E

MARITIME SAFETY COMMITTEE

91st session
Agenda item 5

MSC 91/5/2
24 September 2012
Original: ENGLISH

GOAL-BASED NEW SHIP CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS

Implementation of the GBS verification scheme
Submitted by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS)
SUMMARY
Executive summary:

This document gives an update on the current status of IACS

members' implementation of the GBS verification scheme, together
with IACS members' plans to submit their initial verification
requests to IMO by the deadline, i.e. 31 December 2013, as set out
in annex 13 to document MSC 87/26

Strategic direction:

10

High-level action:

10.0.1

Planned output:

10.0.0.1

Action to be taken:

Paragraph 8

Related documents:

MSC 87/26 (section 5 and annex 13); MSC.296(87) and MSC 90/5/1

Introduction
1
The Committee will recall that, at the last session, the Secretariat submitted
document MSC 90/5/1 and reported to the Committee the status of the implementation of the
GBS verification scheme by referring to the approved timetable and schedule of activities for
the implementation of the GBS verification scheme (MSC 87/26, paragraph 5.34 and
annex 13) as well as the communication between the Secretariat and IACS. More
specifically, the Secretariat touched upon coordination with IACS, coverage of GBS
functional requirements and harmonized Common Structural Rules in paragraphs 5 to 9 of
document MSC 90/5/1, respectively.
2
This document gives an update on the current status of IACS members'
implementation of the GBS verification scheme, together with IACS members' plans to
submit their initial verification requests to IMO by the deadline, i.e. 31 December 2013, as set
out in annex 13 to document MSC 87/26. This approach has been discussed with the
IMO Secretariat with a view to facilitating efficient preparation by the Secretariat in the
process of preparing for the GBS verification.

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IACS members' plan to initiate verification
3
As reported by the Secretariat in document MSC 90/5/1, IACS members have
agreed that, in order to facilitate the effective use of resources in the verification process,
they will identify in their submissions Rules that are based on the harmonized Common
Structural Rules (CSR); other IACS resolutions (such as Unified Requirements (UR), Unified
Interpretations (UI) and Procedural Requirements (PR)); and their own Rules/requirements.
4
In accordance with the Guidelines for verification of conformity with goal-based ship
construction standards for bulk carriers and oil tankers" (resolution MSC.296(87)), each IACS
member intends to send a letter to the Secretary-General of IMO, requesting a verification
audit of its rules together with its technical documentation package, by 31 December 2013.
5
Each technical documentation package to be submitted by IACS members will be
composed of individual member's Rules (including harmonized CSR) and other documents
that show compliance with all GBS functional requirements.
6
Individual member's submissions will identify items which are common between all
IACS members for harmonized CSR and sections of their own Rules/requirements which
introduce IACS URs, UIs and PRs. In order to offer IACS members the possibility to make
such references in their submissions, IACS is developing an IACS Common Package
consisting of two parts as follows:
.1

IACS Common Package, part 1 composed of pertinent IACS resolutions

(URs, UIs and PRs) and other IACS documents that show compliance with
aspects of the GBS functional requirements; and

.2

IACS Common Package, part 2 composed of the IACS Common

Structural Rules and relevant self-assessment sheet that show compliance
with aspects of the GBS functional requirements.

7
The packages are illustrated in figure 1. As defined above, there will be two IACS
submittal packages that may be used by the individual IACS member within their individual
submissions.

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IACS Common Package, part 1

Other IACS
documents
(UR, PR, UI, etc.)

ABS
BV
CCS

CSR-H documents

RS

IACS Common Package, part 2

A letter attesting to
commonality of
harmonized CSR
(CSR-H) and
cross-references
between IACS
documents and IACS
member's own
Rules/requirements +
Individual Technical
documentation
package to IMO

Figure 1 GBS Packages (IACS members)

Action requested of the Committee

8

The Committee is invited to note the information provided above.

___________

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