10.1 The Committee noted that the fourteenth session of the Sub-Committee on Flag State Implementation was held from 5 to 9 June 2006 and its report was issued as FSI 14/19.

　

10.2 The Committee further noted that the outcome of FSI 14 on matters relating to the Inadequacy of Port Reception Facilities was taken under agenda item 9 and the outcome on matters relating to Ballast Water Management was taken under agenda item 2.

　

10.3 The Committee approved the report in general and took action on all remaining items referred to it by FSI 14 (MEPC 55/10/2).

　

　

10.4 The Committee recalled that the Independent Group of Experts on the Impact and Effectiveness of Implementation of the ISM Code presented its report to MSC 81 as MSC 81/17/1. MSC 81 referred the report to the Joint MSC/MEPC Working Group on the Human Element. One of the recommendations contained in this report was that consideration should be given to aligning the requirements contained in the ISM and ISPS Codes in shipboard documentation in order to make compliance easier.

　

10.5 In this context, the Committee noted the action requested of MSC 82 by the FSI Sub-Committee to consider the proposal by Argentina (set out in document FSI 14/3) for Guidelines for integrated implementation of the safety management system and the ship security plan, from the maritime security point of view, first and, if appropriate, refer the proposal to the Joint MSC/MEPC Working Group on the Human Element.

　

　

10.6 The Committee recalled that resolution A.600(15), concerning the assigning of a permanent number to each ship for identification purposes, was adopted in 1987 as a measure to enhance ship safety and security and was made mandatory under SOLAS regulation XI-1/3. Circular letter No.1886/Rev.2 outlines procedures for obtaining the IMO Ship Identification Numbers from Lloyds Register-Fairplay (LRF), which managed the Scheme. These procedures refer to assigning the Numbers at the keel-laying stage.

　

10.7 The Committee further recalled that MSC/Circ.1142 - MEPC/Circ.425 had recommended that IMO Ship Identification Numbers be marked on ships' plans and other documents prior to submission for approval by an Administration, which has meant that LRF was being asked to issue IMO Ship Identification Numbers at the new building order stage, that is well before the keel-laying date.

　

10.8 Having noted that FSI 14 agreed to amendments to the text of Circular letter No.1886/Rev.2 in order to formalize the issuing of numbers at the new building order stage, to streamline the process and to avoid the possibility of duplication, the Committee, subject to concurrence by MSC 82, approved the draft Circular letter No.1886/Rev.3 on Implementation of resolution A.600(15) - IMO ship identification number scheme.

　

　

10.9 The Committee recalled that the IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme would become mandatory under amendments to SOLAS regulations XI-1/3-1 and 5 and the ISM and ISPS Codes, which were expected to enter into force on 1 January 2009, whilst Circular letter No.2554 outlined procedures for obtaining the identification numbers from Lloyds Register-Fairplay (LRF).

　

10.10 The Committee also recalled that MSC 80 had agreed that the procedures outlined in Circular letter No.2554 should be reviewed and revised as necessary by FSI 14.

　

10.11 The Committee concurred with FSI 14's proposal for a web service to facilitate the provision of company and registered owner data from LRF to flag Administrations in electronic format, and in this regard noted that a new field had been added to the database to allow Member States to provide the name of companies, as recorded by national Administrations in their jurisdiction, electronically.

　

10.12 Consequentially, the Committee approved, subject to concurrent decision by MSC 82, the draft Circular letter No.2554/Rev.1 on Implementation of the IMO Unique Company and Registered Owner Identification Number Scheme to take into account this facility.

　

　

10.13 The Committee endorsed the reminder to Member States on the provision of casualty-related information.

　

　

10.14 The Committee recalled that FSI 13 had considered the report of the third Workshop for port State control MoU/Agreement Secretaries and Directors of Information Centres held at IMO Headquarters in June 2004 and instructed the Secretariat to prepare the proposed identification of actors potentially involved in the follow-up to the recommendations in that report. In this connection, the Committee noted that FSI 14 considered a table of recommendations and actors potentially involved (set out at annex 1 to document FSI 14/7), and made recommendations on the basis of the table.

