Skip to main content

IACS PARTICIPATION AT SSE 6

Papers on agenda items related to Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) issues: 

  • SSE 6/3/2 proposes that in taking forward the development of functional requirements in the context of SOLAS Chapter III and the LSA Code, a HAZID or a study is carried out to identify the hazards addressed by the requirements of both instruments. The paper also proposes changes to the draft Guidelines on Alternative Design and Arrangements for SOLAS Chapter II-1 and III (MSC.1/Circ.1212) contained in paper SSE 6/3 (the report of an intersessional Correspondence Group), aiming to clarify and improve the use of quantitative terminology as required by the GBS guidelines (MSC.1/Circ.1394/Rev.1).
  • SSE 6/5/1 provides comments on the draft Interim Guidelines on Life-saving Appliances and Arrangements for Ships Operating in Polar Waters contained in paper SSE 6/5 (the report of an intersessional Correspondence Group). IACS believe the guidelines should apply to new and existing ships and that further review is needed before SSE finalises this item.
  • SEE 6/17/1 providing a proposal to resolve a discrepancy that will otherwise exist between the provisions regarding the testing of winches on free-fall lifeboats and non free-fall lifeboats as described in paragraph 8.1.1 of resolution MSC.81(70).

Papers on agenda items related Fire Protection issues:

  • SSE 6/6/5 provides extensive comments on the draft Interim Guidelines for minimizing the incidence and consequences of fires on ro-ro spaces and special category spaces of new and existing ro-ro passenger ships (contained in SSE 6/6) covering the following areas: prevention/Ignition, detection and decision, extinguishment and containment.
  • SSE 6/7/2 provides extensive comments on the draft amendments to the Guidelines for the approval of fixed dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing systems for the protection of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk (MSC.1/Circ.1315) contained in paper SSE 6/7 (the report of an intersessional Correspondence Group).

Papers on Unified Interpretations:

  • SSE 6/12 provides a draft revision of IACS UI SC242 on SOLAS regulations II-1/28, II-1/29 and II-1/30. The UI addresses the redundancy required in the steering gear system for each steerable propulsion unit. The UI also clarifies that for a ship fitted with multiple steering systems, the requirements in SOLAS regulation II-1/30.2 are to be applied to each of the steering systems.
  • SSE 6/12/1 proposes a unified interpretation to clarify the term “explosion-proof type or intrinsically safe” in the context of SOLAS regulation II-2/10.10.4 (requirements for two-way portable radiotelephone apparatus for fire-fighter’s communication) to avoid inconsistencies on the application of this requirement.
  • SSE 6/12/2 seeks clarification whether free-fall lifeboats launching requirements are to comply with the requirements to launch lifeboats with the ship making headway at speeds up to 5 knots in calm water as required by SOLAS regulation III/3.2 and the LSA Code.
  • SSE 6/12/3 proposes a unified interpretation to clarify the number of lifebuoys fitted with a buoyant lifeline that are to be provided in the vicinity of the ship’s means of embarkation as required by SOLAS regulation II-1/3-9 and MSC .1/Circ.1331.
  • SSE 6/12/4 proposes a unified interpretation to clarify that the weather deck area above the fuel oil tanks installed at the after end of the aftermost hold space or at the forward end of the forwardmost hold space, are to be considered a “cargo area” when applying the IGC Code requirements for piping and fittings in the water-spray system withstanding 925°
  • SSE 6/12/5 proposes a unified interpretation of SOLAS regulation II-1/47 on fire detection and alarms for boilers in unattended machinery spaces. The UI intends to clarify the meaning of “inherent fire risk in exhaust uptake” and in “air supply casing: and the application of this regulation to different types of boilers.
  • SSE 6/12/6 seeks clarification on determining the fire integrity of divisions when urea or sodium hydroxide solutions tanks, forming part of NOx and SOx emission control systems, are installed in a space separated from the engine room, to be categorised as “voids and auxiliary machinery spaces having little or no fire risk” or as “other machinery spaces”.
  • SSE 6/12/7 (co-sponsored with SIGTTO) provides a draft interim unified interpretation to clarify that the initial onboard testing of a dry chemical powder fire-extinguishing system should be carried out by discharging dry chemical powder from all monitors and hand hose lines; but that this does not require the full discharge of the installed quantity of dry powder. Thereafter, the system should be blown through with dry air.
  • SSE 6/12/8 provides a draft unified interpretation to clarify that the footnote to SOLAS regulation II‑2/9.7.5 regarding the protection of galley ducts, does not prohibit the use of a fixed CO2 fire-extinguishing system that hasn’t been designed or tested to ISO 15371-2009.
  • SSE 6/12/9 provides revision 2 of IACS UI SC269 providing clarification on the escape arrangements to the open deck from the steering gear space on cargo ships of less than 150 m in length.
  • SSE 6/12/10 provides a copy of IACS UI SC288 on SOLAS regulations II-2/19.3.4.1 and II‑2/19.3.5.4 regarding the reduction in air changes to ventilate a cargo space where dangerous goods of class 2, 3, 4 liquids, 5.1 liquids, 6.1 and 8 are carried in closed freight containers and where the bilge pump is also located.
  • SSE 6/12/11 provides a copy of IACS UI MODU3 that clarifies the term “after shutdown” in paragraph 6.5.5 of the 2009 MODU Code i.e. for Emergency Shutdown (ESD) systems arranged with multiple levels of ESD, the provision in this paragraph of the Code applies for any ESD level related to gas release.
  • SSE 6/12/12 provides a copy of IACS UI SC 289 related to the FSS Code separation arrangements between inert gas piping systems in cargo tanks.
  • SSE 6/12/13 provides a copy of IACS UI SC290 to clarify that the requirements in the IBC Code and the IGC Code related to emergency sources of electrical power should also be taken into account, when applying SOLAS regulation II-1/43.6.

IACS will also provide advice and comments to the Sub-Committee on almost all of the other issues that will be considered at SSE 6. In particular, IACS will contribute to the discussions on the following items:

  • Develop new requirements for the ventilation of survival craft (agenda item 4)
  • Amendments to chapter 9 of the FSS Code for fault isolation requirements for cargo ships and passenger ship cabin balconies fitted with individually identifiable fire detector systems (agenda item 8)
  • Requirements for onboard lifting appliances and anchor handling winches (agenda item 9)
  • Development of guidelines for cold ironing of ships and consideration of amendments to SOLAS chapters II-1 and II-2 (agenda item 11)
  • Amendments to paragraph 4.4.7.6.17 of the LSA Code concerning single fall and hook systems with on-load release capability (agenda item 13)

Any enquiries on the above should be sent to Paul Sadler, IACS Accredited Representative to IMO, at permsec@iacs.org.uk