Maritime

Briefing
August2014
Contents

Introduction
PurposeoftheCode
ApplicationoftheCode
OverviewandConsiderations
ATwoWayStreet...
Conclusion
Contacts
AppendixLimitsonNoiseLevels

CodeonNoiseLevelsonBoardShips

01
01
02
03
03
04
05
06

Introduction
In1981,ResolutionA.468(XII)wasadoptedfollowingrecommendations
fromtheMaritimeSafetyCommittee.TheresolutionsetoutaCodeon
NoiseLevelsonBoardShips(theIMCOCode),theaimofwhichwasto
providenonmandatoryguidancetoflagauthoritiesonmaximumnoise
levelsandexposurelimitstoseafarers.

Over30yearslaterandfollowingtheintroductionofthe2006Maritime
LabourConventionin20131 ,theInternationalMaritimeOrganisation(the
IMO)adoptedarevisedversionoftheIMCOCode(theCode).This
wasimplementedon1July2014bywayofanamendmenttothe
ConventionfortheSafetyofLifeatSea(theConvention).

PurposeoftheCode

Formoreinformationonthe
2006MaritimeLabour
Convention,pleasereferto
ourbriefingnoteonthat
Convention,availablefrom
ourwebsite(www.wfw.com).

wfw.com

Therehasbeenconcernforsometimeoverthelevelsofnoisetowhich
seafarersareexposedonadaytodaybasiswhilstonboard.Someareasof
ashipwillinevitablybelouderthanotherscontrastnoiselevelsinthe
engineroomwithsay,thatofthebridgeandsotheneedforsomeformof
earprotectionforthecrewintheengineeringspacesisobvious.However
suchearprotectionmaynotbesufficient.Lifeonboardshipisrarely,if
ever,quiet(evenforthosemembersofthecrewthatneversetfootin
engineering).Accommodationspacesareusuallysubjecttoapersistent
noiselevel;evenmoresowhereacousticinsulationisinadequateor non
existent.

Toaddressthese(andother)concerns,theCodeseekstolimitnoiselevels
aswellasreduceexposuretosuchnoisesoasto:

>
provideforsafeworkingconditionsbygivingconsiderationtothe
needforspeechcommunicationandforhearingaudiblealarms;
>
provideanenvironmentwhereclearheadeddecisionscanbemade
incontrolstations,navigation,radioandmannedmachineryspaces;
>
protectseafarersfromexcessivenoiselevelswhichmaygiverise
to noiseinducedhearingloss;
>
providetheseafarerwithanacceptabledegreeofcomfortinrest,

02

MARITIMEBRIEFING

recreationandotherspaces;and
providetheseafarerwithconditionsforrecuperationfromtheeffectsofexposureto
highnoiselevels.

Inordertoachievethis,theCodesetsoutaseriesofrequirementsandrecommendations
inrespectofthefollowing:

>
measurementofnoiselevelsandexposure;
>
protectingtheseafarerfromtheriskofnoiseinducedhearinglossunderconditions
whereitisnotpresentlyfeasibletolimitthenoisetoalevelwhichisnotpotentially
harmful;
>
limitsonacceptablemaximumnoiselevelsforallspacestowhichseafarersnormally
haveaccess;and
>
verificationofacousticinsulationbetweenaccommodationspaces.

>

ApplicationoftheCode

Withsome
exceptions...the
Codeappliestoall
newshipswitha
grosstonnageof
1,600ormore.

MSC91/22/Add.1Annex2,
page2,ChapterII1
ConstructionStructure,
SubdivisionandStability,
MachineryandElectrical
Installations.PartA1Structure
ofShips.Newregulation312
Protectionagainstnoise.
Ibid.

Withsomeexceptions(suchasmobileoffshoredrillingrigs,pleasureyachtsetc.),theCode
appliestoallnewshipswithagrosstonnageof1,600ormore.

