. Formal Safety Assessment Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) has been a risk analysis tool for some time, having been particularly widely used in the nuclear and petrochemical industries, and some administrations have been encouraging IMO to recognise FSA as an aid to the maritime rule-making process. A number of trial applications have already been conducted, including on high-speed craft and helicopter landing facilities on passenger ships. However, although the principle of FSA has not been challenged, doubts still exist whether it can be integrated into the working practices of IMO. ICS supports any system which enhances decision making in IMO, but the existing procedures, though sometimes time consuming, do give all interests an opportunity to contribute to the rule-making process. Furthermore, FSA is always likely to fall prey to broader political considerations when major issues come up for discussion. The first real test for FSA is probably just around the corner. The plan to complete a full FSA study on bulk carriers is its greatest challenge to date, and may well be the deciding factor in whether FSA has a permanent place on the IMO agenda. .