Riyadh MOUs 20 PSC Committee Meeting was held in Muscat, Oman with the participation of its six member authorities, Caribbean MOU Secretary General, the Indian Ocean MOU Secretary and the representative of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). During the session, several topics were discussed including the review of 2022 statistics on PSC inspections, update of the text of the memoranda and continuously enhancing the skills of the port State control officers.

The training focused on the importance of inspecting passenger ships that arrive at the ports of RMOU member authorities and to familiarize the Port State Control Officers on the inspection mechanism of these type of ships. As well as ensuring that these ships comply with the passenger ship safety requirements.

This training was conducted in conjunction with the regional MOUs Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) on The International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) for 2022. This workshop aimed on enhancing the PSCOs knowledge in conducting the CIC as per the targeted areas highlighted in the questionnaire and to ensure that shipowners comply with the requirements of the STCW Convention.

The inspectors became acquainted with the operations of shipping dangerous goods and the procedures required for the transportation of dangerous goods, identify the types of these goods and their storage locations on the ship, and ensure that the ship’s crew implements the IMDG CODE to ship these merchandise safely.

Riyadh MOUs 19 PSC Committee Meeting was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with the participation of UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman & Qatar. The representative of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) had also participated as an observer. During the session, several topics were discussed including the review reviewing the structure of Riyadh MOU, revamping of Riyadh MOU website and approved conducting CIC on STCW in 2022.

Due to the continues restrictions of Covid-19 pandemic, the International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code) was conducted virtually in order to enhance and harmonize the safe carriage of dangerous goods and to ensure the safe transport of dangerous goods and prevent all types of marine pollution while allowing the free unrestricted movement of such goods. It also focuses on the preservation of the marine environment and the prevention of pollution.

Virtual training was conducted on Stability in General and this training was related to the Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) topic for 2021 which focused on SOLAS CH II-1. The objective of the training was to confirm that the ship staff are assessing the actual stability condition on completion of cargo operations before departure of the ship and on all stages of the voyage.

Due to the restrictions of Covid-19 pandemic, Riyadh MOU had conducted its first virtual training on the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) and its objective was to provide an understanding and update with the latest regulatory requirements of MARPOL and other IMO conventions related to pollution prevention and for the PSCOs to follow the best management practices related to MARPOL Annex I, II & III.

Riyadh MOUs 17 PSC Committee Meeting was held in Muscat, Oman with the participation of its six member authorities, Abuja MOU Secretary General and the representative of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). During the session, several topics were discussed including the update on the mandatory IMO Member State Audit Scheme (IMSAS), ratification of relevant instruments and data exchange with GISIS & IHS Markit.

A theory & practical workshop on Auxiliary Machinery in the Engine Room was conducted with the focus on the main and auxiliary safety equipment in the engine room and their related documents.