Ship Design And Construction Sub-Committee 11th session (SDC 11) Summary Report

The eleventh session of IMO Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC 11) was held in person from the 13th to the 17th of January 2025, with hybrid facilities allowing remote participation.

SDC 11 agreed on the following with the view to approval at MSC 110 :

• the interim guidelines for emergency towing arrangements on ships other than tankers, with the associated MSC circular and the related revision of msc.1/circ.1175/rev.1, and MSC.1/circ.1255;
• the amendments to the IP code (Part IV, Reg 2) to provide consistency of personnel mass references for stability calculation;
   
• the amendments to the 2011 ESP Code, (use of remote inspection techniques);
   
• the revision of the MSC.1/Circ.1331
   
• the amendment to Reg.25 (Protection of the Crew) of the protocol of 1988 relating to the international convention on load lines, 1966 (sag standard of chains). 
   

SDC also agreed on Code on alerts and indicators, 2025, and the associated draft assembly resolution, with a view to concurrent approval by MEPC 83 and MSC 110, and subsequent adoption by A 34.

SDC agreed on the Uniform Interpretation clarifying the “remotely operated valve” (in SOLAS II-1/12.6.2).

SDC 11 progressed on:

• the revision of MSC.1/circ.1369 (Safe return to port);
• draft new SOLAS regulations II-1/28-1 and 29-1; draft amendments to SOLAS regulations II-1/3, 28, 29 and 30, and V/25 and 26 and draft new instrument for ship manoeuvrability (with a road map aiming their adoption by MSC 116 (2029);
• on guidelines on Fibre-Reinforced Plastics within ship structures with new terms of reference for the corresponding group and the pending decision of MSC 110 on the inclusion of load-bearing divisions and elements contributing to global strength;
• the experience building phase for the reduction of under-water radiated noise with terms of reference for IMO commissioned studies.