The 6th session of the Sub-Committee on Ship Design and Construction (SDC) met from 4-8 February 2019. The meeting was chaired by Kevin Hunter (UK). Two issues of relevance to IUMI were discussed during the session:

Safety measures for fishing vessels and pleasure yachts operating in Polar waters

With increased traffic in Polar waters of vessels which do not fall under the mandatory IMO instruments, such as fishing vessels and pleasure yachts, and the greater risks of pollution in the sensitive Polar environment; as well as the risks to such vessels and their crews; the Sub-Committee has been instructed to develop safety recommendations for certain ships not already covered by the mandatory Polar Code, the so-called “non-SOLAS” ships. A first set of draft recommendations for fishing vessels and pleasure yachts operating in Polar waters were considered.

A correspondence group was established to further develop the draft guidelines for safety measures for fishing vessels of 24 metres and over operating in polar waters, as a high priority, with a view to finalise at SDC 7.

The correspondence group was also instructed to further develop the draft guidelines for pleasure yachts of 300 GT and above not engaged in trade operating in polar waters.

Developing second generation intact stability criteria

The Sub-Committee has been working to develop second generation intact stability criteria since 2002. Significant progress has now been made, including on the specification of direct stability assessment; the preparation and approval of operational limitations and operational guidance; and vulnerability criteria for all five stability failure modes: pure loss of stability; parametric roll; surf-riding/broaching; dead ship condition; and excessive accelerations.

The correspondence group on intact stability was re-established to consolidate the draft guidelines so as to complete the work on the second generation of intact stability (IS) criteria at SDC 7 in 2020, for submission to the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC). From an insurance perspective a clear set of IS criteria is desirable as it would provide a clear basis on which to argue whether a vessel is seaworthy or not.