capacity-building projects and initiatives implemented by the Secretariat, including:
- Global Enhancement of Maritime Security programme;
- EU-funded Port Security Project;
- United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Coordination Compact.
7. Piracy and armed robbery against ships
The Committee will consider an update on developments related to piracy and armed robbery against ships. This includes reports on acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships for the first six months of 2024, and recent developments related to regional initiatives such as the Djibouti Code of Conduct/Jeddah Amendment and Yaoundé Code of Conduct.
According to information received and made available in IMO’s GISIS module, 72 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported to the Organization as having occurred or been attempted in January to June 2024. For the same period in 2023, 90 incidents were reported. This therefore constitutes a decrease of approximately 20% at the global level compared to the same period in 2023.
The areas most affected by acts of piracy and armed robbery against ships in January to June 2024 were the Straits of Malacca and Singapore area (37), Indian Ocean (13), West Africa (10), Arabian Sea (7), followed by the South China Sea (4) and South America (Atlantic) (1).
8. Revised guidelines for formal safety assessment (FSA)
The Committee will consider updates to the Revised guidelines for Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) for use in the IMO rule-making process (Revised FSA Guidelines), in light of the experience gained through various FSA studies conducted on fire safety.
A Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) is a structured and systematic methodology aimed at enhancing maritime safety, by using risk analysis and cost-benefit assessment. FSAs can be used as a tool to help in the evaluation of new maritime regulations.
An Experts Group is expected to be established.
9. Reports of Sub-Committees
The Committee will consider the reports from the following Sub-Committees and take action as appropriate:
Ship systems and equipment (SSE 10)
The Committee is expected to approve amendments to the 1994 and 2000 HSC Codes (International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft) on lifejacket carriage requirements, as well as modifications to non-mandatory instruments with respect to retro-reflective materials used on life-saving appliances and self-righting tests for totally enclosed lifeboats.
Navigation, communications and search and rescue (NCSR 11)
The Committee is expected to approve/adopt, as appropriate:
- draft amendments to SOLAS regulation V/23 (Pilot transfer arrangements) and associated instruments;
- a draft MSC resolution on Performance standards for pilot transfer arrangements, of mandatory nature, revising and revoking the recommendations on pilot transfer arrangements contained in resolutions A.1045(27) and A.1108(29);
- new and amended ships’ routeing measures;
- draft Assembly resolutions revising and revoking resolutions A.707(17) on Charges for distress, urgency and safety messages through the INMARSAT system and A.1001(25) on Criteria for the provision of mobile satellite communication systems in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS);
- amendments to the IAMSAR Manual;
- new Performance standards for the reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information by MF and HF digital navigational data (NAVDAT) and a revision of resolution MSC.509(105) to include a new annex on Criteria for use when providing a NAVDAT service; and
- a revision of the Performance standards for a universal shipborne Automatic Identification System (AIS) (resolution MSC.74(69), annex 3) to enhance security aspects of AIS.
In addition, the Committee will consider the outcomes of the Joint WMO-IMO Symposium on Extreme Maritime Weather, hosted in September 2024 at IMO.
Carriage of cargoes and containers – urgent matters (CCC 10)
The Committee is expected to approve:
- Interim Guidelines for the safety of ships using ammonia as fuel;
- draft amendments to the IGC Code; and
- the re-establishment of the Intersessional Working Group on Development of Technical Provisions for Safety of Ships using Alternative Fuels (ISWG‑AF 2)
Implementation of IMO Instruments (III 10)
The Committee is expected to:
- adopt an MSC resolution on draft interim Guidance to assist in the implementation of the Cape Town Agreement of 2012; and
- consider the outcome of analysis of six consolidated audit summary reports (CASRs) from 82 audits, including proposed areas where assistance could be provided to Member States through IMO’s technical cooperation programme
Pollution Prevention and Response (PPR 11)
The Committee is expected to note the invitation to the SSE Sub-Committee to consider a requirement for new crude oil tankers in relation to Pressure/Vacuum (P/V) valves.
10. Domestic ferry safety
The Committee will consider the recent activities and initiatives undertaken with respect to enhancing domestic ferry safety, particularly in the context of partnerships with the Maritime Organization of West and Central Africa (MOWCA), the Pacific Community (SPC), World Maritime University (WMU), INTERFERRY and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
11. Matters related to the International Safety Management Code
The Committee will consider several matters related to ISM Code, particularly relevant recommendations on violence and harassment emanating from the Joint ILO/IMO Working Group, and from the Study on the effectiveness and implementation of the ISM Code, in conjunction with the proposal for a new output on ʺComprehensive review of the International Safety Management (ISM) Code and its related guidelinesʺ, submitted to MSC 107.
