United Nations grows teeth, IMO has adopted mandatory audit scheme

THE Assembly of the UN's International Maritime Orgnaisation (IMO) has adopted key resolutions and amendments to the mandatory audit scheme, paving the way for a programme to come into effect by 2016 to see if a nation's ships are abiding by their countries' United Nations commitments.

The mandatory audit scheme is seen as a key tool for assessing member states' performance in meeting their obligations and responsibilities as flag, port and coastal states under the relevant IMO treaties and then offering the necessary assistance, where required, for them to meet their obligations fully and effectively, London's Tanker Operator reported.

The IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code), which provides a global standard to enable states to meet their obligations as flag, port and/or coastal States; the IMO Member State Audit Scheme framework and procedures; the 2013 non-exhaustive list of obligations under instruments relevant to the III Code and a resolution on transitional arrangements from the voluntary to the mandatory scheme, were adopted.

Also adopted were amendments to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966; the International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969 and the Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended, to make the use of the III Code mandatory in auditing members to determine how they give full and complete effect to the provisions of those conventions to which they are party.

Next year, the IMO is expected to adopt similar draft amendments (which have already been approved by the MSC and the MEPC) to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended; the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966; the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended; and Annexes I to VI to the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 relating thereto, and its 1997 Protocol, as amended.

The IMO said the adoption of the various amendments and their entry into force will form the basis for an institutionalised audit scheme.