The International Maritime Organization’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC), which met at the IMO’s London headquarters for its 95th session from 3 to 12 June 2015, adopted a new Code for Gas-Fuelled Ships.
The Committee adopted amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-1 Part G and the Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels, IGF Code. The Code’s mandatory provisions will enter into force on 1 January 2017 and will apply to new cargo ships ≥ 500gt and passenger ships using natural gas fuel.
The IGF Code aims to minimize the risk to the ship, its crew and the environment, having regard to the nature of the fuels involved.
The proposed draft amendments to SOLAS chapter II-1 (Construction – Structure, subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations), include amendments to Part F Alternative design and arrangements, to provide a methodology for alternative design and arrangements for machinery, electrical installations and low-flashpoint fuel storage and distribution systems; and a new Part G Ships using low-flashpoint fuels, to add new regulations to require ships constructed after the date of entry into force to comply with the requirements of the IGF Code, together with related amendments to chapter II-2 and Appendix (Certificates).
The amendments to SOLAS slated to enter into force on 1 January 2017 include:
Approved SOLAS Amendments also cover: