The maritime industry is already full of a host of regulatory requirements. Owners and operators are required to ensure that their vessels comply with rules set and overseen by the IMO, the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), the USA’s Federal Maritime Commission (FMC), the Maritime Safety Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CMSA), and various regional and national authorities.
These regulations are aimed at:
- minimising CO2 emissions
- assessing and assuring the safety of the ship, its crew and its cargo
- minimising pollution
- enhancing cyber security
- preventing the transfer of harmful aquatic organisms in water
- and much more. The IP Code now adds one new requirement to this list.
The hot knife that can cut through the butter of this legislation is digital technology. Knowing what the regulations are, and where they are in force, is the first step in ensuring compliance. All information on the IP Code can be found, along with all other maritime regulatory information, in OneOcean’s Regs4ships.
Regs4ships is an industry-leading compliance solution. It contains an intelligent database of maritime regulations from numerous Flag States, international and national sources allowing ship and shoreside teams to stay up-to-date and compliant with even the very latest of requirements in force around the world. It also notifies users of upcoming changes to legislation, so they can plan accordingly, as far in advance as possible.
Flag States have raised a number of questions relating to the proposed IP Code seeking to ensure that it does not contradict other existing codes and looking to clarify the certification requirements. There has also been concern as to whether enough consideration has been given to the actual ships or operations most likely to be addressed by the IP Code. This suggests that before actual implementation, changes and amendments will be introduced.
The best and most effective way of staying current with the latest official developments is by accessing Regs4ships, which will always contain the most up-to-date versions of legislation available, allowing your teams to plan and act with confidence.
