Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), 104th session, 4-8 October 2021

COVID-19 crew change crisis – draft Assembly resolution approved 

The MSC approved a draft IMO Assembly resolution consolidating issues related to crew change, access to medical care, ʺkey workerʺ designation and seafarers’ prioritization for COVID-19 vaccination, with a view to adoption at the 32nd session of the IMO Assembly (6-15 December 2021).  

The draft Assembly resolution on comprehensive action to address seafarers' challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic urges Member States to:

  • designate seafarers as ʺkey workersʺ in order to facilitate shore leave and safe and unhindered movement across borders, and recognize their relevant documentation for this purpose; 
  • consider the implementation of the Industry recommended framework of protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic; 
  • prioritize vaccination of seafarers, as far as practicable, in their national COVID-19 vaccination programmes;  
  • consider exempting seafarers from any national policy requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition for entry, taking into account that seafarers should be designated as ʺkey workersʺ and that they travel across borders frequently; 
  • provide seafarers with immediate access to medical care and facilitate medical evacuation of seafarers in need of urgent medical attention when the required medical care cannot be provided either on board or in the port of call.  

COVID guidance approved  

The MSC approved Guidance on seafarers' training and certification for issuing Administrations, flag States and port States during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance contains recommended practices for exceptional measures adopted as a consequence of the pandemic. The guidance outlines the principle that force majeure is temporary and that STCW Parties should seek to revert to performing their obligations under the STCW Convention and Code as soon as possible.  

Piracy and armed robbery against ships and other illicit maritime activity 

The MSC approved a draft update of IMO Assembly resolution A.1069(28) on Prevention and suppression of piracy and armed robbery against ships and illicit activity in the Gulf of Guinea. The resolution has been submitted to the 32nd session of the IMO Assembly with a view to adoption.  

The draft revised resolution will include a reference to the definitions of ʺpiracyʺ and ʺarmed robbery against shipsʺ in the preambular part of the draft resolution in addition to other editorial changes.  

Global picture 

The Committee noted that 83 incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships were reported in the first six months of 2021, amounting to a decrease of approximately 23% at the global level compared to the same period last year. The areas most affected by acts of piracy and armed robbery during that time were West Africa (27), the Straits of Malacca and Singapore (23) and the South China Sea (12).The number of incidents in the Gulf of Guinea (West Africa) decreased in the first half of 2021 by 5 compared to the same period in 2020, a decrease of 16%. 

The Committee noted the ongoing implementation of the Djibouti Code of Conduct, as amended, in the in the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. The region has established, with the support of the IMO Secretariat, a strong governance framework to spearhead the implementation and is now better prepared to find regional solutions to address existing gaps in Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) and to develop response capabilities.  

The Committee requested Member States to continue to report incidents of piracy and armed robbery against ships to the IMO Secretariat to marsec@imo.org, using the reporting form in appendix 5 of MSC.1/Circ.1333/Rev.1 and invited them to consider making financial contributions to IMOʹs West and Central Africa Trust Fund (WCA TF). 

Domestic ferry safety - model regulations approved for adoption in 2022 

The Committee finalized and approved recommendatory Model Regulations on Domestic Ferry Safety, for adoption at MSC 105 in April 2022, together with an updated plan for further work. 

The draft model regulations provide framework provisions on domestic ferry safety for incorporation into national law. They cover a range of issues, including: certification; manning; safety management; navigation and communications equipment and life-saving appliances..   

The need for domestic ferry regulations is outlined in a new animated video, which can be viewed here. 

Goal-based ship construction standards (GBS)  

Having considered the report of the combined GBS audit on the rectification of non-conformities of IACS and DNV-GL (which has since changed its name to DNV) ship construction rules, the Committee agreed with the recommendations of the auditors and confirmed that the non-conformities of IACS common structural rules (CSR) identified during the first GBS maintenance audit in 2018 and during the re-verification audit of DNV-GL in 2019 had been duly rectified. The Committee confirmed that IACS CSR and the DNV rules demonstrated continued conformance with the Organization's goal-based ship construction standards for bulk carriers and oil tankers. 