　

10.15 The Committee endorsed the FSI Sub-Committee's decision to start developing a code of conduct for PSC activities at the next session of the Sub-Committee, taking into consideration the codes of conduct developed within the framework of the Paris and Tokyo MoUs respectively.

　

10.16 The Committee endorsed the FSI Sub-Committee's decision to consider the issue of inspection data for ships flying the flag of dependent territories at the next session of the Sub-Committee.

　

10.17 The Committee also endorsed the FSI Sub-Committee's instructions to the Secretariat to contribute to the development of references concerning convention requirements for coding systems and tables of references concerning new convention equirements relevant to PSC activities.

　

10.18 The Committee recalled that the standards on PSC were already contained in relevant IMO instruments and the harmonization of PSC activities may therefore be considered from the point of view of the application of such standards through appropriate procedures, activities and practices, with the aim of eradicating sub-standard ships.

　

10.19 Noting that the long-term goal in the harmonization of PSC activities is to achieve recognition and acceptance of inspection results at a global level, with no lowering of the current standards of PSC activities, the Committee endorsed the FSI Sub-Committee's proposed framework on global harmonization and co-operation of PSC activities.

　

10.20 The Committee noted that the FSI Sub-Committee identified a list of issues which might not be dealt with equally by the FSI Working Group on PSC or the PSC workshops, and which should therefore be addressed by the IMO workshops for PSC MOU/Agreement Secretaries and Directors of Information Centres.

　

10.21 In this connection, the Committee agreed with the recommendations made by the FSI Sub-Committee concerning the format of the IMO workshops for PSC MoU/Agreement Secretaries and Directors of Information Centres.

　

10.22 The Committee, whilst noting that the FSI Sub-Committee had recommended that sponsorship, travel and DSA, for attendance to the PSC workshops should be for participants of MoUs/Agreement from all PSC regimes, were informed by the Secretariat that it would be looking into the issue of funding within the framework of the Technical Co-operation Programme and would report back to MSC 82 on what it considered to be financially feasible.

　

10.23 The Committee endorsed the proposed course of action to incorporate all relevant amendments to the Procedures for port State control (resolution A.787(19), as amended) into a consolidated text, including draft amendments consequential to the revision to MARPOL Annexes II and IV, and to develop a simplified process for amending the Procedures.

　

10.24 The Committee concurred with the FSI Sub-Committee's view on the need to develop Guidelines for PSC under the Ballast Water Management Convention but acknowledged that it might be premature to develop these Guidelines before a standard sample analysis methodology was agreed upon. The Committee urged Member States and international organizations to submit proposals for an initial outline of such Guidelines to FSI 15. Consequentially, the Committee agreed with the FSI Sub-Committee's proposal to extend the target completion date of the Guidelines from 2006 to 2008.

　

　

10.25 The Committee noted that the FSI Sub-Committee established an intersessional correspondence group tasked with preparing a consolidated draft of the Revised Survey Guidelines to replace the current Guidelines adopted by resolution A.948(23).

　

10.26 The Committee endorsed this proposed course of action for developing a consolidated draft Revised Survey Guidelines under the HSSC for approval by the MEPC 56 and MSC 83 and subsequent consideration by the Assembly at its twenty-fifth session for adoption.

　

10.27 The Committee agreed with the draft Interim Survey Guidelines under the HSSC for the purpose of the BWM Convention. In this regard, the Committee endorsed the Sub-Committee's view that it would be beneficial for the maritime community, and with the aim of gaining experience in the survey of Ballast Water Treatment systems, if the Survey Guidelines under the HSSC for the purpose of the BWM Convention could be circulated by means of a BWM.2/Circular in the interim period prior to the entry into force of the BWM Convention. The Committee noted that the Guidelines and the cover note for the BWM.2/Circular would be further considered under agenda item 2 (see paragraph 2.13).

