Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC): undertakes technical and operational matters related to ship design and construction, including subdivision and stability, testing and approval of construction and materials, load lines, tonnage measurement, safety of fishing vessels in polar water and the carriage of industrial personnel. The importance is the direct relation to maritime workers’ working and living environment. The Sub-committee aims to improve the shipboard environment taking into account hydrodynamic aspects and the human element.
The maritime industries have been moving towards introducing and adopting advanced technologies and sound environmental protection in ship design and construction. Maritime workers are in the frontline of the consequences of such changes. Ships carrying Industrial Personnel, fishing vessels or pleasure yachts in polar waters, wing-in-ground crafts, bulk-carriers, non-bulk carriers, etc., whichever ship seafarers are on or about to be on must have assurance regarding safety and stability before going on board The same principle applies to the types of energy resources the ship uses and its construction which also must be proven safe.
The key for such assurance for maritime workers is to know how to control a ship with safety and stability under various conditions and to be familiar with the ship which they are engaged with. The ITF underscores the predominance of human-centred design, appropriate trainings and onboard familiarisation scheme.