The Committee agreed to consider the remaining documents under this agenda item intersessionally by correspondence, for consideration of any action to be taken at MSC 105. 

The International Goal-based Ship Construction Standards for Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers ("the Standards") describe the goals and establish the functional requirements that the rules for the design and construction of bulk carriers and oil tankers of an organization recognized by the Administration, or the national rules of an Administration, shall conform to, as defined in SOLAS regulations II-1/2.27 and II-1/3-10. Additionally, the Standards establish that the abovementioned rules shall be verified as conforming to the goals and functional requirements.  

The verification is achieved by conducting regular GBS audits of the ship construction rules of organizations recognized by the Administration who had already been verified to conform to the Standards. Those recognized organizations or Administration seeking to have their ship construction rules verified to be GBS-conform for the first time will have to undergo an initial GBS audit, in accordance with the Revised guidelines for verification of conformity with goal-based ship construction standards for bulk carriers and oil tankers (resolution MSC.454(100)).  

The next scheduled GBS audits will be conducted in early 2022 when the first three-year maintenance audit cycle begins. 

Amendments to mandatory instruments 

The MSC adopted: 
  • a minor amendment to chapter II (Conditions of assignment of freeboard), as well as amendments to chapter III (Freeboards) of annex I (Regulations for determining load lines) of Annex B to the 1988 Load Lines Protocol, concerning watertight doors on cargo ships; and 
  • associated amendments concerning watertight doors on cargo ships to chapter 2 (Ship survival capability and location of cargo tanks) of the International Code of the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code).  

The amendments are expected to enter into force  on1 January 2024. 


Modernization of the GMDSS – approval of amendments to SOLAS and related instruments   

Following a comprehensive review of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) by the Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR), the MSC approved a set of draft amendments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention, together with associated amendments and revisions to existing related instruments.  

 The aim of the amendments is to enable the use of modern communication systems in the GMDSS whilst removing requirements to carry obsolete systems.  

 The revision of the relevant regulations in SOLAS chapters II-1, III, IV and V and preparation of related and consequential amendments to other existing instruments is the result of a decade of detail-oriented work by IMO, in particular by the NCSR Sub-Committee. 

 Safety of navigation and safety of life at sea depend on the integrated satellite and terrestrial radiocommunication systems to support ship-to-ship, ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship distress, urgency and safety communications at sea, which is known as the GMDSS in general. Mandatory requirements for the GMDSS are laid down in the SOLAS Convention.  

The MSC approved, for adoption at MSC 105, draft amendments to:   

 SOLAS chapters II-1, III, IV and V, and the appendix (Certificates)  

  • the 1988 SOLAS Protocol;  
  • the 1994 and 2000 HSC Codes;   
  • the 1983 and 2008 SPS Codes; and  
  • the 1979, 1989 and 2009 MODU Codes. 

In addition, the MSC approved, in principle, a further 11 draft MSC resolutions and two draft MSC circulars, with a view to final approval/adoption at MSC 105, as follows: 

  • draft MSC resolution on "System performance standard for the promulgation and coordination of maritime safety information using high-frequency narrow-band direct-printing", revising and superseding resolution A.699(17); 
  • draft MSC resolution on "Performance standards for the reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information by MF (NAVTEX) and HF", revising and consolidating resolutions A.700(17) and MSC.148(77), as amended; 

  • draft MSC resolution on "Provision of radio services for the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)", revising and superseding resolution A.801(19), as amended; 

  • draft MSC resolution on "Performance standards for search and rescue radar transponders", revising and superseding resolutions A.530(13) and A.802(19), as amended; 

  • draft MSC resolution on "Performance standards for shipborne VHF radio installations capable of voice communication and digital selective calling", revising resolution A.803(19), as amended; 

  • draft MSC resolution on "Performance standards for shipborne MF and MF/HF radio installations capable of voice communication, digital selective calling and reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information", revising and consolidating resolutions A.804(19), as amended, and A.806(19), as amended; 

  • draft MSC resolution on "Performance standards for Inmarsat-C ship earth stations capable of transmitting and receiving direct-printing communications", revising resolution A.807(19), as amended; 

