International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974
Ban Asbestos on board ships
What to do if Asbestos is found on board
?
In accordance with SOLAS, ships built before 1 July 2002 may contain asbestos, but it should be managed properly - further guidance is available in MSC/Circ.1045 Guidelines for Maintenance and Monitoring of On-Board Materials Containing Asbestos.
SOLAS was amended in December 2000. The new regulation in SOLAS Chapter II-1 (Construction - Structure, subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations) prohibits the new installation of materials which contain asbestos on all ships.
Regulation 3-5 New installation of materials containing asbestos states that the regulation shall apply to materials used for the structure, machinery, electrical installations and equipment covered by the SOLAS Convention.
For all ships, new installation of materials which contain asbestos shall be prohibited except for:
- vanes used in rotary vane compressors and rotary vane vacuum pumps;
- watertight joints and linings used for the circulation of fluids when, at high temperature (in excess of 350ºC) or pressure (in excess of 7 x 106 Pa), there is a risk of fire, corrosion or toxicity; and
- supple and flexible thermal insulation assemblies used for temperatures above 1000ºC.
The 2009 Amendments to SOLAS (resolution MSC.282(86)), further amended the text to prohibit all new installation of asbestos on board ships. These came into force on 1 January 2011;
“When asbestos is detected on board, in contravention of SOLAS regulation II-1/3-5, action should be taken to have it removed. The removal – assigned to professional asbestos removal companies – should take place within a time frame of 3 years from the date when the contravention is found and should be conducted in close consultation with and, where applicable, under the supervision of the flag State concerned. In such cases, a suitable exemption certificate should be issued by the flag State.”
If Asbestos is detected on board, it may affect Safety Construction Certificate of the ship according to SOLAS requirement. Shipowner shall notify the flag state, and flag state would either decide to issue an exemption certificate or would give a time frame to the shipowner to remove the asbestos according to MSC/Circ.1045. Flag has the final say.
Seastars Marine Services(SMS) is focusing on one stop service for your ship on IHM preparation, asbestos management/consultancy, as well as asbestos removal and disposal. We will help you in terms of the asbestos abatement follow international and local regulations, by providing the professional services and deliver the documentation evidence including abatement plan, risk & health assessment, air monitoring, emergency action plan and asbestos disposal certificate.
Why you have to Get the Asbestos be Removed Properly?
To avoid the risk of asbestos exposure to your ship crew ,your client and any party that related to your ship operation;
To close the exemption certificate issued by your ship flag state;
To update your IHM with strong evidence of asbestos removal;
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