F. Requirements for Wing-In-Ground (WIG) Craft
A working group on this topic decided that applicable revised HSC Code requirements should not be incorporated into the draft WIG Craft Code until they are considered by the Sub-Committee. Therefore, the draft WIG Craft Code will not be available until DE 43. The Sub-Committee agreed that the draft Code should address the issue of why the WIG Craft Code was necessary. The word "requirements" is to be replaced by the word "provisions." Matters relating to crew qualifications and rescue requirements are to be considered. Agreement was reached to reestablish the intersessional correspondence group on this item to finalize the draft Code.
G. Standards and Requirements for Thermal Protective Lifejackets:
A drafting group on this item, chaired by Denmark, prepared a draft MSC Circular with recommendations on performance standards and tests for thermal protective lifejackets. The Sub-Committee approved this draft MSC Circular. The ISO representative advised the Sub-Committee that ISO is contemplating development of a standard on thermal protective lifejackets, taking into consideration the draft recommendations on performance standards developed by the Sub-Committee. This comment was received favorably, except that Norway expressed concern that it was too early to develop an ISO standard, there being a need for time for industry to gain experience before an ISO standard is developed. [I spoke to the Norway representative and assured him that industry representatives would be invited to participate in the standards development process. Subsequently, I was approached by industry representatives from the United Kingdom, expressing interest in participating in the development of an ISO standard on Thermal Protective Lifejackets.]
H. Guidelines on Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships:
MEPC instructed the Sub-Committee to develop, as a matter of high priority, guidelines on representative samples of the fuel delivered for use on-board ships and guidelines for on-board NOx monitoring and recording devices. Also, as a matter of low priority, when a need is identified, guidelines are to be developed on equivalent methods to reduce on-board NOx emission, on on-board exhaust gas cleaning systems, and on other technological methods to limit SOx emission. In regard to the two high priority items, an MEPC 41 drafting group identified ISO/TR 13739 on methods for specifying practical procedures for the transfer of bunker fuels to ships as a useful basis for development of the IMO Guidelines. Also, the group noted that many requirements for NOx monitoring and recording are defined in the NOx Technical Code. The DE Sub-Committee agreed to develop the two high priority guidelines using supporting material from ISO and Det Norske Veritas to assist this work. A completion date of 2003 was assigned. Members and interested organizations were invited to consider these items intersessionally. In recognition of the complexity of the NOx monitoring task, Germany agreed to act as focal point for collection of information on the NOx monitoring and recording task. [I spoke to the German representative and advised him of several published ISO standards currently available on NOx monitoring.]
I. Safety of Ballast Water Management:
MEPC instructed DE to review the Guidance on safety as aspects of ballast water exchange at sea, safety issues related to ballast water treatment, and provide advice on studies carried out by IACS and by Brazil (on the "dilution method"). The Sub-Committee agreed with proposed changes to modifications proposed by SLF 42. Delegates expressed concern that ballast water exchange is hazardous for many ships. Greece recommended that a risk assessment exercise be initiated. The Sub-Committee agreed that such concerns should be raised by Member Governments during MEPC 43, and invited MSC 71 to review the work of the Sub-Committee on this subject.
