E

SUB-COMMITTEE ON SHIP SYSTEMS AND

EQUIPMENT
3rd session
Agenda item 3

SSE 3/3
11 December 2015
Original: ENGLISH

SAFETY OBJECTIVES AND FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF THE GUIDELINES ON

ALTERNATIVE DESIGN AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR SOLAS CHAPTERS II-1 AND III
Proposals on the safety goal and functional requirements
for pre-abandonment to be included in SOLAS chapter III
Submitted by China
SUMMARY
Executive summary:

This document proposes the goal and functional requirements for

pre-abandonment to be included in SOLAS chapter III, based
on MSC.1/Circ.1394/Rev.1 and proposals under part B of Annex I to
document LSA VIII/2/5

Strategic direction:

5.2

High-level action:

5.2.1

Output:

5.2.1.10

Action to be taken:

Paragraph 9

Related documents:

MSC.1/Circ.1394/Rev.1; LSA VIII/2/5; MSC 95/22; and SSE 3/INF.2

and SSE 3/INF.3

Background
1
MSC 95 instructed SSE 3 to develop functional requirements for SOLAS chapter III
on the basis of document LSA VIII/2/5 (United States) (MSC 95/22, paragraph 5.17).
2
Annexes I, II and III of document LSA VIII/2/5 provide different proposals for
the development of functional requirements. China considers the proposal in annex I as
a better option and, therefore, takes Annex I as the research basis.
3
For the purpose of research, China divided the life-saving process into four stages
chronologically: pre-abandonment (life-saving preparation), abandonment, post-abandonment
(detection), and post-rescue (retrieval); and focused its research on pre-abandonment, as this
stage was the fundamental stage and the requirements for this stage covered most of
the regulations of SOLAS chapter III.
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4
Based on the Generic guidelines for developing IMO goal-based standards
(MSC.1/Circ.1394/Rev.1) and proposals under Part B, set out in Annex I to document LSA VIII/2/5,
China developed the goal and functional requirements for pre-abandonment, as set out in
document SSE 3/INF.3, for inclusion in SOLAS chapter III.
Discussion
Findings
5
During the development of functional requirements, China identified the following
three findings in Annex I to document LSA VIII/2/5:
.1

Lack of goals leads to lack of guidance for the development of functional

requirements.

.2

The hierarchy between goal, generic and specific functional requirements is

not clear. There is no distinction between generic and specific functional
requirements.

.3

Some functional requirements overlap. For instance, the functional

requirements (b), (c) and (h) overlap in terms of life-saving system
arrangements.

6
After verifying the conformity of SOLAS chapter III with the goals and functional
requirements, China identified the following four findings:
.1

There are no corresponding regulations for some functional requirements.

For instance, the functional requirement (h) (i.e. "Be arranged to permit
necessary inspection, maintenance and functional tests") is not supported by
existing regulations.

.2

There are no corresponding regulations for some expected goals. For

instance, there are no specific regulations in terms of the stowage of radio
life-saving appliances (two-way VHF), immersion suits, anti-exposure suits
and the line-throwing appliances.

.3

There are overlaps in some regulations. For instance, the requirement in

regulation 26.5.2 (i.e. "In ro-ro passenger ships, each lifejacket shall be fitted
with a light complying with the requirements of paragraph 2.2.3 of the Code")
overlaps regulation 22.3.1 (i.e. "On all passenger ships each lifejacket shall
be fitted with a light complying with the requirements of paragraph 2.2.3 of
the Code").

.4

Some regulations do not meet relevant functional requirements. For

example, regulation 31.1.4 requires that "Cargo ships where the horizontal
distance from the extreme end of the stem or stern of the ship to the nearest
end of the closest survival craft is more than 100 m shall carry, in addition to
the liferafts required by paragraphs 1.1.2 and 1.2.2, a liferaft stowed as far
forward or aft, or one as far forward and another as far aft, as is reasonable
and practicable". However, with the development of large scale ships
(L > 300 m), the distance between two liferafts stowed may be longer
than 100 m, and the specific functional requirement (a) (i.e. Provide sufficient
capacity and be so distributed such that all person on board can be
accommodated under adverse ship and weather conditions as well as to
account for reliability) cannot be fully met in this situation.

