Maritime Reporter, July 1994

<BODY> <div> IMO Further Amends SOLAS The Maritime Safety Committee, the senior technical body of the In- ternational Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations agency concerned with shipping safety and the prevention of pollution from ships, ended its 63rd session recently with some important decisions re- garding the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). Amendments to SOLAS The Committee adopted amend- ments to the International Conven- tion for SOLAS, 1974 — including changes to chapter II-2, regulation 15, which deals with fire protection arrangements for fuel oil, lubrica- tion oil and other flammable oils. Other amendments affect several regulations in chapter V, which deals with navigational safety. Three new regulations have been added: • Regulation 15-1 requires all tank- ers of 20,000-dwt and above built after January 1,1996 be fitted with an emergency towing arrangement at both ends. Existing tankers must be fitted with a similar arrange- ment at the first scheduled drydocking after January 1, 1996, but not later than January 1,1999. • A new regulation 22 is designed to improve navigation/bridge visibil- ity. • The third new regulation, 8-1, makes the use of IMO-approved ship reporting mandatory. The systems are used to provide, gather or ex- change information through radio reports, and are used for search and rescue operations, vessel traffic ser- vices, weather forecasting and pre- vention of marine pollution. Amendments To IGC Code The International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) and the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases (Gas Carrier Code) were both amended. The changes deal with the filling limits for cargo tanks. The IGC Code, mandatory under SOLAS, applies to ships built after July 1, 1986. The Gas Carrier Code applies to ships built before that date. The amend- ments are expected to enter into force under the tacit acceptance pro- cedure on January 1, 1996. The 1995 STCW Conference The Committee agreed to revise the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978. The revision will amount to a complete re-writing of the Convention, and is being carried out under a specially expedited pro- cedure in the hope of effecting changes several years ahead of the original schedule. Westinghouse To Assemble/ Test ICR Engines At Philadelphia Naval Yard The Westinghouse Marine Divi- sion, headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif., will locate its Intercooled Re- cuperated (ICR) Gas Turbine pro- pulsion engine assembly and test operation at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. The ICR development program was recently accelerated by two years. Westinghouse, teamed with Rolls Royce, has been developing the advanced engine system since 1991. The company also plans to assemble generator sets for the CVN- 76 aircraft carrier at the site. To date nine foreign navies have expressed interest in the engine, which is being considered for the Anglo, French and Italian Common New Generation Frigate. The en- gine also has commercial marine and power generation applications. Coastal Sells 23 Percent Interest In Oil, Gas Fields The Coastal Corp. agreed to sell its subsidiary's 23.33 percent inter- est in five producing oil and natural gas fields and related facilities in Tierra del Fuego Province, Argen- tina, for $68 million plus contingent consideration. The sale will be to other joint-interest owners in the venture. Coastal said sale of its Tierra del Fuego interests is subject to certain approvals. Coastal Corp. is a Houston-based energy holding company with consolidated assets of more than $10 billion. THE MEETING FOR SHIPREPAIR & CONVERSION PROFESSIONALS Owners and operators, both as visitors and delegates from all sectors of shipping will attend, enabling exhibitors to develop new contacts and future business in an intensive two days devoted to the survey and repair needs of the market. Make your stand booking now to be part of this internationally established meeting of the industry. Confirmed Speakers A M van Wijngaarden - Kjell Olaisen - Trevor Owen-Thomas - Tan Mong Seng - James Bell - Mangus Ringer - Spiro Aquilina - Tony Reading - Wolf Leifeld - Hans-Michael Meissner - Allseas Engineering Det norske Veritas Seahorse Shipmanagement Sembawang Shipyard AICS Gotaverken Cityvarvet Malta Drydocks TRS Hammelmann Blohm+Voss Conference Key Issues Future Markets - which shipping markets are likely to provide increased work for shiprepairers? Conversions - specialist tanker projects including FSPU's Developments - Maintenance-free VLCC's Repairing in mainland China Question Time - on the subject of Surveys and Sub-standard ships Extras Debate - Additional costs but how much is reasonable? Disaster Management - How should a yard deal with it? Hydroblasting - a viable alternative? Spare Parts & Maintenance Shortening containerships for speed Current Exhibitors • Astilleros Espanoles - Spain • Furmanite-UK • Astican - Spain • JM Heatexchangers - UK • Harland & Wolff - UK • HDW - Germany • Sandroid Systems - UK • Paul Hammelmann - Germany • ABB Industrial Systems - UK • South West Marine-USA • Steel-Kit-UK • Gdanska Shiprepair Yard - Poland • Bremer Vulkan - Germany • Tradewinds - Norway • San Francisco Drydock - USA • Turboned - UK • Deltamarin - Finland • Calvey Marine - UK • Atlantic Marine - USA • Conoship - Netherlands • Norshipco - UK • Cheong Eng Engineering - Singapore • Dorbyl Group - South Africa • Goltens Dubai - UAE • Schichau Seebeckwerft - Germany • Schauman Wood - Finland • Fibrecheck Marine - UK • Computube Ltd - UK • Wilmot Marine-UK • Metro Machine - USA • Optec International - Finland • Ship Repairers & Shipbuilders-UK • KaMeWa - Sweden • Ian- Conrad Bergan - USA • Cascade General - USA • Lloyds Maritime-UK • Arno Dunkirk-France • Lloyd Werft - Germany • MMI - UK • MAN B&W-Germany • Atlantic Engineering - UK • Stag Marine - UK • Dive Time Systems - UK • Navimor-Storem - Poland • Blohm+Voss - Germany • A&P Appledore - UK • Hong Kong Dockyard - Hong Kong • Aalborg Ciserv - UK • Shippax - Finland • Swansea Drydocks - UK • Eleusis Shipyards - Greece • Malta Drydocks - Malta • Bethship - USA • Wilton-Fijenoord - Netherlands • Cygnus Instruments - UK • Duvalco - Netherlands • Loipart Systems - Finland • Sun Marine-UK • Hydrex - Belgium • Crane Heatex-UK • SkagerakCompany-UK • Wartsila Diesel - Finland • ASMI - Singapore • To reserve Exhibition Space and/or "Early Bird" discount Conference Registration contact: Shiprepair Secretariat, 2 Station Road, Rickmansworth, Herts, WD3 1QP, England Tel: +44 923 776363 Fax: +44 923 777206 Tlx: 924312 Circle 215 on Reader Service Card 24 Maritime Reporter/Engineering News </div> <span id="lblContents"></span> <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.digitalwavepublishing.com/" title="Digital Magazine">Digital Wave Publishing</a> </BODY>