Guidelines to help shipowners comply with a new International Maritime Organization (IMO) regulation requiring ship-specific plans and procedures for the recovery of persons from the water, were launched on 30th June by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the global trade association for shipowners.

Under the new SOLAS Regulation, from 1st July 2014 all ships are required to develop plans and procedures identifying both equipment to be used for recovery purposes and measures to minimise the risk to shipboard personnel involved in recovery operations.