Revised guidance on combating piracy and armed robbery against ships was agreed by IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) when it met for its 86th session. Specific guidance relating to the continued attacks on ships off the coast of Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden was also agreed. The busy agenda also covered the adoption of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), including a new regulation to make the carriage of electronic charts mandatory, and the approval of goal-based standards for new oil tankers and bulk carriers, for future adoption.