SAF-013 - New SOLAS Chapter XV And International Code Of Safety For Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP Code)

TO: ALL SHIPOWNERS, OPERATORS, MASTERS AND OFFICERS OF MERCHANT SHIPS, AND AUTHORIZED CLASSIFICATION SOCIETIES

Supersedes: Marine Notice SAF-013, dated 07/23

The following changes have been included:

a. Section 3.0 renamed and new Section 3.2 on surveys added.

PURPOSE:

This Notice provides guidance to vessel owners, operators and managers for compliance with new SOLAS Chapter XV and the IP Code, for vessels carrying more than 12 Industrial Personnel (IP) on or after 1 July 2024, and the Administration’s requirements for existing vessels not yet authorized to carry more than 12 IP prior to entry into force on 1 July 2024.

APPLICABILITY:

This Marine Notice applies to all cargo ships and high-speed cargo craft (HSCC), of 500 gross tonnage and upwards, which carry more than 12 industrial personnel on international voyages. Although the Administration does not apply the IP Code to the transport of industrial personnel within the confines of a particular coastal State or between a base port and an offshore installation outside territorial waters, Liberian flagged vessels must comply with the IP Code if its application is mandated by the coastal State.

1.0 DEFINITIONS:

1.1 The term Industrial personnel (IP) is defined as “persons transported or accommodated on board for the purpose of offshore industrial activities performed on board other ships and/or Offshore facilities.”

1.2 IP Code means the International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial personnel, as adopted 1 of 4

Inquiries concerning the subject of this Notice should be directed to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Republic of Liberia, the Liberian International Ship & Corporate Registry, LLC, 8619 Westwood Center Dr., Suite 300, Vienna, VA

22182, USA

by the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC.527(106), as may be amended, provided that such amendments are adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the provisions of article VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures applicable to the annex other than chapter I.

1.3 The term Offshore industrial activities is defined as “construction, maintenance, decommissioning, operation or servicing of offshore facilities related, but not limited to, exploration and exploitation of resources by renewable or hydrocarbon energy sectors, aquaculture, ocean mining or similar activities.”

2.0 REQUIREMENTS:

SOLAS Chapter XV requirements are as follows, depending on when a cargo ship or HSCC is constructed and whether it has been previously approved prior to 1 July 2024 by this Administration to carry more than 12 industrial personnel:

* Interim recommendations on the safe carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel on board vessels engaged on international voyages (resolution MSC.418(97)).

3.0 REVIEW, SURVEY AND CERTIFICATION

3.1 Any cargo ship or HSCC, of 500 gross tonnage and upwards, which will carry more than 12 industrial personnel, shall undergo review, and be certified by a Recognized Organization (RO) authorized by the Administration, prior to carrying IP in accordance with the above table. A list of authorized RO’s is provided on https://www.liscr.com/recognizedorganizations.

The Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate shall be issued after an initial survey to a ship which complies with the requirements of the IP Code.

3.2 The implementation of initial and maintenance surveys as required in SOLAS regulations XV/3.2, 3.3 and 5.1, and paragraph 3 of part I of the IP Code is to be in accordance with MSC.1/Circ.1680.

4.0 CARGO SHIPS AND HSCC CONSTRUCTED BEFORE 1 JULY 2024

4.1 It is recommended that cargo ships and HSCC constructed before 1 July 2024 that are not yet authorized by the Administration to carry more than 12 industrial personnel in accordance with the recommendations adopted by Resolution MSC.418(97), request and become authorized prior to 1 July 2024.

4.2 When applying the Interim recommendations adopted by Resolution MSC.418(97), this Administration will also take into consideration the following general conditions in order to authorize the transportation or accommodation of more than 12 IP on any voyage:

1. Level of compliance with the constructional standards in the applicable SPS Code or other IMO standards (such as the MODU Code, HSC Code or OSV Guidelines), in determining the number of IP over 12 and beyond that allowed in the Safety Equipment certificate, further taking into account the number of hours (or distance offshore) transported or accommodated on board;

1. Sea conditions during the passage;

1. At a minimum, adequate and safe and secure seating accommodation with direct access to an open deck in an emergency;

1. Accommodation shall be located aft of the collision bulkhead and meet the fire protection provisions contained in Chapter II-2 of SOLAS;

1. All watertight doors in subdivision bulkheads shall be kept closed at all times at sea, except when they are used for transit;

1. Availability of sufficient life-saving equipment including survival craft capacity and lifejackets; and immersion suits if north of 32 degrees North and south of 32 degrees South;

1. Sewage treatment or holding capacity adequate for the additional industrial personnel;

1. Procedures in the SMS addressing the safety, security, personnel transfer and accounting for and identifying all persons on board during an emergency situation taking into account guidance in the OSV Code;

1. The Industrial Personnel:

4.3 Upon verification of items 3 to 8, the authorized RO shall insert an annotation on the Safety Construction Certificate, and on the Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate on and after 1 July 2024, that the vessel has been authorized by the Administration to carry up to [number] of Industrial Personnel, with all the conditions under 4.2 above indicated on the Certificate.

Questions regarding this Marine Notice should be referred to Regsandstandards@liscr.com or telephone +1-703-790-3434.

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