AWP Web Blog

The 110th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 110) was held from 18 to 27 June 2025. The session adopted SOLAS amendments to improve the safety of transfer arrangements for pilots and other personnel embarking and disembarking ships, and made significant progress on a new non-mandatory code of safety for autonomous ships (MASS Code).

The recent sessions of the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) introduced new statutory requirements for the IMO DCS. These changes will impact the Operational Vessel Data (OVD) standard and the reporting obligations for DNV’s GHG verification and compliance services – IMO DCS, EU MRV, UK MRV, FuelEU. This statutory news outlines the key regulatory updates and their implications for ship owners and operators.

Despite our extensive efforts to prevent brand misuse and document forgery, DNV occasionally encounters such incidents. Although counterfeit certificates represent only a small fraction of our annual issuances, we acknowledge the associated risks. This technical news highlights the issue of counterfeit certificates for pilot ladders and mooring ropes.

The IMO has introduced SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-13 through Resolution MSC.532(107), setting new requirements for lifting appliances and anchor handling winches.

Reported DGPS signal issues potentially from the ongoing military activity in the Middle East is resulting in vessels not being able to meet the minimum number of position reference systems (PRS) for DP station keeping.

This newsletter we celebrate our diversity with our first female inspector joining the team.

Fireman's outfits again appear as a problematic area together with cargo lighting.

This Notice provides guidance to vessel owners, operators and managers, and to recognized organizations (RO’s) on compliance with the requirements for ships using low-flashpoint fuel, the Administrations’ general procedures related to approval of the use of low-flashpoint fuel, and the latest developments from the IMO on shipboard-use of alternative fuels.

The U.S. Coast Guard issues findings of concern to disseminate information related to unsafe conditions that were identified as causal factors in a casualty and could contribute to future incidents. .

SOLAS (Chapter II-1, Reg 5.4) requires that where any alterations are made to a ship so as to materially affect the stability information supplied to the master, amended stability information must be provided.

Corrosion in cargo and water ballast tanks presents a significant challenge. DNV analyses reveal that corrosion is the most common cause of hull findings, and our surveyors often discover coatings breaking down much earlier than anticipated. Exposure of the ship structure to high temperatures may be a possible reason. This technical news explores the topic in more detail.