Damage Stability of Tankers

After a number of years looking into the issue of the verification of damage stability on tankers, the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Load Lines and Stability has developed guidelines both for the design stage and for onboard verification of compliance.  After much deliberation the fifty-fourth session of the Sub-Committee, which met in January 2012, agreed that there should be a mandatory requirement for onboard stability instruments also covering verification of damage stability requirements, with associated performance standards.  It was further agreed that there would be no logic in putting out guidelines before the carriage requirements and performance standards for such instruments have been developed. 

A paper is being submitted to the 90th session of the Maritime Safety Committee, which will meet in May 2012, proposing amendments to MARPOL Annex I and the IBC Code to require the carriage of Stability Instruments covering both intact and damage stability on both new and existing tankers.   Where vessels already have such equipment on board there is no intention to require replacement, providing such equipment satisfies the Administration.