Marine and offshore assets, similar to land-based facilities, are at risk of being exposed to outbreaks of infectious diseases. During such outbreaks, the health and wellbeing of seafarers and passengers as well as the normal operation of marine and offshore assets can be impacted. The COVID-19 pandemic is one such example, which is having significant impact on the maritime sector with companies, governments and various regulatory bodies compelled to take rapid and extraordinary measures to ensure smooth operation of the assets. Recognizing that an asset’s physical arrangement and operational procedures can act to mitigate the occurrence and transmission of infectious diseases, ABS launched the Guide for Mitigation of Infectious Disease Transmission on Board Marine and Offshore Assets. The ABS Guide provides guidance for the isolation and segregation of crew or passengers from shore personnel or visitors and addresses the ventilation and sanitization of interior surfaces for certain accommodation and working spaces on board. Assets that satisfy the arrangement requirements of this Guide may be given an optional notation, Infectious Disease Mitigation-Arrangements (IDM-A).

The existing offshore support vessel, DSV Southern Star, owned and operated by Tasik Subsea became the first ABS-classed vessel to be awarded the IDM-A notation.

Read  the full article here >> Advancing Safety: World’s First Infectious Disease Mitigation Notation