　

　

10.28 The Committee considered the outcome of the preparatory work for the convening of the second meeting of the Joint IMO/FAO Working Group on IUU Fishing and Related Matters, and in particular the composition of IMO's participation. In this connection, the Committee recognized the need for MEPC's representation at the Joint Working Group because the work was related to MARPOL Annex V, concerning garbage from ships, marine debris and discarded fishing nets.

　

10.29 The Committee recalled that, on the occasion of the first Joint Working Group meeting in 2000, IMO was represented by participants from seven Member States, namely Argentina, Canada, China, Denmark, Liberia, the Republic of Korea and Turkey, while FAO was represented by participants from Australia, Chile, Japan, Malta, the Philippines, South Africa and the United States.

　

10.30 The Committee noted that at FSI 14, the delegation of Norway expressed its wish to be one of the delegations representing IMO at the Joint Working Group. Also, it was suggested to consider the participation of South Africa, being the delegation leading the work of IMO on the draft standards for small fishing vessels. Nevertheless, South Africa represented FAO in the previous meeting of the Joint Working Group and may wish to do the same in the second meeting. The Committee agreed to increase the number of participating delegations from seven to eight, to include Norway.

　

10.31 In order to allow some time for the Secretariat to liaise with FAO on the matter of a balanced geographical representation of the delegations representing each Organization, the Committee invited interested delegations to make their intentions known to the Secretariat. In this connection, the Committee was informed that to date only two such notifications, from China and Norway, had been received.

　

10.32 Bearing in mind that the meeting of the Joint IMO/FAO Working Group was also open to observer countries, and noting that the issue would be further discussed at MSC 82, the Committee requested Member States which had expressed an interest to represent IMO to confirm their intention at MSC 82, when a firm list of IMO's participating countries could be agreed and subsequently concurred with by MEPC 56.

　

10.33 The Committee further noted that the second Joint IMO/FAO Working Group on IUU Fishing and Related Matters would be organized at the FAO Headquarters and that it was tentatively scheduled to take place following MEPC 56, in the second half of 2007. The Committee also noted that the duration of the meeting would be of three days and the tentative list of items to be considered was shown in paragraph 15.5 of document FSI 14/19. With regard to the preparation of the Joint IMO/FAO document to be considered by the meeting, the Committee noted that the draft document would be submitted to MSC 82 for approval.

　

　

10.34 The Committee agreed with the Sub-Committee's instruction to the Secretariat regarding the development and maintenance of an updated list of circular series, in particular to keep the list of circular series updated and displayed on the IMODOCS and IMO websites, in order that Members may more easily identify the subject matters addressed by the various circular series.

　

10.35 The FSI Sub-Committee's proposed revised work programme and provisional agenda for FSI 14 were dealt with under agenda item 20.

　

　

　

10.36 The Committee noted that the tenth session of the Sub-Committee on Bulk Liquids and Gases was held from 3 to 7 April 2006 and its report was issued as BLG 10/19.

　

10.37 The Committee further noted that the outcome of BLG 10 on matters relating to Ballast Water Management was taken under agenda item 2.

　

10.38 The Committee approved the report in general and took action on all remaining items referred to it by the Sub-Committee (MEPC 55/10) as indicated hereunder.

　

　

10.39 The Committee recalled that the BLG Sub-Committee had previously requested that future editions of the IBC Code be published in loose-leaf format, principally to allow for updating of the frequent amendments to the cargo lists in chapters 17, 18 and 19 and the MEPC.2/Circular.

　

10.40 However, the Committee noted the Sub-Committee's reconsideration of its previous decision to issue a loose-leaf publication of the amended IBC Code, based on the advice of IMOs Publishing Service on the practical difficulties associated with publications in loose-leaf format, and endorsed the Sub-Committee's view that the next edition of the Code be published as a perfect-bound book, with the contents of chapters 17, 18 and 19 additionally included in electronic format on a CD-ROM.