Members are reminded that the Revised Guidelines for the maintenance and inspection of fire protection systems and appliances covered by the IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1432 applies from 31 May 2013. The revised guidelines may be used as the basis for the ship's onboard maintenance plan required by SOLAS regulation II-2/14.

All fire protection systems and appliances should at all times be in working order and ready for immediate use while the ship is in service. Onboard maintenance and inspections should be carried out in accordance with the ship's fire-fighting systems and appliances maintenance plan.

Certain maintenance procedures and inspections may be performed by competent crew members who have completed an advanced fire-fighting training course, while other task should be performed by persons specially trained in the maintenance of such systems. Inspections should be carried out by the crew to ensure that the indicated intervals and frequencies for maintenance and service is carried out as appropriate for the specified equipment.

The on-board maintenance plan for fire-fighting systems and appliances is to be duly updated with the provisions of MSC.1/Circ.1432 and any additional flag State requirements. For further information please refer to the below link.

ECDIS - SOLAS Chapter V Safety of Navigation reminder

SOLAS Chapter V Regulation 19 include paragraph 2.10 which requires that ships engaged on international voyages shall be fitted with an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS) as follows:

·         Passenger ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2012

·         Tankers of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2012

·         Cargo ships, other than tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2013

·         Cargo ships, other than tankers, of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 10,000 gross tonnage constructed on or after 1 July 2014

·         Passenger ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before 1 July 2012, not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2014

·         Tankers of 3,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before 1 July 2012, not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2015

·         Cargo ships, other than tankers, of 50,000 gross tonnage and upwards constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2016

·         Cargo ships, other than tankers, of 20,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 50,000 gross tonnage constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2017

·         Cargo ships, other than tankers, of 10,000 gross tonnage and upwards but less than 20,000 gross tonnage constructed before 1 July 2013, not later than the first survey on or after 1 July 2018

The term "first survey" referred to in SOLAS regulations is clarified in the IMO MSC.1 circular 1290 as set out below:

"1. Unless indicated otherwise, when the term 'first survey' is referenced by a regulation in the 1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended, it means the first annual survey, the first periodical survey or the first renewal survey, whichever is due first after the date specified in the relevant regulation or any other survey if the Administration deems it to be reasonable and practicable, taking into account the extent of repairs and alterations being undertaken.

2. For a ship under construction, where the keel is laid before, but the ship is delivered after, the date specified in the relevant regulation, the initial survey is the 'first survey'."

FAL Electronic Certificates

The Facilitation Committee, at its 38th session held in London from 8 to 12 April 2013, approved the interim guidelines for the use of printed versions of electronic certificates. Please refer to the below link for further information.

Contact: marine@bimco.org