IACS to Introduce Requirements on Structural Safety

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Two new unified requirements have been developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) as a result of a post review on MOL Comfort sinking. The casualty of MOL Comfort which occurred on 17 June 2013 saw the vessels hull split in two. The two new requirements are: UR S11A, a longitudinal strength standard for container ships and URS34 dealing with functional requirements and load cases for direct analysis of container ships. The two URs will be delivered during the first quarter of 2015. Unified Requirements (URs) are minimum technical requirements adopted by all IACS members that refer to specific class rules requirements. URs are not intended to address all strength aspects of hull structures as that is the function of the class rules of individual members. The IACS held its December Council meeting on Thursday, December 11 in London. The agenda included IACS initiatives on LNG bunkering guidelines and complex on-board systems. LNG Bunkering Guidelines are presently being considered by a number of organisations and the IACS initiative will seek to build on what has already been introduced. IACS is currently working on  formation of a dedicated Expert Group on complex systems to address the issue seeing that the systems are developing rapidly in complexity.