IMO Conventions – Upcoming Dates to Remember

January 1, 2015

Code for Recognized Organizations (RO Code)

“RO Code” becomes mandatory under MARPOL, SOLAS, and Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines (1966).

2013 May SOLAS Amendments enter into force

• SOLAS regulation III/19 - requires musters of newly embarked passengers prior to or immediately upon departure
• SOLAS regulation III/19 - mandates enclosed-space entry and rescue drills, requiring crew members with enclosed-space entry or rescue roles to complete an enclosed-space entry/rescue drill at least once every two months

Fuel Oil Sulfur Limit in ECAs (0.10%)

The fuel oil sulfur level limit drops to 0.10% m/m in all ECAs established to limit SOx and particulate emissions.Concerned ECAs include: North Sea area, Baltic Sea area, United States Caribbean Sea area, and North American area.

April 14, 2015

Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention enters into force

June 8, 2015

Amendments to increase liability limits in the 1996 Protocol to the Convention of Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (adopted in April, 2012).

September 1, 2015

Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Regulation 13 (NOx)

Concerning the implementation of Tier III emission standards within ECAs.

Extension of Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)

LNG Carriers, Ro-ro cargo ships, ro-ro passenger ships, and cruise passenger ships with non-conventional propulsion.

January 1, 2016

Amendments to the below treaties, making IMO Instruments Implementation Code mandatory

• SOLAS, 1974, as amended
• STCW Convention (1978), as amended
• MARPOL Annexes I through to VI
• MARPOL Annexes I through to VI
• Protocol of 1988 - International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (1988 Load Lines Protocol), as amended
• International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969
• Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (1972), as amended.

SOLAS Amendments (Steering gear; inert gas)

The following enter into force:

• Amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/29 on steering gear; updating requirements related to sea trials
• Amendments to SOLAS regulations II-2/4, II-2/3, II-2/9.7 and II-2/16.3.3; introducing mandatory requirements for inert gas systems on new oil and chemical tankers of 8,000 dwt+, and for ventilation systems on 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; 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; requiring vehicle carriers carrying motor vehicles with compressed hydrogen or natural gas for their own propulsion; setting 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.

Carriage of Stability Instruments

Amendments to:

• MARPOL Annex I (Construction and Equipment of Ships carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code)
• International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code)

For more specific information about any of these deadlines, you can visit the IMO’s Action Dates page.