Nov. 23 2023

Class & statutory

SAFE MOORING – Entry into force on 1 January 2024 of amended SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-8 

  • Convention
    SOLAS CH II-1 Machinery, Electricity, Stability
  • Flag
    ALL FLAGS
  • Ship typeAll Sea going Ship types

SUMMARY

Focus on new maintenance and inspection requirements applicable to all SOLAS certified ships, both new & existing, from 1 January 2024.

In 2015, the IMO agreed to revise SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-8 for safe mooring operations of all ships in order to prevent unsafe and unhealthy working situations during mooring operations.
This led to the adoption of the amended SOLAS II-1/3-8 regulation (resolution MSC.474(102)), which entered into force on 1 January 2024 and the approval of new and revised guidelines.

Application

The below table summarizes the design aspect, the maintenance and inspection of this revised regulation with proper reference to the supporting guidelines applicable:

 RequirementsSupporting guidelinesUnified interpretation for verification of the compliance with the regulation
Ships constructed ≥ 1 January 2007 (1)

Arrangements, equipment and fittings of sufficient safe working load to enable the safe conduct of all towing and mooring operations.

Comply with IACS Unified Requirement (UR) A2

MSC.1/Circ.1175

 

MSC.1/Circ.1175/Rev.1

MSC.1/Circ.1362/Rev.2

UI  para. 2

Ships constructed ≥ 1 January 2024 (2)≥ 3000 GTMooring arrangement to be designed, and the mooring equipment including lines to be selected, in order to ensure occupational safety and safe mooring of the ship

MSC.1/Circ.1175/Rev.1

 

MSC.1/Circ.1619

MSC.1/Circ.1362/Rev.2

UI para. 4

<3000 GTshould comply with the requirement above as far as reasonably practicable or with applicable national standards of the Administration

MSC.1/Circ.1175/Rev.1

 

MSC.1/Circ.1619

 

National standard

MSC.1/Circ.1362/Rev.2

UI para. 3

All ships (3)To be inspected and maintained in a suitable condition for their intended purposesMSC.1/Circ.1620

MSC.1/Circ.1362/Rev.2

UI  para. 5 & 6

 (1) the expression “ships constructed” means ships the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction (SOLAS regulation II-1/1.1.3.1)
 (2) “Ships constructed ≥ 1 January 2024” means ships (SOLAS regulation II-1/3-8.2):
.1 for which the building contract is placed on or after 1 January 2024; or
.2 in the absence of a building contract, the keel of which is laid or which are at a similar stage of construction on or after 1 July 2024; or
.3 the delivery of which is on or after 1 January 2027.
(3) the expression “all ships” means ships constructed before, on or after 1 January 2009 (SOLAS regulation II-1/1.1.3.3)

Focus on new maintenance and inspection requirements (SOLAS regulation II-1/3-8.9, MSC.1/Circ.1620 & MSC.1/Circ.1362/Rev.2)

From 1 January 2024, all ships (3) are required to establish and maintain management plans and procedures for inspection and maintenance of mooring equipment including lines in accordance with the guidelines set out in circular MSC.1/circ.1620.

A. Management plans and procedures

All Ships shall be fitted with a consolidated document gathering the below information and describing how this information is filed and collected:

  1. Procedures for mooring operations, inspection and maintenance of mooring equipment including mooring lines (ref. MSC.1/Circ.1620 paragraph 3.1),
  2. Procedures allowing identification and control of mooring lines, tails, and associated attachments (ref. MSC.1/Circ.1620 paragraph 3.3),
  3. On board maintenance plan or equivalent maintenance management system which includes the periodic inspection of mooring lines, mooring line tails and associated attachments (ref.MSC.1/Circ.1620 paragraph 4.1.1),
  4. Manufacturer’s criteria for replacement of mooring lines (ref. MSC.1/Circ.1620 paragraph 4.3.1),
  5. Records of original design concept, equipment, arrangements, and specifications. (ref. MSC.1/Circ.1620 paragraph 4.4.4),
  6. Manufacturer’s test certificates for mooring lines, joining shackles and synthetic tails which should be properly linked back to the equipment (ref. MSC.1/Circ.1620 paragraph 6.2)

→ Availability of the above documentation will be confirmed by the surveyor at the initial survey for new ships or at the first annual survey for the issuance of the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate or renewal survey for the issuance of the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate after 1 January 2024 for existing ships (ref. MSC.1/Circ.1362 UI 5)

Nota: For ships constructed before the 1 January 2007 and without the appropriate documentation in 5 above:
If the SWL (safe working load) of the mooring equipment(s) is provided on board
→ Owner may establish MBLSD (Ship Design Minimum Breaking Load) for mooring based on the SWL. The value of MBLSD is to be evidenced on board.

If the SWL (safe working load) of the mooring equipment(s) is NOT provided on board
→ the owner is advised to check the strength of the mooring equipment(s) and their supporting hull structure based on MSC.1/ Circ 1175/Rev.1 and to determine the MBLSD based on the actual capacity of the mooring equipment(s) and their supporting hull structure on board.

B. Record keeping

Records of inspection and maintenance of mooring equipment and inspection and replacement of mooring lines should be kept updated and available on board (ref. MSC.1/Circ.1620 paragraph 4.4.3 and 6.1). 

→ Compliance will be confirmed by the surveyor at the periodical survey for endorsement/issue of the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate or the renewal survey for the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate after 1 January 2024 for existing ships (ref. MSC.1/Circ.1362 UI 6)

Ship owners and managers  are invited to take all appropriate actions including the revision of their procedures, instructions in due time.

  1. MSC.1-Circ.1175-Rev.1
  2. MSC.474(102)
  3. MSC.1-Circ.1362-Rev.2 - Unified Interpretation Of Solas Chapter Ii-1 (Secretariat)
  4. MSC.1-Circ.1620-
  5. MSC.1-Circ.1175 - Guidance On Shipboard Towing And Mooring Equipment (Secretariat)

 

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