IMSML Website Article 2/2026: Resolution MSC.550(108) - Amendments to Chapter II-2 and V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974

MSC.550(108) contains amendments to Chapter II-2 and V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1974. The amendments enter into force on 1 January 2026 via Malaysian Shipping Notice (MSN) 06/2024. In a nutshell, Amendments to Chapter II-2 related to oil fuel parameters other than flashpoint and fire safety of ro-ro passengers. Chapter II-2 amendments also deal with fixed fire detection and alarm systems in control stations as well as cargo control rooms. By contrast, there are also amendments to Chapter V to mandate requirements for reporting of containers lost at sea. The amendments to both these Chapters apply to ‘all ships’.

Amendments to CHAPTER II-2: Construction - Fire Protection, Fire Detection and Fire Extinction

Part B: Prevention of Fire and Explosion

Regulation 4: Probability of Ignition

A new sub-paragraph 2.1.9 is added stipulating that ‘oil fuel delivered to and used on board ships shall not jeopardize the safety of the ship or adversely affect the performance of the machinery or be harmful to personnel’.

Part C: Suppression of Fire

Regulation 7: Detection and Alarm

New Paragraph 5.2

There is a new Paragraph 5.2 added which is titled ‘Requirements for passenger ships carrying more than 36 passengers’:

[1] It provides for the installation of fire detection and fire alarm systems in service space, control stations and accommodation spaces;

[2] Accommodation space includes corridors, stairways and escape routes;

[3] Detectors fitted in cabins, when activated, shall be capable of emitting an audible alarm within the space where it is located;

[4] There are exceptions where smoke detectors need not be fitted, for example:

[a] Private bathrooms and galleys;

[b] Spaces having little or no fire risk, such as voids, public toilets, and carbon dioxide rooms.

New Paragraph 5.5

There is also a new Paragraph 5.5 titled ‘Cargo Ships’. It only applies to ships constructed on or after 1 January 2026. Note that for ship constructed before 1 January 2026, it shall comply with the previous version of Paragraph 5.5.

There are three protection methods:

[1] Paragraph 5.5.1 - Method IC:

[a] Installation of fixed fire detection and fire alarm systems;

[b] For smoke detection in all corridors, stairways and escape routes;

[c] Applicable to accommodation spaces, all control stations and cargo control rooms.

[2] Paragraph 5.5.2 - Method IIC:

[a] As above, but with the addition of an automatic sprinkler;

[b] Complies with all the relevant requirements of the Fire Safety Systems Code;

[c] For protection of accommodation spaces, galleys and other services spaces;

[d] Excluded are spaces which afford no substantial fire risk, eg voids spaces, sanitary spaces;

Regulation 9 - Containment of Fire

Under Paragraph 6 which deals with ‘Protection of Cargo Space Boundaries’, Paragraph 6.1 is deleted. All the subsequent paragraphs are therefore renumbered accordingly.

Part G - Special Requirements

Regulation 20 used to be known as ‘Protection of Vehicles, Special Category and Ro-Ro Space’. The New Regulation 20 is now titled as follows: ‘Protection of Vehicle, Special Category, Open and Closed Ro-Ro Spaces, and Weather Decks Intended for Carriage of Vehicles’. This is also reflected in a New Paragraph 1.1 which explains that the protection in mentioned places are for associated ‘fire hazards’.

A New Paragraph 2.1.3 has also been inserted which requires compliance for Passenger ships constructed before 1 January 2026, including those constructed before 1 July 2012. Compliance is required for Regulations 20.4.1.6, 20.4.4 and 20.6.2.3 as adopted by Resolution MSC.550(108).

There is also modification of Paragraph 3 which deals with ‘ Precaution Against Ignition of Flammable Vapours in Close Vehicle Spaces, Closed Ro-Ro Spaces and Special Category Spaces’. A New Paragraph 3.1.5 on ‘Permanent Openings’ now provides for the following:

[1] Applicable to cargo ships;

[2] Identifies permanent openings in the side plating, the ends or deck head of the space;

[3] To ensure that the cargo space does not endanger stowage areas and embarkation stations, service spaces and control stations in superstructures and deckhouses above the cargo spaces.

