Safety

Benefit for Filipino seafarers THE Maritime Labor Convention of 2006, a new international labor standard, provides comprehensive rights and protection at sea. According to the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO), not a few of the worlds 1.5 million seafarers frequently work under dangerous circumstances, sometimes in pirate-infested oceans. It says many seamen are not fairly compensated after accidents at sea and are often abandoned in ports.Crafted by the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Convention becomes effective next year, a year after it was ratified by at least 30 countries representing 33 percent of world gross shipping tonnage. It becomes binding a year after a country ratifies it.It consolidates and updates more than 65 international labor standards related to seafarers adopted over the last 80 years and sets out seafarers rights to decent work conditions, complementing the key Conventions of the IMO.The Bahamas, Liberia, Marshall Islands, Norway and Panama have ratified the Convention.It was adopted in 2006 by a record vote of 314 in favor and none against by over 1,000 participants from 106 countries. The almost unprecedented level of support reflects lengthy tripartite consultations among the ILO, governments, ship owners and seafarer organizations.The Convention ensures that ships of ratifying...

A move that will result in cleaner air for millions of Americans. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) officially accepted the proposal to designate waters off the North American coasts as an Emission Control Area (ECA), a move that will result in cleaner air for millions of Americans.The ECA was proposed in March 2009 and the IMO adopted it in the fastest possible timetable. This is a change that will benefit millions of people and set in motion new innovations for the shipping industry. Were gratified by the IMOs decision to help keep our air clean and our communities healthy, said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.Enforcing the stringent ECA standards will reduce sulphur content in fuel by 98 percent, slashing particulate matter emissions by 85 percent and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 80 percent. To achieve these reductions, tougher sulphur standards will phase in starting in 2012, ultimately reaching no more than 1,000 parts per million by 2015. Also, new ships must use advanced emission control technologies beginning in 2016 which will help reduce NOx emissions.Canada and France join the U.S. in this North American ECA, implementing a coordinated geographic emissions control program. This is the first ECA adopted under amendments...

The purpose of IACS guidance is to to assist ship operators in meeting the requirements of the ISM Code with respect to PSC, certification, training, SMS failures, shipboard maintence and others. 

ISM Code guidelines establish basic principles for verifying that the SMS of a Company responsible for the operation of ships or the SMS for the ship or ships controlled by the company complies with the ISM Code.