Skip to main content

Sub-committee: Implementation of IMO Instruments (III)

Sub-Committee on Implementation of IMO Instruments (III): Deals with issues related to implementation of all IMO instruments. Long-standing challenges of compliance of IMO instruments are about implementation and enforcement by member States. Without a universal robust scheme and system, good laws are no use. The Sub-Committee aims to develop and update mandatory provisions for flag, port and coastal States to support effective implementation of IMO instruments. Namely, IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code).

Agenda under the Sub-committee’s remit includes the analysis of consolidated audit summary reports from the mandatory IMO Member state Audit Scheme (IMSAS), casualty analysis and issuing lessons learned from marine incidents, reviewing the Procedures for port State control (PSC) and Guidelines for survey and certification including the survey guidelines under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification (HSSC).

For flag State, survey and certification should be harmonised globally. For port State, the unified procedure for port State control should be provided. For coastal State, considering the nature of international shipping, the international instruments should aid in the event of marine accidents or incidents along with its own jurisdictional regulations. Finally, IMSAS is utilised to evaluate a country’s compliance to enhance the harmonised implementation.

It should be highlighted that implementation of IMO instruments has a great deal of impact on seafarers’ working and living conditions onboard, from safety equipment to hours of rest, just to name a few. The ITF advocates that the effective implementation and enforcement of the IMO instruments are achieved and supported by good Port State Control inspections worldwide in order to ensure the safety and working and living conditions of seafarers.