IMSML Website Article 14/2023: Resolution MSC.527(106) - International Code for the Safety of Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP Code), Part 4 of 6 - PART IV of the IP Code - ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR SHIPS CERTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOLAS CHAPTER I

This fourth article on PART IV of the IP Code will deal with 8 distinct regulations, in the context of the IP Code:

[1] Regulation 1 - General

[2] Regulation 2 - Subdivision and Stability

[3] Regulation 3 - Machinery Installations

[4] Regulation 4 - Electrical Installations

[5] Regulation 5 - Periodically Unattended Machinery Space

[6] Regulation 6 - Fire Safety

[7] Regulation 7 - Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements

[8] Regulation 8 - Dangerous Goods

Regulation 1 - General

This provision lays down the mandatory nature of the rules in this part. Ships carrying industrial personnel shall me the SOLAS requirements for cargo ships and all other specific regulations in this part, see Regulation 1.1. Ships that are in compliance with this, are also considered as meeting the goals and functional requirements of Paragraph II/3 to II/9, see Regulation 1.2.

Regulation 2 - Subdivision and Stability

The following functional requirements must be met to satisfy Paragraph II/3.2.1:

[1] If a ship carries more than 240 persons, it will be certified as if it is a passenger ship. For this purpose, industrial personnel are counted as ‘passengers’, see Regulation 2.1

[2] Under Regulation 2.2, when industrial personnel are considered as passengers, the value of R for subdivision and damage stability shall be calculated, taking into account matters including, but not limited to:

(a) the number of persons for whom lifeboats are provided (N1);

(b) the excess number of persons (including officer and crew) that the ship is allowed to carry (N2).

Regulation 3 - Machinery Installations

For machinery installed on board the ship, compliance with SOLAS Regulation II-1/35-1, and II-1/29 is mandatory, where the ship is treated as if it is a passenger ship, ie certified to carry more than 240 persons on board, see Regulations 3.1 and 3.2.

Regulation 4 - Electrical Installations

For electrical installations (as opposed to machinery installations), the threshold is for ships not more than 50m in length (see Regulation 4.1.1), and those carrying more than 60 persons on board (see Regulation 4.1.2). Compliance is required for SOLAS Regulation II-1/42.2.6.1, II-1/43, II-1/42, II-1/45 and II-1/45.12.

Regulation 5 - Periodically Unattended Machinery Space

Under Regulation 5, Ships carrying more than 240 persons on board, and thus considered a passenger ship, shall comply with SOLAS Chapter II-1, Part-E.

Regulation 6 - Fire Safety

For ships certified to carry more than 240 persons on board, the requirements for fire safety in SOLAS Chapter II-2 for passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers are applicable, see Regulations 6.1.

For ships certified to carry more than 60 persons, but not more than 240 persons, the same SOLAS Chapter II-2 is applicable, but SOLAS Regulations

Regulation 7 - Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements

Life saving appliances and arrangements have to meet the functional requirements set out in Paragraph II/8.2:

[1] For ships carrying more than 60 persons, the requirements of SOLAS Chapter II for passenger ship are applicable. This applies for ships where the ships are on ‘international voyages’, which are not short international voyages, see Regulation 7.1.

[2] SOLAS Regulation III/2 and Regulation III/19.2.3 are not applicable, regardless of the number of persons on board, see Regulation 7.2.

Note that as the IP Code deals with these safety issues, SOLAS Regulation III which also deals with the requirements for life-saving appliances and arrangement need not apply. This avoids duplication.

[3] Where SOLAS Chapter III does apply, it has to be read to mean ‘industrial personnel’ in the context of the IP Code, as prescribed in SOLAS Regulation XV/2.3, see Regulation 7.3.

[4] For infant or child life jackets, the number is calculated based on the number of passengers onboard, see Regulation 7.4.

Regulation 8 - Dangerous Goods

Dangerous goods can be brought on board the ship, but prior consent of the Master of the ship is needed. In addition, the category of permitted dangerous goods is restricted to those for the purpose of the role of industrial personnel off the ship. Even if these are tools / equipment, these dangerous goods are technically classified as ‘cargo’. Thus PART A of SOLAS Chapter VII are applicable to its transportation, see Regulation 8.1.

Where the dangerous goods that are being carried are in packaged form, the functional requirement of Paragraph II/9.2 are applicable, and these include:

[1] SOLAS Regulation II-2/19.3.6.2 (which are applicable for passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers), will apply to ships certified under the IP Code to carry more than 240 persons on board, see Regulation 8.2.1.

[2] The IMDG Code, whether certified to carry more or less than 240 persons on board, shall be applicable as such vessels are considered as ‘cargo ships’, see Regulation 8.2.2.

Thank you for reading IMSML Website Article 14/2023

Stay tuned for the next IMSML Website Article 15/2023: Resolution MSC.527(106) - International Code for the Safety of Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP Code), Part 5 of 6 - PART V of the IP Code - ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS FOR CRAFT CERTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SOLAS CHAPTER X

Signing-off for today,

Dr Irwin Ooi Ui Joo, LL.B(Hons.)(Glamorgan); LL.M (Cardiff); Ph.D (Cardiff); CMILT

Professor of Maritime and Transport Law

Head of the Centre for Advocacy and Dispute Resolution

Faculty of Law

Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam

Selangor, Malaysia

Wednesday, 6 September 2023

Note that I am the corresponding author for the IMSML Website Articles. My official email address is: uijoo310@uitm.edu.my