The IGF Code takes effect on 1 January 2017 upon entry into force of amendments to chapters II-1, II-2 and the appendix to the annex of the Convention.
Unless expressly provided otherwise this Code applies to ships to which part G of SOLAS chapter II-1 applies. (Part G is added to SOLAS by Res.MSC.392(95)).
11 May 2022
Notice to PSCOs No.15 – Guidance for PSCO on the IGF Code
Notice to PSCOs No. 15 - Guidance for PSCO on the IGF Code28 Apr 2022
Notice to PSCOs No.14 Interim Training Measures for BS MOU Policies on the Training of New Entrant PSCOs
Following the outbreak of the ongoing Covid-19, Pandemic, the number of PSC inspections carried out decreased enormously. Because of this, for new entrants and existing Port State Control Officers (PSCOs) have difficulties to achieve or maintain their authorization as the minimum numbers of inspections might not be achieved.
In addition that, training activities undertaken by either member States or other organizations has been cancelled or postponed. Since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, neither face-to-face nor virtual training programme for new entrant PSCOs has been anticipated by the Secretariat.
The Section 2.7 of the BS MOU Policy on the Training of New Entrant PSC Officers sets out the criteria to apply for “special circumstances”. These circumstances are defined as “circumstances which are beyond the control of the responsible Administration and which make it unreasonable for a new entrant PSCO to reach the minimum number of supervised inspections during their training”.
In accordance with the BS MOU Policy on the Professional Development Scheme for Port State Control Officers, there have been difficulties for PSCO subject to Common Assessment of Compliance (CAC) to achieve the minimum number of supervised inspections.
Also, during the Covid-19, Pandemic, existing PSCOs, may equally be faced with circumstances beyond the control of their Administrations rendering it impossible to either achieve the minimum number of 10 inspections per year, or to fulfil the additional training requirements.
28 Apr 2022
Report of the 2021 CIC on Stabiltiy in General
From 1st September 2021 to 30th November 2021, the BS MoU carried out a Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on Stability in General throughout the region. This campaign involved all member States of the BS MoU to the Stability in General and was conducted in conjunction with the Tokyo MoU and the Paris MoU, and other PSC regimes. The campaign was conducted under the campaign coordination of the Romanian Naval Authority. Guidelines and Questionnaire of the Paris and Tokyo MoUs were used.
During the campaign, a total of 983 inspections were carried out with the CIC questionnaire involving 983 individual ships. During the CIC, 43 ships were detained totally. Of this quantity, 10 of the detentions are the result of inspections without CIC Questionnaires and none of these 33 ships were detained under the CIC scope.
A total of 61 questionnaires had at least one non-compliance to any of the requirements, resulting in 6.2 per cent of CIC inspections. The overall average per cent of non-conformities was 0.83 which means that the “unsatisfactory” answer was given to a question on 0.83 % of occasions.
20 Apr 2022
PSCC22 Press Release
Istanbul, Turkey – In the light of the current tense geopolitical situation, representatives of the Port State Control Committee, the governing body under the Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control in the Black Sea Region (BS MoU), by virtual means, for the Twenty-second session from 12 to 13 April 2022.
The meeting was chaired by Captain Alexandar ILIEV - Harbour Master of Port Burgas, Bulgaria.
Captain ILIEV officially declared the opening of the meeting and made a welcome speech. In his opening speech, Capt. Iliev firstly welcomed all delegates. Expressing that the Region is passing through difficult days, Capt. Iliev recalled the common understanding of main principles for PSC and stressed the fundamental role of port State control for the high level of vessel safety standards that are essential for safe and clean seas. He also revealed the convincement on the continuing role of the Black Sea MoU to be the important part of the international cooperation and efforts for safe and clean Oceans.