  • draft MSC resolution on "Guidelines for the avoidance of false distress alerts", revising and superseding resolution A.814(19); 

  • draft MSC resolution on "Performance standards for survival craft portable two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus", revising resolution MSC.149(77); 

  • draft MSC resolution on "Amendments to the performance standards for radiocommunication equipment (resolution MSC.80(70))";  

  • draft MSC resolution on "Performance standards for a shipborne integrated communication system (ICS) when used in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)", revising resolution A.811(19); 

  • draft MSC circular on "Participation of non-SOLAS ships in the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) and guidance on the development of training materials for GMDSS operators on non-SOLAS ships", to be disseminated as MSC.1/Circ.803/Rev.1; and 

  • draft MSC circular on "Guidance for the reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information as required in the Global Maritime Distress. 

Recognition of Japanese Regional Navigation Satellite System 

The Committee recognized the Japanese Regional Navigation Satellite System Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) as a component of the world-wide radio navigation system (WWRNS).   

 IMO has an important role in accepting and recognizing radionavigation systems which can be used by international shipping and has recognized the global positioning system (GPS), global navigation satellite system (GLONASS), BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS), Galileo global navigation satellite system and Indian regional navigation satellite system (IRNSS). SOLAS chapter V requires all ships to carry a global navigation satellite system or terrestrial radio navigation receiver, or other means, to establish and update the ship's position by automatic means, for use at all times throughout the voyage. 

Future work on autonomous ships – goal-based instrument to be developed  

The Committee agreed to develop a goal-based instrument for maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS). This follows the completion of the regulatory scoping exercise (RSE) in May 2021 which analyzed relevant ship safety treaties, in order to assess how MASS could be regulated internationally.  Read more about the RSE here: Autonomous ships: regulatory scoping exercise completed (imo.org)  

The MSC included a new output on “Development of a goal-based instrument for maritime autonomous surface ships (MASS)”, with a target completion year of 2025, in its biennial agenda for 2022-2023 and the provisional agenda for MSC 105. The Committee agreed that the MASS Working Group should be re-established, starting at MSC 105.  

Having agreed that the first step in the work on the new output would be the finalization of a road map, the Committee requested the Chair to prepare, together with the Secretariat, a draft roadmap, including scope, steps and timelines, as well as the coordination of work with other IMO bodies, and submit this to MSC 105 for detailed consideration. 

Unsafe mixed migration by sea – resolution mooted 

The Committee considered a proposal to adopt an MSC resolution to reiterate the importance of effective and timely involvement of Governments in cases of rescue of migrants at sea by merchant ships.  

While noting support in principle for the draft resolution, the Committee postponed further detailed consideration of this sensitive matter to MSC 105 and invited Member States to submit comments to the next session, with a view to finalizing the resolution then. 

New output on remote surveys  

The Committee included a new output on "Development of guidance on assessments and applications of remote surveys, ISM Code audits and ISPS Code verifications", in the biennial agenda of the III Sub-Committee for 2022-2023 and the provisional agenda for III 8, with a target completion year of 2024.  

Other matters 

The Committee:   


  • Adopted MSC resolutions on "Amendments to the Performance standards for shipborne simplified voyage data recorders (S-VDRs) (resolution MSC.163(78), as amended)" and "Amendments to the Performance standards for shipborne voyage data recorders (VDRs) (resolution MSC.333(90))"; 
  • Approved the revised Interim Iridium SafetyCast service manual (MSC.1/Circ.1613/Rev.1); 
  • Approved an MSC circular on Guidance on the validity of VHF radiocommunication equipment installed and used on ships (MSC.1/Circ.1460/Rev.3);  
  • Approved MSC circulars on Guidelines for shore-based maintenance of emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) (MSC.1/Circ.1039/Rev.1) and Guidelines on annual testing of emergency position-indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) (MSC.1/Circ.1040/Rev.2); and 
  • Approved an MSC circular on Deliberate interference with the United States' Global Positioning System (GPS) and other Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS). 

MSC 104 Documents 

MSC documents may be accessed via IMODOCS (registration required)  IMODOCS