No. 18 of 2023 - MERCHANT SHIPPING (SAFETY CONVENTION) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2023 AND MERCHANT SHIPPING (LOAD LINE) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2023
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE
SHIPPING CIRCULAR
NO. 18 of 2023
MPA Shipping Division
460 Alexandra Road
21st Storey mTower
Singapore 119963
Fax: 6375 6231
http://www.mpa.gov.sg
28 December 2023
Applicable to: Shipowners, ship managers, operators, masters, crew members,
recognised organisations, surveyors and the shipping community
MERCHANT SHIPPING (SAFETY CONVENTION) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS
2023 AND MERCHANT SHIPPING (LOAD LINE) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS
2023
- This circular informs the shipping community on the amendments to the
Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations and Merchant Shipping (Load
Line) Regulations which will come into force on 01 January 2024.
- The Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime
Organization (IMO) had adopted amendments to the International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), through Resolutions MSC.456(101), MSC.474(102),
MSC.482(103), MSC.496(105) and MSC.497(105) respectively. The IMO had also
adopted amendments to the Protocol of 1988 Relating to the International Convention
on Load Lines (Load Lines) through MSC.491(104). The amendments to the Merchant
Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations and Merchant Shipping (Load line)
Regulations give effect to the above Resolutions.
- Resolution MSC.474(102) adopted amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-1 to align
the design criteria for watertight integrity with the probabilistic damage stability
approach and to include new requirements on mooring arrangements and equipment.
- Resolution MSC.482(103) adopted amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-1 and
Chapter III regarding new requirements on water level detectors and the launching of
free-fall lifeboats.
- Resolution MSC.496(105) adopted amendments to SOLAS Chapter IV,
Regulation 42 and 43 of Chapter II-1, Regulation 6 of Chapter III and Regulation 19-1
of Chapter V to modernise the requirements of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety
System (GMDSS) including changing all references to the International Maritime
Satellite Organisation (INMARSAT) to the Recognised Mobile Satellite Services
(RMSS). Consequential amendments to the specific radio equipment requirements for
sea areas A1 to A4 are also introduced.
- Resolution MSC.456(101), MSC.496(105) and MSC.497(105) adopted
amendments to the certificate forms of the Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, the
Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate, the Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate, the
Nuclear Passenger Ship Safety Certificate and the Nuclear Cargo Ship Safety
Certificate, as well as changes to the associated records of equipment for passenger
ship safety (Form P), cargo ship safety (Form E), cargo ship safety radio (Form R) and
cargo ship safety (Form C).
- Resolution MSC.491(104) adopted amendments to the Load Lines regarding
the use of hinged watertight doors to meet the damage stability criteria and to
harmonise the terms referenced in the regulation.
- Copies of the Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) (Amendment)
Regulations 2023 (Government Gazette No. S 892/2023) and Merchant Shipping
(Load line) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (Government Gazette No. S 893/2023)
can be purchased at:
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Mon – Fri: 9:30am – 6:00pm
- The Merchant Shipping (Safety Convention) Regulations and Merchant
Shipping (Load line) Regulations can also be accessed on Singapore Statutes Online.
- Any queries relating to this circular should be emailed to shipping@mpa.gov.sg.
- The shipping community is encouraged to subscribe to our Telegram channel –
t.me/MPASingapore to receive the latest updates.
CHEAH AUN AUN
DIRECTOR OF MARINE
MARITIME AND PORT AUTHORITY OF SINGAPORE