Sunday, July 15, 2012

International Code for the Application of Fire Test Procedures (2010 FTP Code) mandatory from 1 July 2012


International Code for the Application of Fire Test Procedures (2010 FTP Code) mandatory from 1 July 2012
Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) to make mandatory the International Code for the Application of Fire Test Procedures (2010 FTP Code) came into force on 1 July 2012, thereby enhancing the fire safety provisions onboard all ships.
 
The 2010 FTP Code provides the international requirements for laboratory testing,  type-approval and fire test procedures for products referenced under SOLAS chapter II-2 (which includes regulations on fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction).
 
The 2010 FTP Code includes the following: test for non-combustibility; test for smoke and toxicity; test for “A”, “B” and “F” class divisions; test for fire door control systems; test for surface flammability (surface materials and primary deck coverings); test for vertically supported textiles and films; test for upholstered furniture; test for bedding components; test for fire-restricting materials for high-speed craft; and test for fire-resisting divisions of high-speed craft.

It also includes annexes on products which may be installed without testing and/or approval and on fire protection materials and required approval test methods. 

Other amendments entering into force on 1 July 2012
Other amendments to international treaties which entered into force on 1 July 2012 include:
 
• amendments to SOLAS regulation V/18 to require annual testing of automatic identification systems (AIS);

• amendments to SOLAS regulation V/23 on pilot transfer arrangements, to update and to improve safety aspects of pilot transfer;

• amendments to safety certificates in the SOLAS appendix and SOLAS Protocol of 1988, relating to references to alternative design and arrangements;

• amendments to the International Convention for Safe Containers, 1972, to include addition of new paragraphs in Regulation 1 Safety Approval Plate, specifying the validity of and elements to be included in approved examination programmes; the addition of a new test for containers being approved for operation with one door removed; and the addition of a new Annex III Control and Verification, which provides specific control measures to enable authorized officers to assess the integrity of structurally sensitive components of containers and to help them decide whether a container is safe to continue in transportation or whether transport should be stopped until remedial action has been taken; and

• a new chapter 9 of the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code), related to fixed fire detection and fire alarm systems

Monday, July 2, 2012

LIST OF SPECIAL AREAS UNDER MARPOL AND PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE SEA AREAS

LIST OF SPECIAL AREAS UNDER MARPOL

Special Areas
Amendments adopted to the MARPOL Annex
Entry into force of the amendments
More stringent measures in effect from
MARPOL Annex l: OIL
Mediterranean sea
2 Nov 1973
2 Oct 1983
2 Oct 1983
Baltic Sea
2 Nov 1973
2 Oct 1983
2 Oct 1983
Black Sea
2 Nov 1973
2 Oct 1983
2 Oct 1983
Red Sea
2 Nov 1973
2 Oct 1983
*
“Gulfs” area
2 Nov 1973
2 Oct 1983
1 Aug 2008 (Resolution MEPC.168(56))
Gulf of Aden
1 Dec 1987
(Resolution MEPC.29(25))
1 Apr 1989
*
Antarctic area
16 Nov 1990 (Resolution MEPC.42(30))
17 Mar 1992
17 Mar 1992
North West European waters
25 Sept 1997 (Resolution MEPC.75(40))
1 Feb 1999
1 Aug 1999 (Resolution MEPC.77(41))
Oman area of the Arabian sea
15 Oct 2004 (Resolution MEPC.117(52))
1 Jan 2007
*
Southern South African waters
13 Oct 2006 (Resolution MEPC.154(55))
1 Mar 2008
1 Aug 2008 (Resolution MEPC.167(56))
MARPOL Annex ll: Noxious Liquid Substances
Antarctic area
30 Oct 2006 (Resolution MEPC.57(33))
1 Jul 1994
1 Jul 1994
MARPOL Annex lV: Sewage
Baltic Sea
15 July 2011
1 July 2012
1 July 2013 (Resolution MEPC.200(62))
MARPOL Annex V: Garbage
Mediterranean Sea
2 Nov 1973
31 Dec 1988
1 May 2009 (Resolution MEPC.172(57))
Baltic Sea
2 Nov 1973
31 Dec 1988
1 Oct 1989 (Resolution MEPC.31(26))
Black Sea
2 Nov 1973
31 Dec 1988
*
Red Sea
2 Nov 1973
31 Dec 1988
*
“Gulfs” Area
2 Nov 1973
31 Dec 1988
1 Aug 2008 (Resolution MEPC.168(56))
North Sea
17 Oct 1989 (Resolution MEPC.36(28))
18 Feb 1991
18 Feb 1991 (Resolution MEPC.37(28))
Antarctic Area (south of latitude 60 degrees south)
16 Nov 1990 (Resolution MEPc.42(30))
17 Mar 1992
17 Mar 1992
Wider Caribbean region including the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea
4 July 1991 (Resolution MEPC.48.31))
4 Apr 1993
1 May 2011 (Resolution MEPC.191(60))
MARPOL Annex Vl: Air Pollution (Emission Control areas)
Baltic Sea (SOx)
26 Sept 1997
19 May 2005
19 May 2006
North Sea (SOx)
22 Jul 2005 (Resolution MEPC.132(53))
22 Nov 2006
22 Nov 2007
North American (SOx, and NOx, and PM)
26 Mar 2010 (Resolution MEPC.190(60))
1 Aug 2011
1 Aug 2012
United States Caribbean Sea (SOx, NOx and PM)
15 Jul 2011 (Resolution MEPC.202(62))
1 Jan 2013
1 Jan 2014

