1.1 The notion of "goal-based ship construction
standards" was introduced in the Organization at the eighty-ninth
session of the Council in November 2002 through a proposal by the
Bahamas and Greecefootnote, suggesting
that the Organization should develop ship construction standards that
would permit innovation in design but ensure that ships are constructed
in such a manner that, if properly maintained, they remain safe for
their entire economic life. The standards would also have to ensure
that all parts of a ship can be easily accessed to permit proper inspection
and ease of maintenance. The Council referred the proposal to the
seventy-seventh meeting of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in
May/June 2003 for consideration.
1.2 The MSC, at its seventy-seventh session, considered
the matter as requested and recommended that the ninetieth session
of the Council should consider it further in the context of the development
of the Organization's Strategic Plan. The Committee also agreed to
include a new item on "Goal-based new ship construction standards"
in its work programme and agenda for its next meeting.
1.3 The ninetieth session of the Council, in considering
the strategy and policy of the Organization for the 2006 to 2011 period,
approved strategic directions regarding the development of goal-based
standards for the design and construction of new ships. Subsequently,
at its twenty-second extraordinary session, the Council included in
the strategic directions of the Organization a provision that "IMO
will establish goal-based standards for the design and construction
of new ships".
1.4 The Assembly, at its twenty-third session
in November/December 2003, when adopting resolution A.944(23) on the
Organization's Strategic plan for the six-year period 2004 to 2010,
resolved, inter alia, that "the IMO would establish goal-based
standards for the design and construction of new ships". This decision
was also reflected in resolution A.943(23) on the Long-term work plan
of the Organization, up to 2010, where the subject "Goal-based new
ship construction standards" was introduced in the list of general
subjects.
1.5 The MSC commenced detailed technical work
on the development of goal-based ship construction standards at its
seventy-eighth session in May 2004, when a comprehensive general debate
of the issues involved took place and the Committee agreed to utilize
a five-tier system initially proposed by the Bahamas, Greece and IACS,
consisting of the following:
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.1
Tier I – Goals
High-level objectives to be met.
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.2
Tier II – Functional requirements
Criteria to be satisfied in order to conform to the goals.
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.3
Tier III – Verification of
conformity
Procedures for verifying that the rules and regulations for
ship design and construction conform to the goals and functional requirements.
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.4
Tier IV – Rules and regulations
for ship design and construction
Detailed requirements developed by IMO, national Administrations
and/or recognized organizations and applied by national Administrations
and/or recognized organizations acting on their behalf to the design
and construction of a ship in order to conform to the goals and functional
requirements.
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.5
Tier V – Industry practices
and standards
Industry standards, codes of practice and safety and quality
systems for shipbuilding, ship operation, maintenance, training, manning,
etc., which may be incorporated into, or referenced in, the rules
and regulations for the design and construction of a ship.
1.6 Following deliberation on the subject at its
eighty-first session, the Committee agreed to limit the scope of its
consideration initially to bulk carriers and oil tankers and consider
expansion to other ship types and areas of safety at a later time.