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Outcome of the research
7
By analysing and optimizing the pre-abandonment functional requirements (a) to (k)
in Annex I to document LSA VIII/2/5 (see column 4 of table 1) and taking into consideration of
ship design and life-saving principles, China developed four specific functional requirements
(see column 3 of table 1), which address the findings listed in paragraph 5 above and cover all
the preparation work of pre-abandonment. Based on the four specific functional requirements,
China developed two generic functional requirements (see column 2 of table 1) for ships and
persons on board, respectively. Further, the pre-abandonment goal was developed for SOLAS
chapter III (see column 1 of table 1) on the basis of generic functional requirements.
Table 1 Abridged table from annex 2 to document SSE 3/INF.3
Goal
suggested

Generic
functional
requirements
suggested

Ensure
providing a
life-saving
system with
sufficient
capacity and
reliability, and
in a state of
readiness
before
abandonment

B-I (For ships)

Provides facilities,
appliances and
spaces with
sufficient capacity,
properly arranged,
stowed and
secured

Specific functional
requirements
suggested

Pre-abandonment functional
requirements provided
Annex I to document
LSA VIII/2/5
(specific functional
requirements)
B-I-1 Provide
(a) Provide sufficient capacity
facilities, appliances and be so distributed such that
and spaces with
all person on board can be
sufficient capacity
accommodated under adverse
ship and weather conditions as
well as to account for reliability.
(d) Provide ample space for
marshalling and supervision,
as well as suitable lighting in
boarding area and descent
area.
B-I-2 (Life-saving
(b) Be stowed in a state of
appliances) Be
readiness for launching with all
properly arranged,
components and equipment
stowed and secured, which are required for its
accessible and
efficient use.
maintainable
(c) Be stowed at a location
where it is secured and
sheltered from damage and
from which it will function as
designed.
(d) Provide ample space for
marshalling and supervision,
as well as suitable lighting in
boarding area and descent
area.
(h) Be arranged to permit
necessary inspection, maintain
and function tests.
(e) Provide active means for
alerting all person on board.

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Goal
suggested

Generic
functional
requirements
suggested

Specific functional
requirements
suggested

B-II (For persons

on board) Keep
minimal life-saving
system
maintenance and
life-saving training

B-II-1 Keep minimal

maintenance,
reconditioning
reoutfitting, in a
state of readiness
and provide
sufficient
descriptions and
instructions

B-II-2 Requirements
for crew served on
board (training, drills,
alerting and
operation)

Pre-abandonment functional
requirements provided
Annex I to document
LSA VIII/2/5
(specific functional
requirements)
(f) Be provided with spare
parts and equipment for
reconditioning and reoutfitting
after training operations as
required, and for maintaining
the system in a state of
readiness.
(g) Be provided with necessary
description and instructions
concerning inspection,
maintenance and special
precautions, which should be
taken during training
operations.
(i) Require minimal
maintenance
(j) Be easily operable under
emergency conditions and
require minimum prior training
and experiment.
(k) Requirements for crew
served on board.(training,
drills, alerting and operation).

Notes: 1

The terms in deletions are split and merged into new specific functional
requirements.

The table is based on annex 2 to document SSE 3/INF.3 without columns B

and D, for the purpose of simplified explanation.

Proposals
8

China proposes that:

.1

the approach in document SSE 3/INF.3 be applied during the development

of functional requirements of SOLAS chapter III;

.2

the hierarchy between goals, generic and specific functional requirements

should be properly set; and

.3

while developing functional requirements, verification of conformity of

SOLAS chapter III with goals and functional requirements be carried out at
the same time, so as to ensure the consistency of the goals, functional
requirements and the SOLAS chapter III.

Action requested of the Sub-Committee

9
The Sub-Committee is invited to consider the proposals in paragraph 8 and take
action as appropriate.
__________
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