ForthepurposesoftheCode,anewshipisashipwhichsatisfiesoneofthefollowing
criteria,where:

>
theconstructioncontractforthatshipisenteredintoonorafter1July2014;or
>
intheabsenceofaconstructioncontract,thekeelofthatshiphasbeenlaidorisata
similarstageofconstructiononorafter1January2015;or
>
thatshipisdeliveredonorafter1July2018.2

Whereashipistobedeliveredbefore1July2018and:

>
thatshiphasbeencontractedforconstructionpriorto1July2014withthekeelof
thatshiphavingbeenlaidorisatasimilarstageofconstructiononorafterthe1
January2009butbefore1January2015;or
>
intheabsenceofaconstructioncontractforthatship,thekeelhasbeenlaidorisata
similarstageofconstructiononorafter1January2009butbefore1January2015,

thatshipshallberequiredtocomplywithsuchmeasuresasmayberequiredbythe
relevantflagauthoritiessoastoreducenoiselevelsinmachineryspaces(suchmeasures
beingasmoreparticularlysetoutintheIMCOCode).3

WhilsttheCodeformsamandatoryelementoftheConventionitself,therearecertain
partsoftheCodewhererecommendationstobefollowedaremadebutwherecompliance
isnotcompulsory.Paragraph1.3.2.,forexample, makesitclearthattheapplicationofthe
provisionsoftheCoderelatingtopotentiallyhazardousnoiselevels,mitigationand
personalprotectivegearmaybeappliedtoexistingshipswithagrosstonnageof1,600or
morebutonlyinsofarasisreasonableandpracticaltothesatisfactionoftherelevantflag
state.

Overtime,shouldsuchrecommendationsbecomeacceptedastheindustrynorm,
representingbestpractice,thenitisinevitablethatsuchrecommendationswilltoall
intentsandpurposesbecomecompulsory;unions,seafarers,insurersandother
stakeholdersmaysimplyrequiresuchrecommendationstobefullyembraced.

MARITIMEBRIEFING

03

OverviewandConsiderations
TheCodesetsouttherequirementsinrespectofthemeasuringequipmenttobeused,
whenandwherethemeasurementsaretobetaken,themaximumacceptablesound
pressurelevelsinroomsandspacesonboardship,noiseexposurelimitsforthecrew,
acousticinsulationbetweenaccommodationspacesandhearingprotectionandwarning
signs.

TheCodesetsoutanabsolutemaximumnoiselevelof120dB(A)towhichseafarersare
nottobeexposedevenwhenwearinghearingprotection.Durationofexposure(aswellas
tothelevelofnoise)isalsodealtwith;furtherdetailsonnoiseexposurelimitscanbe
foundinChapter5oftheCode.Asummaryofthelimitsfornoiselevelsinthespacesisset
outatthebackofthisnote.4

AppendedtotheCodeisaproformaNoiseSurveyReport,guidanceontheinclusionof
noiseissuesinsafetymanagementsystems,suggestedmethodsofattenuatingnoiseanda
simplifiedprocedurefordeterminingnoiseexposure.Thesehavebeenincludedtoassist
withtheprocessofensuringcompliancewiththeCodebytheowner/operator.