*          The Special Area requirement for these area have not taken effect because of lack of notifications from MARPOL Parties whose coastlines border the relevant Special Areas on the existence of adequate reception facilities (regulations 38.6 of MARPOL Annex l and 5(4) of MARPOL Annex V).


LIST OF PARTICULARLY SENSITIVE SEA AREAS
PSSA
Proposing State(s)
Associated protective Measures*
MEPC resolution
Great Barrier Reef
Australia
IMO-recommended Australian system of pilotage; mandatory ship reporting system
September 1990 (Resolution MEPC.44(30))
Archipelago of Sabana- Camaguey
Cuba
Area to be avoided
September 1997 (Resolution MEPC.74(40))
Sea Area Around Malpelo Island
Colombia
Area to be avoided
March 2002 (Resolution
Mepc.97(47))
Marine Area Around the Florida Keys
United States
Area to be avoided; mandatory no anchoring areas
March 2002 (Resolution MEPC.98(47))
Wadden Sea
Netherlands, Denmark, Germany
Mandatory deep water route
October (Resolution MEPC.101(48))
Paracas National Reserve
Peru
Area to be avoided
July 2003 (Resolution MEPC.106(49))
Western European Water
Belgium, France, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom
Mandatory ship reporting system
October 2004 ( Resolution MEPC.121(52))
Torres Strait as an extension to GBR PSSA
Australia and Papua New Guinea
IMO-recommended Australian system of pilotage; two-way route
July 2003 (Resolution MEPC.133(53))
Canary Islands
Spain
Areas to be avoided; traffic separation systems; recommended routes; mandatory ship reporting system
March 2004 (Resolution MEPC.134(53))
Galapagos Archipelago
Ecuador
Area to be avoided; mandatory ship reporting system; recommended tracks
March 2004 (Resolution MEPC.135(53))
Baltic sea Area
Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden
Traffic separation schemes, deepwater route, areas to be avoided, mandatory ship reporting system, MARPOL special area; MARPOL SOx Emission Control Area
March 2004 (Resolution MEPC.135(53))
Papshanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (North-western Hawalian Island)
United States
Areas to be avoided; recommended/mandatory ship reporting system
March 2007 (Resolution MEPC.171(57))
Strait of Bonifacio
France and Italy
Recommendation on navigation
July 2011 (Resolution MEPC.204(62))
Saba Bank (Caribbean Island of Saba)
The Netherlands
Area to be avoided; mandatory no anchoring area
Approved in principle in July 2011. To be formally designated by MEPC 64 in Oct 2012

*    This table only lists those APMs that have been specifically identified as APMs per se. There may be other IMO-adopted measures in the designated PSSA. In some cases, national measures may also relavant.