Goal-based standards.

(From Lloyds List)

TODAY, the International Maritime Organization takes a major stride along a path that may eventually lead to a fundamental overhaul of the global regulation of shipping.

Over the next 10 days the IMO's Maritime Safety Committee will closely debate the merits of development of so-called goal-based standards for the construction of new ships.

Now there will be many in the maritime world who will yawn at the merest mention of such a piece of jargon which is relatively new to shipping. But this is an issue that should enliven even those who are thoroughly jaded with even the thought of debate on the Albert Embankment.

But what are goal-based standards? And why should anyone, apart from the IMO policy wonks, be in the least bit interested? In the first instance, the philosophy behind goal-based standards is a whole-sale reversal of the regulatory process. Instead of writing prescriptive rules that specify a means of compliance, regulations simply define their aim to allow alternative ways of achieving compliance.

To use an often-quoted example, instead of specifying that 'A fence will be installed at the edge of all cliffs', a goal-based regulation would state that 'People shall be prevented from falling over the edge of the cliff'. While such an example may appear overly simplistic in the context of debating the detail of complex naval architecture, it serves to clearly illustrate the shift in perspective.

Anyone already involved in the oil industry will be well aware of the impact the use of goal-based standards has made. Similar change ...