The seventh session of the Sub-Committee on Implementation of International Maritime Organization (IMO) Instruments (III), originally scheduled to be held in July 2020, was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was eventually held remotely from 12-16 July 2021. The session was chaired by Ms Claudia Grant from Jamaica. Ms Grant and her Vice Chair, Mr Marek Rauk from Estonia, were both re-elected for 2022. Key issues on the agenda included:

Harmonising Port State Control (PSC)

The Sub-Committee noted reports from the regional port State control (PSC) regimes and the United States on inspection rates and detentions, and invited them to continue submitting annual reports. The Committee noted with appreciation information on ongoing discussions between the Indian Ocean Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (IOMOU) and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) on a possible cooperation programme on Port State inspections.

Addressing seafarer rights

Following discussion in the virtual working group on ‘Measures to Harmonize Port State Control Activities and Procedures Worldwide’, the Sub-Committee agreed that the individual PSC inspection reports should include information regarding the validity period and contact information of financial security providers of the insurance certificates required by the 2014 amendments to the MLC, 2006.  The Sub-Committee also agreed to invite PSC regimes to consider a concentrated inspection campaign (CIC) on financial security related to the 2014 amendments to the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC), 2006.

Draft model agreement for authorization of Recognized Organizations finalised

The Sub-Committee finalised the draft model agreement for the authorisation of Recognized Organizations acting on behalf of administrations, for submission to MSC 104 and MEPC 77 for approval. The III Code and the Code for Recognized Organizations (RO Code) require a formal written agreement between the Administration and the ROs. The guidance provided by the Model Agreement, including its appendix, meet the minimum standard for a formal written agreement, as set out in both Codes.

The model agreement, at the discretion of the Administration, may be supplemented by additional matters and/or may be formulated in more detail. Member Governments will be invited to use the Model Agreement when concluding a formal agreement with organisations carrying out surveys and issuing certificates on their behalf.

Casualty analysis

Following analysis of casualties by the casualty analysis correspondence and working groups, the Sub-Committee agreed to the findings on those analyses and authorised their release to the public on the GISIS MCI module.

The Committee agreed with the recommendation that two potential safety issues would require a more focused effort, specifically, man overboard from fishing vessels and pilot ladder-related safety issues. Further analysis was also needed of the casualties seen to be occurring more frequently, namely collisions with fishing vessels and occupational accidents (fall from height).