Defining “industrial personnel”, such as workers transported on offshore service vessels, is among the topics on the agenda of the currently ongoing International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC).
People travelling on these vessels are likely to have had specific training and abilities and may differ from ordinary passengers, therefore defining “industrial personnel” is important when it comes to setting safety standards for vessels such as wind farm service crafts, IMO explained.
Other topics on the agenda include the revision of subdivision and damage stability regulations in SOLAS chapter II-1; passenger ship matters, including making evacuation analysis mandatory for new passenger ships and reviewing the recommendation on evacuation analysis for new and existing passenger ships; revising and updating guidance on wing-in-ground craft; and review of the guidelines for use of fibre reinforced plastic within ship structures, in particular with regards to fire safety issues.
The SDC Sub-Committee, held from 18 to 22 January, was opened by IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim and is being chaired by Kevin Hunter (United Kingdom).