E

4 ALBERT EMBANKMENT
LONDON SE1 7SR
Telephone: +44 (0)20 7735 7611 Fax: +44 (0)20 7587 3210

Circular Letter No.3919

20 December 2018

To: All IMO Members

United Nations and specialized agencies
Intergovernmental organizations
Non-governmental organizations in consultative status with IMO
Liberation movements
Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Safety of
Life at Sea, 1974, which are not Members of IMO

Subject: 101st session of the Maritime Safety Committee

(5 to 14 June 2019)

1 The Secretary-General has the honour to invite representation at the 101st session of the
Maritime Safety Committee, which will be held at IMO Headquarters, 4 Albert Embankment,
London SE1 7SR. The session will commence on Wednesday, 5 June 2019, at 9.30 a.m. and is
expected to end on Friday, 14 June 2019.

2 The provisional agenda for the session (MSC 101/1) is attached and further
documentation, including an annotated agenda and a provisional timetable, will follow in due
course. Following the successful trial of the PaperSmart initiative at C 109, it is envisaged that
this session should, as far as practicable, also be held in PaperSmart mode. Please refer to
Circular Letter No.3325 of 13 November 2012 for additional information on this initiative.

3 During the session, the Maritime Safety Committee in its expanded form will, under
agenda item 3, consider for adoption proposed amendments to:

.1 the appendix to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS), 1974, as amended, (text circulated under cover of Circular Letter
No.3904 of 5 December 2018, annex 1);

.2 the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code), (text circulated
under cover of Circular Letter No.3904 of 5 December 2018, annex 2);

.3 the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other

Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code), (text circulated under cover of Circular
Letter No.3904 of 5 December 2018, annex 3);

.4 the International Life-Saving Appliances Code (LSA Code), (text circulated

under cover of Circular Letter No.3904 of 5 December 2018, annex 4);

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.5 the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying
Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code), (text circulated under cover of
Circular Letter No.3904 of 5 December 2018, annex 5); and

.6 the International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code

(resolution MSC.268(85)), (text circulated under cover of Circular Letter
No.3883 of 8 November 2018, annex).

4 In accordance with the provisions of article VIII of the 1974 SOLAS Convention,
Contracting Governments to the Convention that are not Members of the Organization are
invited to participate in the consideration and adoption of the proposed amendments.

Submission of documents

5 In accordance with the Organization and method of work of the Maritime Safety
Committee and the Marine Environment Protection Committee and their subsidiary bodies
(MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.1), the deadlines for the submission of documents to the session
and the method of submitting documents are specified in paragraph 1 of the notes to the
provisional agenda for MSC 101 (MSC 101/1).

6 Further to the decision taken by the Council, at its 120th regular session (C 120/D,
paragraph 4.9), and by the Committee at its 100th session (MSC 100/20, paragraphs 2.2
and 2.3), regarding the issue of access to information and transparency, submitters of meeting
documents are invited to give their consent for their documents to be released to the public
prior to the meeting by checking the "opt-in box" at the top right corner of the new document
template provided on IMODOCS (pre-session public release). In the absence of explicit
consent, submissions will not be released to the public prior to the meeting.

***

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Annex 1, page 1

ANNEX 1

ACCREDITATION AND REGISTRATION

Credentials

The attention of Member Governments is drawn to rule 7 of the Committee's Rules of

Procedure, which provides that each Government entitled to participate at meetings of the
Committee shall transmit to the Secretary-General the credentials of its representatives and
alternates, if any, together with the names of other members of its delegation, not later than
the opening of the session. Credentials are to be issued by the Head of State, the Head of
Government, the Minister for Foreign Affairs or by an appropriate authority properly designated
by one of them to act for this purpose. When credentials are issued by any authority other
than one of the three persons specified above, they must state that the necessary delegated
authority to do so has been conferred by the Head of State or the Head of Government or by
the Minister for Foreign Affairs. It would be greatly appreciated if appropriate credentials could
be sent to the Secretary-General by Tuesday, 4 June 2019. Delegates are advised to bring a
copy of their credentials to the meeting to facilitate the registration process.