Changes have also been made to Paragraph 4 which regulate ‘Detection and Alarm’. It now regulates ships constructed before 1 January 2026, including those constructed before 1 July 2012. There must also be compliance with Paragraph 4.1.6 not later than the first survey on or after 1 January 2028.

Note, Paragraph 4.1.6 applies to passenger ships constructed before 1 July 2012. It requires a fixed fire detection (ie rapid detection of the onset of fire) and fire alarm system (smoke and heat detection) complying with the requirements of the Fire Safety Systems Code, to be provided in special category spaces, open and closed ro-ro and vehicle spaces.

What Should Be Taken Into Account Installing Detectors?

See Paragraph 4.1.5:

[1] Spacing and location;

[2] Ventilation and other relevant factors;

[3] Testing under normal ventilation conditions;

[4] Overall response times.

What Should be Done for Special Category Places?

[1] Maintenance of an efficient fire patrol system, see Paragraph 4.3.1;

[2] Video monitoring, for continuous monitoring of these spaces, as well as for quick identification, see Paragraph 4.4.1 to 4.4.2.

[3] Structural fire protection, for passenger ships constructed on or after 1 January 2026, see Paragraph 5.0, including:

[a] Structural fire protection for openings;

[b] Arrangement of weather deck intended for carriage of vehicles.

[4] Fire extinction systems, including fixed fire extinguishing systems (see Paragraph 6.1) and fixed water-based fire-extinguishing systems on weather decks intended for carriage of vehicles (see Paragraph 6.2).

What Should Be Done When There Is a Loss of Freight Containers?

There are new provisions in Chapter V relating to Safety of Navigation. New Paragraph provide for the following:

[1] When there is a loss of freight containers, the master shall communicate the particulars of the incident without delay and to the fullest extent possible to (see Paragraph 2.1):

[a] The ships in the vicinity;

[b] The nearest coastal state;

[c] The flag state.

[2] If the ship is abandoned, the company to the fullest extent possible, assume the obligations placed upon the master, see Paragraph 2.2.

[3] Once Informed, the flag state shall inform IMO through the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (see Paragraph 2.3 and IMO Resolution A.1074(28))

What Information Shall Accompany the Loss of Freight Containers?

This information is required by Regulation 32 titled ‘Information Required in Danger Messages’, envisaged to be used when there is loss of freight containers during tropical cyclones or storms.

General information that must accompany the report (see Paragraph 3.1.1) include:

[1] Type of report, eg loss of freight containers from a ship;

[2] Date and Time (ie Universal Coordinated Time);

[3] Ships identity (ie IMO Number, name, call sign and MMSI Digital Identification);

[4] From (ie from master of the ship, or contact details of the relevant representatives);

[5] To (ie the nearest coastal state where the incident occurred, and the flag state);

[6] The Message Number (ie Chronological order if freight containers loss messages are sent following the first one).

What Specific Position Reporting Must Accompany the Notice?

See Paragraph 3.2:

[1] Position of the ship (in latitude and longitude) when the freight containers were lost;

[2] If the actual position is not known, then an estimated position of where the containers could have been lost;

[3] If an estimated position is not known, the position of the ship when discovery of the lass is made.

What Details About the Container Must be Reported?

[1] Total numbers of containers lost, see Paragraph 3.3;

[2] Type of goods in the container, eg Whether dangerous goods and UN number (if known), see Paragraph 3.4;

[3] Dimension, type (eg reefer) and estimated number of freight containers, see Paragraph 3.5;

[4] Additional information (see Paragraph 3.6):

[a] Cargo description (ie if dangerous goods, a description according to the manifest);

[b] Any cargo spill;

[c] Wind direction and speed;

[d] Sea current direction and speed;

[e] Estimated drift direction and speed of the lost container;

[f] Sea state and wave height.

Thank you for reading IMSML Website Article 2/2026

Stay tuned for the next IMSML Website Article 3/2026: Resolution MSC.551(108) – Amendments to the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code).

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

Faculty of Law

Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah Alam

Selangor, Malaysia

Tuesday, 13 January 2026

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