ShipownersshouldnotethattheCoderequiresthatanoisesurveyshallbecarriedout
andareportmadeforeachship.Oncesuchareporthasbeencompleteditistobekepton
boardandmadeavailabletothecrew.OfparticularnoteistherequirementinParagraph
3.1.1oftheCodeforthemeasurementofnoiselevelsandexposuretobecarriedouton
completionofconstructionoftheshiporassoonaspracticablethereafter.Itwouldbe
prudentthereforetoensurethattheseatrialssetoutinthespecificationsofa
constructioncontractclearlyprovideforsuchmeasurementstobecarriedoutin
accordancewiththerequirementsoftheCode.Ownersmaywishtoconsiderthe
inclusionofaclearrighttorejecttheshipintheeventthatsheisfoundnottobein
conformitywith,forexample,themaximumacceptablesoundpressurelevelsinher
roomsandspaces.Thiscouldbeofparticularimportancewhere,forexample,the
maximumacceptablesoundpressurelevelsareexceededandtherelevantflagstateisnot
preparedtograntadispensationfromtheCodefornoncompliance.5 Itshouldbenoted
thatdispensationsmayonlybegrantedbytherelevantflagstatewherecompliancewith
theCodeisnotpossible,notwithstandingrelevantandreasonabletechnicalnoise
reductionmeasureshavingbeentaken.Thegrantingofanysuchdispensationshouldnot
beassumedtobeautomatic;eachflagauthorityislikelytohaveitsowninternal
approvalprocessthatwillneedtobefollowed.Shouldarighttorejectbeincludedinthe
constructioncontract,thenitislikelythatthiswouldbeinconcertwithlanguage
providingforliquidateddamagestotheownerforgoingbeyondspecifiednoisetolerances
inspecifiedcategoriesofspacesonboardtheship.

ATwoWayStreet
Whilstonthefaceofit,theCodeverymuchplacestheemphasisontheowner/operatorto
complywithitsrequirements,theseafareralsohasanimportantroletoplay.Nomatter
howwelltheCodehasbeenimplementedbytheowner/operator,iftheseafarerfailsto
followstipulatednoiseprotectionandmitigationproceduressuchaswearingthe
requiredhearingprotectionthenthevalueoftheCodevizavizthatnoncompliant
seafarer,willbeseverelydiluted.Itisimportantthereforethatseafarersaregiven
adequate,relevantandregulartrainingontheCodeaswellastheuseofmachineryto
ensurethattheyreceivethemaximumbenefitfromit.

Inrecognitionofthis,Appendix2oftheCode containsguidanceontheinclusionofnoise
issuesinsafetymanagementsystems,withSection3settingouttheresponsibilitiesof
seafarersnamely:

TheCodesetsout
anabsolute
maximumnoise
levelof120dB(A)
towhichseafarers
arenottobe
exposedeven
whenwearing
hearing
protection.

ExtractedfromSection4.2of
theCode.
SeefurtherParagraph1.3.6and
Chapter4(Maximum
AcceptableSoundPressure
Levels)oftheCode.

Watson,Farley&Williams August2014

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MARITIMEBRIEFING

>
>
>
>

toensurethatallmeasuresadoptedfornoisecontrolareutilised;
toreportanydefectivenoisecontrolequipmenttotherelevantpersonsunderthe
shipssafetymanagementsystem;
towearsuitablehearingprotectionwhenentering(andremainingin)areasinwhich
theuseofsuchprotectionisrequiredbywarningsnotices;and
tomaintainanyhearingprotectionprovidedtotheminasanitaryconditionand
ensurethattheyarenotdamagedormisused.

TheCodeseeks

toprotectthe
Conclusion
seafarerfrom
TheCodeseekstoprotecttheseafarerfromexposuretoexcessivenoisethroughtheuseof
exposureto
acombinationofmandatoryandnonmandatoryprovisions.Theeffectofthiswillbeto
excessivenoise
improvetheworkingandlivingconditionsofseafarerswhilstonboardmostnewships
throughtheuseof withagrosstonnageof1,600ormore.

acombinationof
Relevantowners/operatorsshouldreviewtheirexistingnoisepolicies(andtheir
mandatoryand
respectiveshipbuildingcontracts)toensurethattheyareatleastcompliantwiththe
nonmandatory
mandatoryprovisionsoftheCode.Considerationshouldalsobegiventoexistingtraining
provisions.
programmestoensurethatseafarersarefamiliarwiththeprovisionsoftheCode,the
noisepoliciesoftheowner/operatorforwhomtheyworkandtheirresponsibilitiesfor
compliancewithsuchpolicies.

05

MARITIMEBRIEFING

Contacts

ShouldyouliketodiscussanyofthemattersraisedinthisBriefing,pleasespeakwiththeauthor,Toby
Royal, arepresentativeofourmaritimeteam,oryourregularcontactatWatson,Farley&Williams.

