The 105th session of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) was held from 20 to 29 April, with new Enhanced Survey Programme (ESP Code) requirements agreed to enter into force for bulk carriers and tankers.
The new requirements are part of a regulatory response to the 2017 sinking of the 266,141dwt very large ore carrier Stellar Daisy. The vessel sank in the South Atlantic Ocean on a laden voyage from Brazil to China. 22 of the 24 crewmembers are missing, presumed dead.
“MSC 105 introduced new survey requirements that form part of the regulatory response to the 2017 sinking of the VLOC Stellar Daisy.” “/ / 
MSC 105 introduced new survey requirements that form part of the regulatory response to the 2017 sinking of the VLOC Stellar Daisy.
The Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator determined that the likely direct cause of the foundering was a rapid list to port following a catastrophic structural failure of the ship’s hull. The structural failure and flooding are thought to have begun in the No. 2 port ballast tank and believed to be the result of a combination of factors including material fatigue, corrosion, unidentified structural repairs, multi-port loading, and the forces imposed on the hull as a result of the weather conditions.
At that time, SOLAS Chapter XII, Regulation 5 did not require an assessment to ensure bulk carriers like the Stellar Daisy can withstand the flooding of any one wing tank in all loading and ballast conditions.
DNV reported on MSC 105, saying that for bulk carriers, ballast tanks are to be examined annually if the protective coating condition is found to be “less than GOOD”. Double-skin void spaces bounding cargo holds in bulk carriers exceeding 20 years of age and 150 metres in length are to be examined annually if the protective coating is found to be “POOR”. Additionally, there are new requirements to the annual survey of double-skin void spaces for bulk carriers exceeding 20 years of age and 150 metres in length.
An amended definition of oil tankers clarifies that the ESP Code does not apply to oil tankers carrying oil in independent tanks which are not part of ship’s hull (e.g. asphalt carriers). The draft amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2026, subject to adoption by MSC 106 in November 2022.
DNV’s regulatory news is available here.
The IRI investigation report into the Stellar Daisy foundering is available here.
