STRATEGY AND OBJECTIVES
As part of a continuous process for improvement, ISO/TC 8 revised its strategic vision to be the worldwide standards body that is the "linking instrument" between the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which sets the requirements and regulations, and the international shipping and shipbuilding industry. The members at the TC8 meeting in Norway in September 1994 unanimously approved that strategic vision. With this shared vision and the associated goals and objectives, TC8 undertook the task of self-examination of its existing subcommittee and working group structure to view what changes were necessary to carry out the newly stated paradigm. The result was a broadening of subcommittee responsibilities to functional areas and the assignment of all working groups to the related subcommittees.
The "link" to IMO：
Two subcommittees were established to directly insure responsiveness to IMO - a lifesaving and fire protection subcommittee (SC1) and a marine environment protection subcommittee (SC2). This would provide the first steps in solidifying the linkage to IMO - one directly related to IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) and the other to IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC). With the newly adopted vision and organizational structure in place, ISO/TC8 embarked on a strong, responsive and responsible increased pro-active liaison with IMO.
ISO is among the non-governmental international organizations that have been granted consultative status as observers by IMO to participate in the work of its committees and subcommittees.
We believe that there is a positive contribution that can be made by adoption of voluntary consensus standards to help avoid those instances where IMO has left certain areas "to the discretion of the Administration" when nations have not agreed on the details. Through correspondence and frequent meetings (every six months), ISO/TC8 leadership is assessing the progress on these items to insure timely and technically correct responses to IMO related items. It is our intention to maintain, and even increase, our positive collaboration with IMO in the future.
