Australia's NSCV update: watertight and weathertight integrity

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority has issued the National Standard for Commercial Vessels (NSCV) Part C, Section 2 (Edition 1.1), which outlines the requirements for the watertight and weathertight integrity of commercial vessels. This standard covers aspects such as ensuring rapid drainage of water from decks, maintaining reserve buoyancy, and preventing overloading. The updated standard was published in October 2024 and will become mandatory for all new vessels by September 1, 2025. Until then, new vessels can choose to comply with either the new NSCV or the older Uniform Shipping Laws (USL) Code, but must adhere to one standard in full.

Edition 1.1 includes updates such as the reorganization of definitions, the addition of ISO standards for safety glass, and a correction of a measurement error. The revisions take into account technological advancements over the past 30 years and incorporate important aspects of the IMO International Convention on Load Lines (ICLL), which addresses the safe loading of vessels, freeboard markings, and watertight integrity. The standard was developed with input from industry experts, marine surveyors, designers, and educational institutions.

Watertight and weathertight integrity - C2