TobyRoyal
Partner
London
troyal@wfw.com
+442078148014

LindseyKeeble
Partner&
HeadofMaritime
London
lkeeble@wfw.com
+442078148227

GeorgePaleokrassas
Partner
Athens
gpaleokrassas@wfw.com
+302104557301

MarenBrandes
Partner
Hamburg
mbrandes@wfw.com
+49408000840

MadelineLeong
Partner
HongKong
mleong@wfw.com
+85221686710

DanielRodgers
Partner
NewYork
drodgers@wfw.com
+12129222206

FurioSamela
Partner
Rome
fsamela@wfw.com
+39066840581

MeiLinGoh
Partner
Singapore
mlgoh@wfw.com
+6565519125

AllreferencestoWatson,Farley&Williamsandthefirminthis publicationmeanWatson,Farley&WilliamsLLPand/oritsaffiliatedundertakings.
AnyreferencetoapartnermeansamemberofWatson,Farley&WilliamsLLP,oramemberoforpartnerinanaffiliatedundertakingofeitherof
them,oranemployeeorconsultantwithequivalentstandingandqualification.
This publicationisproducedbyWatson,Farley&Williams.Itprovidesasummaryofthelegalissues,butisnotintendedtogivespecificlegaladvice.
Thesituationdescribedmaynotapplytoyourcircumstances.Ifyourequireadviceorhavequestionsorcommentsonitssubject,pleasespeaktoyour
usualcontactatWatson,Farley&Williams.
Thispublicationconstitutesattorneyadvertising.

Watson,Farley&Williams2014
1000002672LON15/08/2014

wfw.com

06

MARITIMEBRIEFING

AppendixLimitsonNoiseLevels

DesignationofRoomsandSpaces

Workspaces(seeSection5.1oftheCode)
Machineryspaces
Ifthemaximumnoiselevelsareexceededwhen
machineryisoperating(onlypermittedif
dispensationisgrantedinaccordancewith
Paragraph1.3.6.oftheCode),stayshouldbe
limitedtoveryshortperiodsornotallowedatall.
TheareashouldbemarkedaccordingtoSection
7.4.oftheCode.
Machinerycontrolrooms
Workshopsotherthanthoseformingpart
ofmachineryspaces
Nonspecifiedworkspaces(otherwork
areas)
Examplesareopendeskworkspacesthatarenot
machineryspacesandopendeckworkspaceswhere
communicationisrelevant.
NavigationSpaces
Navigatingbridgeandchartrooms
Lookoutposts,includingnavigating
bridgewingsandwindows
ReferenceismadetotheRecommendationon
methodsofmeasuringnoiselevelsat
listeningposts(ResolutionA.343(IX)),which
alsoapplies.
Radiorooms(withradioequipment
operatingbutnotproducingaudiosignals)
Radarrooms
Accommodationspaces
Cabinandhospitals
Hospitals:treatmentroomswithbeds.
Messrooms
Recreationrooms
Openrecreationareas(externalrecreation
areas)
Offices
Specialspaces
Galleys,withoutfoodprocessing
equipmentoperating
Serveriesandpantries
Normallyunoccupiedspaces
SpacesreferredtoinSection3.14.ofthe
Code.

ShipSize
1600upto10,000
>10,000GT
GT
110dB(A)

110dB(A)

75dB(A)
85dB(A)

75dB(A)
85dB(A)

85dB(A)

85dB(A)

65dB(A)
70dB(A)

65dB(A)
70dB(A)

60dB(A)

60dB(A)

65dB(A)

65dB(A)

60dB(A)

55dB(A)

65dB(A)
65dB(A)
75dB(A)

60dB(A)
60dB(A)
75dB(A)

65dB(A)

60dB(A)

75dB(A)

75dB(A)

75dB(A)

75dB(A)

90dB(A)

90dB(A)