Registration at IMO meetings

Member Governments, IGOs and NGOs are required to provide, prior to the meeting date, the
names of their representatives, including Permanent Representatives, heads of delegations,
alternates, advisers or observers, via the Online Meeting Registration System (OMRS) as
advised in Circular Letter No.3463 of 14 July 2014. This facilitates both their entry into the
building and production of the list of participants by the Secretariat.

Once they have completed the registration procedure, delegates will be issued at IMO with an
electronic access card to pass through the security barrier in the IMO building. Issue of the
access card will require photographic proof of identity, e.g. passport, identity card or driving
licence. Delegates may also be required to show proof of identity at any time while they are in
the Headquarters building, if requested by IMO Security. In view of the significant costs
incurred in producing access cards, delegates who have previously been issued with one are
kindly requested to bring it with them for reactivation.

Any matters relating to the use of the OMRS should be communicated to:

Registration Unit
Meeting Services and Interpretation Section
Email: onlineregistration@imo.org

No representative will be registered to attend the meeting without authorization from their
OMRS Delegation Coordinator. New delegates whose names appear in the OMRS will be
issued with the above-mentioned access card. Delegates whose names are not on the OMRS
list will be requested to contact their OMRS Delegation Coordinator in order to process their
authorization to attend the meeting.

Delegates are advised that the Registration Desk will be open from 7.30 a.m. on Wednesday,
5 June 2019, when early arrival would be appreciated.

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General information on administrative and housekeeping issues relating to meetings at IMO

may be found in an information leaflet for delegates, which can be downloaded from
IMODOCS and is also available at the Documents and Meeting Services counters on the
ground floor and second floor, respectively. Delegates are kindly requested to familiarize
themselves with the contents of the information leaflet.

***

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Annex 2, page 1

ANNEX 2
PROCEDURE GOVERNING IMO SUPPORT FOR VISA APPLICATIONS
As established in article 7.2 of part III on Access and communications of the Headquarters
agreement, delegates are entitled to have their entry into the United Kingdom authorized without
delay and without charge.
Delegates invited by the Organization who require United Kingdom entry visas should, in the first
instance, apply online for an "EXEMPT" visa, note the reference numbers and follow the online
instructions to attend either the nominated Visa Application Centre or the United Kingdom Embassy
or High Commission. United Kingdom visa applications should be accompanied by the following
documentation:
i. the relevant IMO official invitation,
ii. the nomination letter and
iii. a note verbale from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Delegates must be nominated by their competent Ministry (usually the Ministry of Transport or the
National Maritime Administration). The nomination letter should be taken to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs for preparation of a note verbale addressed to the British Embassy/High Commission.
If, after following the above-mentioned procedure, delegates still encounter visa problems, either the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, the National Maritime Administration or the
competent Ministry should request visa assistance in writing to the Head of the IMO External
Relations Office, on paper bearing the official letterhead. The letter should state the reasons given
by the British Embassy/High Commission as to why visas have been or may be refused and contain
the following details:
i. First name:
Family name:
Profession:
Date of birth:
Place of birth:
Type of passport:
Passport No:
Place of issue:
Date of issue:
Valid until:
Visa reference number:
Date and place of visa application:
ii. Purpose of visit:
iii. Duration of anticipated stay in the United Kingdom:
This exercise must be undertaken at least six weeks before the date on which the session begins,
to enable the Organization to support the visa application accordingly and the visa to be issued in
good time.
Any requests for visa assistance should be communicated to:
External Relations Office (International Maritime Organization)
Fax: +44(0)20 7587 3210
Email: visa@imo.org

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 E

MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE MSC 101/1

101st session 20 December 2018
Agenda item 1 Original: ENGLISH

PROVISIONAL AGENDA

for the 101st session of the Maritime Safety Committee to be held

from Wednesday, 5 to Friday, 14 June 2019
at IMO Headquarters, 4 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7SR

Session commences at 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 5 June 2019

