国际海事组织（IMO）就COVID-19导致的新造干散货船和油轮的迟延交付问题颁布指导意见（以下简称意见），这些新造船原定于今年7月1日前交付。该意见与船厂、设备供应商、船东、检验师和技术服务工程师息息相关。

COVID-19全球蔓延是始料未及的，造成的全球范围内的影响远非船东和船厂所能控制，其中之一就是船厂和相关供应链难以继续船舶的正常建造，导致船舶无法按合同规定进行交付。

原计划于今年7月1日前交付的船舶可能出现迟延，其中一些船舶的设计和建造将面临不符合今年7月1日起生效的《国际海上人命安全公约》（SOLAS）II-1/3-10关于干散货船和油轮的目标船舶建造标准的窘境。

IMO意见侧重于船舶长度为150米及以上的油轮和干散货船，由于COVID-19影响，将发生迟延交付。

IMO ISSUES GUIDANCE FOR DELAYS IN NEWBUILD VESSEL DELIVERIES DUE TO COVID-19

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has released guidance for cases when COVID-19 results in unforeseen delays in the delivery of newbuild bulk carriers and oil tankers originally scheduled to be delivered before 1 July 2020. The guidance is particularly relevant to shipbuilders, equipment suppliers, shipowners, surveyors and service engineers.

The epidemic of the coronavirus infection has to a large extend been unexpected, and its impact is far beyond the control of shipowners and shipbuilders. As a consequence, shipbuilders and their associated supply chains may have difficulties in resuming normal production of ships under construction and may as a result miss timely delivery according to contract.

Ships originally scheduled to be delivered before 1 July 2020 may be delayed, and the consequence might be that some of these ships were not designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of SOLAS regulation II-1/3-10 (Goal-based ship construction standards for bulk carriers and oil tankers). These requirements enter into force by 1 July 2020.

The IMO guidance focus on oil tankers and bulk carriers of 150 m in length and above, which were scheduled to be delivered before 1 July 2020 but, due to COVID-19, are being delayed and delivered on or after 1 July 2020.

The guidance urges the flag administration to thoroughly consider applications on a case-by-case basis, bearing in mind the particular circumstances. In doing so, a formal report from the authorities of the country in which the ship was built, should state that the delay was due to unforeseen circumsta.