IMO Convention

List of amendments expected to enter into force this year 2014 and in the coming years 

1 July 2014: Entry into force of November 2012 SOLAS amendments 

- new SOLAS regulation II-1/3-12 to require new ships to be constructed to reduce on-board noise and to protect personnel from noise, in accordance with the revised Code on noise levels on board ships, also adopted, which sets out mandatory maximum noise level limits for machinery spaces, control rooms, workshops, accommodation and other spaces on board ships.  - Amendments to SOLAS regulation III/17-1 to require ships to have plans and procedures to recover persons from the water, as well as related Guidelines for development of plans and procedures for recovery of persons from the water. Also, a related MSC resolution on Implementation of SOLAS regulation III/17-1 to ships to which SOLAS chapter III does not apply;   - amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/10 on fire fighting to require a minimum of duplicate two-way portable radiotelephone apparatus for each fire party for fire fighters’ communication to be carried; amendments to regulation II-2/15 on instructions, on-board training and drills, to require an on-board means of recharging breathing apparatus cylinders used during drills, or a suitable number of spare cylinders; and amendments to regulation II-2/20 on protection of vehicle, special category and ro-ro spaces related to fixed fire-extinguishing systems; and - amendments to the appendix to the annex to the SOLAS Convention replacing all forms of certificates and records of equipment, including its 1988 Protocol, and amendments to the forms of the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate and Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate of its 1978 Protocol.  1 July 2014: CSC Amendments  Amendments to the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), 1972, to incorporate amendments to the CSC Convention adopted in 1993 by resolution A.737(18), including amendments relating to the safety approval plate and to the approval of existing and new containers.  1 January 2015: Code for Recognized Organizations  Code for recognized organizations (RO Code) becomes mandatory under SOLAS, MARPOL and Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966.  1 January 2015: Entry into force of 2013 May SOLAS amendments Amendments to the following:  - SOLAS regulation III/19 to require musters of newly embarked passengers prior to or immediately upon departure;   - SOLAS regulation III/19, on emergency training and drills, to mandate enclosed-space entry and rescue drills, which will require crew members with enclosed-space entry or rescue responsibilities to participate in an enclosed-space entry and rescue drill at least once every two months. Related amendments also to the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC Code), the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU Code) and the Code of Safety for Dynamically Supported Craft (DSC Code).  1 January 2015: 0.10%​ fuel oil sulphur limit in ECAS  The limit for fuel oil sulphur levels falls to 0.10% m/m in emission contorl areas established to limit SOx and particulate matter emissions​. The ECAS concerned are: Baltic Sea area​; North Sea area; North American area; United States Caribbean Sea area​.  14 April 2015: Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention enters into force  The Nairobi International Convention on the Removal Wrecks enters into force.  8 June 2015: Amendments to 1996 LLMC Protocol Amendments to increase the limits of liability in the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims were adopted in April 2012.  1 September 2015: Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, regulation 13 (NOx)  Amendments concerning the date for the implementation of “Tier III” standards within emission control areas (ECAs). The amendments provide for the Tier III NOx standards to be applied to a marine diesel engine that is installed on a ship constructed on or after 1 January 2016 and which operates in the North American Emission Control Area or the U.S. Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area that are designated for the control of NOx emissions. In addition, the Tier III requirements would apply to installed marine diesel engines when operated in other emission control areas which might be designated in the future for Tier III NOx control. The Tier III requirements do not apply to a marine diesel engine installed on a ship constructed prior to 1 January 2021 of less than 500 gross tonnage, of 24 m or over in length, which has been specifically designed and is used solely, for recreational purposes.  1 September 2015: extension of EEDI  Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI concerning the extension of the application of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) to LNG carriers, ro-ro cargo ships (vehicle carriers), ro-ro cargo ships, ro-ro passenger ships and cruise passenger ships with non-conventional propulsion; and to exempt of ships not propelled by mechanical means and independently operating cargo ships with ice-breaking capability.  1 January 2016: Mandatory audit scheme  Amendments to number of treaties to make the use of the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code) mandatory.  The treaties amended are: - SOLAS, 1974, as amended;  - STCW Convention, 1978, as amended and STCW Code;  - MARPOL Annexes I through to VI; MARPOL Annexes I through to VI;  - Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (1988 Load Lines Protocol), as amended;  - International Convention on Load Lines, 1966;  - International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969;  - Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended.  1 January 2016: SOLAS amendments, steering gear,inert gas  Entry into force of: - amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/29 on steering gear, to update the requirements relating to sea trials.  - amendments to SOLAS regulations II-2/4, II-2/3, II-2/9.7 and II-2/16.3.3, to introduce mandatory requirements for inert gas systems on board new oil and chemical tankers of 8,000 dwt and above, and for ventilation systems on board new ships; related amendments to the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code) on inert gas systems. - amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/10, concerning fire protection requirements for new ships designed to carry containers on or above the weather deck.  - amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/13.4, mandating additional means of escape from machinery spaces.  - new SOLAS regulation II-2/20-1 Requirement for vehicle carriers carrying motor vehicles with compressed hydrogen or natural gas for their own propulsion, which sets additional requirements for ships with vehicle and ro-ro spaces intended for the carriage of motor vehicles with compressed hydrogen or compressed natural gas in their tanks as fuel.  - amendment 37-14 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.  - amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code related to the testing of lifejackets.  1 January 2016: carriage of stability instruments  Amendments to MARPOL Annex I, the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships carrying. Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code) and the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code), on mandatory carriage requirements for a stability instrument for oil tankers and chemical tankers. ​​​

Source: IMO