Press Release: The IACS Council held its 80th session (C80) in London last week, where the focus was Cyber Safety, IQARB and Quality matters, along with further enhancing IACS’ cooperation with the IMO.
IACS’ Council welcomed the near-completion of the consolidation of the 12 Recommendations into a single, stand-alone document and the ongoing valuable input from its industry partners in that regard. IACS’ Council is committed to seeing the new Recommendation published in early 2020, so that feedback regarding its practical implementation and effectiveness can be gained as quickly as possible. Further, and based on the experience gained, the IACS Council confirmed its long-term intention to use the Recommendation as a basis for Unified Requirement.
Quality remains at the top of the IACS agenda and IACS’ Council noted the progress made in a number of areas commensurate with the Association’s commitment to continuous improvement. Council also welcomed the ongoing evolution of the International Quality Assessment Review Body, the appointment of IQARB’s new Chairman and an independent data analyst.
IACS’ Council was honoured to welcome the IMO Secretary General, Mr Kitack Lim, with whom discussions were held on how IACS can further strengthen its support of the IMO Secretariat through the provision of expert technical input, to assist in the implementation of matters agreed by the Organization.
IACS discussed with industry partners a broad range of issues of mutual concern including container ship fires, the outcomes from the Intersessional Working Group on GHGs and Ballast Water Management Systems.
As part of IACS’ commitment to transparency, Council also welcomed the imminent publication of a High-Level Position Paper on Cyber Safety and updating a number of existing papers to reflect recent developments, as well as the initiation of a paper on IACS’ Data Driven Policy.
Finally, IACS Council honoured Paul Sadler who is retiring after 12 years as the Association’s highly esteemed and popular Accredited Representative to IMO. Succeeding Paul in that position is Konstantin Petrov, who joined IACS in November and who brings with him many years’ experience in Class societies and a long exposure to IMO.
