Maritime Safety Committee Report - MSC 107

The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) was held in person in London (31 May-9 June 2023) with hybrid facilities allowing remote participation.
MSC 107 adopted amendments to Conventions and Codes, for entry into force on 1 January 2026:

•  New SOLAS regulation II-1/3-13 on the safety of onboard lifting appliances and anchor handling winches, covering design and construction, operation, inspection, testing and maintenance of such appliances, with two application Guidelines;
• Amendments to SOLAS Chapter V for the mandatory carriage of electronic inclinometers on new container ships and bulk carriers ≥ 3 000 GT;
• Amendments to the Life Saving Appliance Code for the ventilation of totally enclosed lifeboats;
• Amendments to the Polar Code to expand requirements on safety of navigation and voyage planning for certain non-SOLAS ships (fishing vessels; pleasure yachts and smaller cargo ships).

MSC 107 also adopted:

• Amendments to the MODU Codes to prohibit materials which contain asbestos (1 January 2024);
• A new 2023 Diving Code;
• Interim Guidelines for the safety of ships using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG);
• Interim Guidelines on the safe operation of onshore power supply (OPS);
• A series of Unified Interpretations on SOLAS and associated Codes.
• MSC 107 progressed its work on:
• The development of a non-mandatory goal-based instrument regulating the operation of maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS), for adoption by 2025.

MSC 107 approved, for final adoption at MSC 108:

• Draft new requirements for the mandatory reporting of freight containers lost at sea;
• Draft amendments to the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) Code, to prevent and respond to bullying and harassment in the maritime sector;
• Draft amendments to SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-4 to require emergency towing arrangements to be fitted on ships other than tankers of 20,000 GT and above;
• A series of draft amendments to the LSA Code;
• A draft MSC-MEPC guidelines for oil fuel sampling procedures, for adoption at MEPC 80.