Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to supporting the work of IMO, IACS will actively participate in the forthcoming MEPC 79, from 12 to 16 December 2022.

Noting the work IACS Members perform as Recognized Organizations of IMO Member States, verifying compliance of ships with IMO agreed requirements, and with a view to achieve clarity for all parties, IACS has submitted the following papers:

• MEPC 79/4/6 proposes an interpretation of paragraph 4.10 of the Code for Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS Code), to clarify that the interval for accuracy check/calibration of the BWMS components that take measurements should not be mandatorily linked to the survey scheme for the BWMS, as this should be performed in accordance with the calibration procedure at intervals specified in the manufacturer’s instructions.
• MEPC 79/4/7 seeks clarification on the need for commissioning testing Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS) which has undergone a major modification or an upgrade on board an existing ship in order to improve the performance of the BWMS and ensure the compliance with D-2 standard. Due to the existence of different interpretation on this matter, this document also proposes a unified interpretation of regulation E-1.1.5 and the Form of the International Ballast Water Management Certificate of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments, 2004 (the BWM Convention)
• MEPC 79/7/5 proposes a revision of MEPC.1/Circ.795/Rev.6 on Unified Interpretations to MARPOL Annex VI to clarify the reporting of boil-off gas (BOG) consumed on board ships in the IMO Data Collection System (IMO DCS).
• MEPC 79/7/24 seeks clarification on several issues relating to the development and verification of SEEMP Part III and the issuance of the Statement of Compliance for the first year. This document proposes unified interpretations of regulations 8.3, 26.3.1, 28.7 and 28.9 of MARPOL Annex VI, with the aim of achieving consistency in the application of this regulations.

IACS will also provide advice and comments to the Committee under agenda items 3 (Consideration of adoption of amendments to mandatory instruments), and agenda item 6 (Energy Efficiency of Ships).

Source: Safety4sea

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	Issue 82 of Robban Assafina (Nov./Dec. 2022)