IN 1344 – IMO resolution for the carriage of industrial personnel on board vessels engaged on international voyages

On 25 November 2016, the Maritime Safety Committee of IMO (MSC) reached a significant agreement on an interim solution for the safe carriage of industrial personnel on board offshore industry vessels engaged on international voyages.

At its 97th session, MSC considered supplemental legal advice regarding the introduction of mandatory safety standards for the carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel; draft definitions of industrial personnel and industrial activities, including the clarification regarding the types of ships to be covered by the new mandatory instruments and recommendations; and a roadmap for further developments, specifying the priorities, time frames, responsibilities and long- and short-term objectives.

As a result, MSC 97 approved the attached draft Resolution, which will be assigned a number once officially issued by IMO. The Resolution is a voluntary instrument and serves as an interim measure until the new SOLAS chapter related to the carriage of industrial personnel and the mandatory code enter into force in 2024. The new SOLAS chapter and the new code would be aimed at ensuring the safety of industrial personnel (e.g. offshore workers).

IMCA will issue further information and guidance on the aforementioned regulatory developments of industrial personnel in due course.