United Nations to regulate shipboard noise, fire fighting standards

NEW mandatory shipboard noise rules are expected from the UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO), according to the Houston-based American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).

Officially recognised by the US Government, ABS, a classification society promoting security of life and the environment, said important Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) amendments were adopted at the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee's (MSC) last month.

For example, the committee adopted a new code with mandatory provisions to prevent potentially hazardous noise levels on board ships and laid down acceptable environmental standards for seafarers. Methods to determine lower minimum thresholds would be issued in an MSC circular later.

Compliance requires measurement of noise levels aboard ship and in port. Deviation from this may be permitted for ships with special propulsion and power systems, such as diesel-electric systems, reported London's Tanker Operator.

New rules will apply to new ships of 1,600 gross tonnes or more unless deemed that compliance is unreasonable or impractical.

This will apply to ships built under contract placed from July 2014.

Other rules apply to firefighting gear, requiring two two-way portable radios for each fire party designated on board ships constructed after the end of June 2014. Ships constructed before this date are to comply no later than the first annual survey from July 2018.

Breathing apparatus, self-contained compressed air-operated breathing apparatus of firefighter's outfits provided on board all ships shall, no later than July 1, 2019, have a capacity of at least 1,200 litres, or be capable of functioning for at least 30 minutes.

These amendments do not phase-out existing pump and hose breathing systems, which were permitted on ships constructed before January 2002.

Starting conditions for the emergency fire pump and emergency source of power requirements for fire detection and alarms systems fitted on ships constructed from July 2014 were also adopted.