Opening of the session

1 Adoption of the agenda; report on credentials

2 Decisions of other IMO bodies

3 Consideration and adoption of amendments to mandatory instruments

4 Measures to enhance maritime security

5 Regulatory scoping exercise for the use of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships
(MASS)

6 Goal-based new ship construction standards

7 Safety measures for non-SOLAS ships operating in polar waters

8 Development of further measures to enhance the safety of ships relating to the use of
fuel oil

9 Carriage of cargoes and containers (report of the fifth session of the Sub-Committee)

10 Implementation of IMO instruments (report of the fifth session of the Sub-Committee)

11 Navigation, communications and search and rescue (report of the sixth session of the
Sub-Committee)

12 Ship design and construction (report of the sixth session of the Sub-Committee)

13 Pollution prevention and response (matters emanating from the sixth session of the
Sub-Committee)

14 Ship systems and equipment (report of the sixth session of the Sub-Committee)

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15 Implementation of the STCW Convention

16 Capacity-building for the implementation of new measures

17 Formal safety assessment

18 Piracy and armed robbery against ships

19 Unsafe mixed migration by sea

20 Application of the Committee's method of work

21 Work programme

22 Election of Chair and Vice-Chair for 2020

23 Any other business

24 Consideration of the report of the Committee on its 101st session

Notes:

1 In accordance with the Organization and method of work of the Maritime Safety
Committee and Marine Environment Protection Committee and their subsidiary bodies
(MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.1):

.1 documents should be received by the Secretariat as follows:1

.1 documents containing proposals for new outputs, by

5 March 2019 (13-week deadline);

.2 documents (including information documents) containing

more than six pages of text (bulky documents2), by 5 March 2019
(13-week deadline);

.3 non-bulky documents including information documents (six pages

or fewer) and bulky information documents submitted in electronic
format, by 2 April 2019 (nine-week deadline); and

.4 documents (four pages or less) commenting on those referred

to in subparagraphs .1 to .3 above, by 16 April 2019 (seven-week
deadline). These documents should start with a paragraph clearly
indicating the document on which comments are made and stating
that the document is submitted in accordance with the provisions of
paragraph 6.12.5 of MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.1;

1 Documents other than information documents and reports from sub-committees, working, drafting,
correspondence and other working groups and the Secretariat, which contain more than 20 pages, in line
with paragraph 6.11 of MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.1, will not be translated in their entirety. Such documents
should include, for translation purposes, a summary not longer than four pages, with the technical content
submitted as an annex in the language needed by working groups (i.e. English).
2 In the case of documents containing more than 50 pages, the provisions of paragraph 6.12.1 of
MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.1 are to be applied.

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.2 for reasons of economy, documents should be submitted in single spacing

and be as concise as possible and:

.1 all documents should include a brief summary prepared in

accordance with MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.1;

.2 substantive documents should conclude with a summary of the

action the Committee is invited to take; and

.3 information documents should conclude with a summary of the

information contained therein;

.3 the following word-processing format should be observed in order to

standardize the presentation of documents:

- font: Arial;
- font size: 11;
- justification: full;
- margins: 2 cm top, 2.5 cm bottom, left and right.

A template is available on the IMODOCS website for use in the preparation of

documents.

To facilitate the processing of documents, they should be sent via email in Microsoft
Word to IMO's email address: info@imo.org. It should be noted that the file size limit
for the IMO email system is set at 10 Mbytes. If submitters do not receive an
acknowledgement receipt by the Secretariat within five working days, they should
contact info@imo.org without delay referring to the original email.

2 MSC has recommended that the provisions of MSC-MEPC.1/Circ.5/Rev.1, which,

inter alia, provide that the Secretariat should strictly apply the rules concerning the submission
of documents and not accept late submissions from Governments or delegations, should be
strictly observed.

3 In order to improve access to information and increase transparency, submitters of

meeting documents are invited to give their consent for their documents to be released to the
public prior to the meeting by checking the "opt-in box" at the top right corner of the new
document template provided on IMODOCS (pre-session public release). In the absence of
explicit consent, submissions will not be released to the public prior to the meeting.

___________

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