The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued guidance for flag States regarding surveys and renewals of certificates during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

During this ongoing situation, it is inevitable that flag States will have to extend the validity of statutory certificates beyond the three-month period usually allowed by many IMO instruments. Flag States also have the responsibility to issue clear statutory instructions and decisions to owners and recognised organisations (ROs).

The IMO has therefore provided step-by-step guiding principles for an evidence-based assessment of certificate extensions to be made on a case-by-case basis.

The IMO have issued new guidance in their Recommended framework of protocols for ensuring safe ship crew changes and travel during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

It sets out general measures and procedures that should, so far as practicable, be implemented by all the parties involved in facilitating safe ship crew changes during the pandemic. The framework considers both joining a ship and repatriation, comprising a protocol for each step of the journey.

This edition of the newsletter looks at;
- Industry Guidance on COVID-19
- Seafarers Mental Health Awareness
- Update on dealing with COC's and Memo's
- Daylight Signal Lamps
- Pyrotechnics Ready for use
- Smoking and Ashtrays
- Alarm Settings

This AFM contains the latest information from OCIMF for inspectors and supersedes guidance to inspectors as issued in AFM 23/20 on 6 April 2020.

Over the past days, IACS has received many requests from interested parties seeking guidance on how its Members intend to respond to the current and forthcoming challenges posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The attached letter discusses those questions and issues.