COMSAR Correspondence Group on Passenger Ship Safety

WORK PLAN

Introduction

This work plan has been developed in order to facilitate the work of the COMSAR intersessional correspondence group established by COMSAR 9 to consider the passenger ship safety review tasks allocated to COMSAR by MSC 79.

The correspondence group’s terms of reference, set out in COMSAR 9/19, paragraph13 and annex 17, are at Annex A to this work plan.  The guiding philosophy, strategic goals and objectives for this work may be found in MSC79/WP.13, annex 1*.  The correspondence group was invited by COMSAR 9 to take into account the discussions summarised in annex 10 to COMSAR 9/WP.3/Add.1.

This work plan considers each task in turn.  Under each, it provides:

• a brief summary of the conclusions of, and guidance to the correspondence group provided by, COMSAR 9;
• references to relevant papers from previous COMSAR sessions (which provide background material);
• an outline of the correspondence group’s objectives as regards the task in question;
• a summary of particular expertise required to complete the task.

Correspondence group members do not have to contribute to all tasks, only to those which time, expertise and interest permit.  All members will have the opportunity to review any of the work being conducted by the correspondence group as it progresses, as well as to review the group’s final report to the Sub-Committee.

Correspondence group members are requested to note the timeline for this work, below.  Although we can be flexible as regards this timeline during our work – and in particular will welcome new approved members, comment or material at any time – the final date for submission of our work to IMO must be adhered to.

Correspondence group members are strongly urged to seek contributions under any of the task headings from relevant experts.

Contacts

The correspondence group is being chaired and co-ordinated by:

David Jardine-Smith
Emergency Response Liaison Officer
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 1/07, Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
United Kingdom

tel+44 (0)23 8032 9108
fax+44 (0)23 8032 9488

e-mail dave.jardine-smith@mcga.gov.uk
assisted by Gerry Keeling, of the International Lifeboat Federation.

Regular updates will be distributed to the correspondence group by email by the co-ordinator.

The following Member States and Non-Governmental Organisations have joined the correspondence group to date:

* IMO papers referred to may be downloaded from the IMO website, or may be obtained from the correspondence group co-ordinator.