E

SUB-COMMITTEE ON IMPLEMENTATION III 9/18/2

OF IMO INSTRUMENTS 26 May 2023
9th session Original: ENGLISH
Agenda item 18 Pre-session public release: ☒

ANY OTHER BUSINESS

Holistic approach on the human element

Note by the Secretariat

SUMMARY

Executive summary: This note is submitted by the Secretariat in response to the request
by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) for assistance to relevant
bodies with the assessment of their respective involvement in the
human element with a view to devising an outline for a holistic
approach in this area, taking into account resource and budgetary
implications within the Organization.

Strategic direction, if 6
applicable:

Output: 6.1

Action to be taken: Paragraph 12

Related documents: Resolution A.1149(24); HTW 7/4; HTW 8/16 (paragraphs 4.6
to 4.10) and MSC 105/20 (paragraph 16.3)

Background

New strategic direction of the Organization: SD 6 - Address the human element

1 Recognizing that the scope and significance of the human element in the safe, secure
and environmentally sound operation of ships had increased during the COVID-19 pandemic,
the Assembly, at its thirty-second session, adopted the Revised Strategic Plan for the
Organization for the six-year period 2018 to 2023 (resolution A.1149(32)), with new strategic
direction 6 (SD 6) on Address the human element.

2 SD 6 states that:

"To address human element related issues, the Organization will develop or amend
provisions, including but not limited to training, certification and watchkeeping,
including consideration of new technologies; human-centred design; safe manning;
drills and exercises; …; operational safety, …."

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3 This new SD may entail a change of approach to the consideration of human element
aspects in the Organization, particularly when undertaking regulatory work in areas involving,
inter alia, new technologies, human-centred design, safe manning, drills and exercises and
operational safety, which might be relevant to the regulatory work of the Sub-Committee.

HTW 8's considerations

4 The Sub-Committee on Human Element, Training and Watchkeeping (HTW), at its

eighth session (HTW 8), noted the information in document HTW 7/4 (Secretariat) providing
an outline of the ongoing work on the human element and highlighting its relevance.

5 In this connection, HTW 8:

.1 considered the need to arrange and coordinate the work on the

human element holistically encompassing the new strategic direction on the
human element, the continuous output on the human element and the work
on the human element conducted by all IMO bodies, taking into account the
workload and necessary resources (HTW 8/16, paragraphs 4.6 to 4.10); and

.2 noted the following information provided by the Secretariat:

.1 the features of the human element as a complex multidimensional

matter affecting maritime safety, security and marine environment
protection, and involving the entire spectrum of human activities
performed by the whole shipping sector, including IMO, together
with recent developments directly linked with the human element,
had impacted significantly the Secretariat's role in this matter and
its resources;

.2 many technical sections within the Secretariat and IMO bodies were
involved in the human element; and

.3 high-level interaction and work on this matter had also arisen in

recent times with an intense partnership with the UN, UN agencies
and the industry.

MSC 105's considerations

6 In response to the request by HTW 8, MSC 105 invited all relevant IMO bodies to
assess their respective involvement in the human element within their remit and report back to
the Committee with a view to devising an outline for a holistic approach in this area, taking into
account resources and budgetary implications within the Organization (MSC 105/20,
paragraph 16.3). In this regard, the Committee requested the Secretariat to assist relevant
bodies with the above assessment, in order to provide relevant information for future action,
as appropriate.

Work of the III Sub-Committee related to the human element

7 The human element was previously included within the overarching principles of the
Strategic Plan for the Organization for the six-year period 2018 to 2023
(resolution A.1110(30)), which provides that the human element will be taken into account in
the review, development and implementation of new and existing requirements, including
skills, education and training, and human capabilities, limitations and needs; and that IMO, in
all aspects of its work, will take into account the needs and well-being of seafarers.

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8 As output 6.10 on "Development of an entrant training manual for PSC personnel"

was postponed until the finalization of the IMO Model Course 3.09 on Port State Control, there
are currently no outputs on the biennial agenda of the Sub-Committee or in the Committee's
post-biennial agenda under SD 6 for which the Sub-Committee is the coordinating organ.
However, the Sub-Committee is an associated organ for the current outputs on "Role of the
human element" (output 6.1), "Validated model training courses" (output 6.2), "Development
of measures to facilitate mandatory seagoing service required under the STCW Convention"
(output 6.5), "Development of amendments to the STCW Convention and Code for the use of
electronic certificates and documents of seafarers" (output 6.14), "Revision of the Revised
recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships" (resolution A.1050(27))
(output 6.15) as well as the output on the Committees' post-biennial agenda on "Scoping
exercise and enhancement of the effectiveness of provisions on fatigue and seafarers' hours
of work and rest".

9 The model courses that fall under the responsibility of the Sub-Committee are:

.1 3.22 on Flag State Implementation, 2010 Edition;

.2 3.09 on Port State Control, 2001 Edition; and
.3 3.11 on Safety Investigation into Marine Casualties & Incidents, 2014 Edition.

10 Model Course 3.09 on Port State Control on the current agenda of the III
Sub-Committee and document III 9/6 (Secretariat) on Draft terms of reference for the course
developer(s) and the review group for the revision of the Model Course 3.09 on Port State
Control will be considered at this session.

11 In particular, the following regulatory framework or work that involves direct interface
with seafarers relevant to the Sub-Committee should be highlighted in the context of the human
element:

.1 International Safety Management (ISM) Code;

.2 fair treatment of seafarers;
.3 casualty investigation;
.4 port State control; and
.5 survey, ISM audit and ISPS verification, and certification of ships.

Action requested of the Sub-Committee

12 The Sub-Committee is invited to consider the above information and take action, as
appropriate, with a view to advising the Committee on its request as stated in paragraph 11.

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