The 9th session of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship Systems and Equipment (SSE 9) was held from 27 February to 3 March 2023. SSE 9 finalized the draft of new SOLAS requirements to minimize the incidence and consequences of fires on Ro-Ro passenger ships, and to require ventilation of totally enclosed lifeboats.
Meeting Highlights
- Finalized draft amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2 related to fire safety on Ro-Ro passenger ships
- Finalized draft amendments to the LSA Code and related IMO instruments to require ventilation of totally enclosed lifeboats
- Finalized the draft of the revised Code of Safety for Diving Systems
- Finalized the draft of interim guidelines on the safe operation of onshore power supply (OPS) service in ports
- Agreed on draft amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2 to require fire detection and fire alarm systems for all control stations and cargo control rooms on cargo ships
Ventilation of Survival Craft
The draft of the new regulations intends to provide a habitable environment and prevent high concentrations of CO2 inside the craft and will require a ventilation rate of at least 5 m3/hr/person.
The draft amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2026 and to be applied to survival craft installed on or after 1 January 2029, subject to adoption by MSC 107 (June 2023).
Lowering Speed of Survival Craft for Cargo Ships
SSE 9 is considered safe lowering speeds of fully loaded survival craft and rescue boats. Noting that the minimum lowering speed is calculated as a function of the lowering height, the minimum lowering speed becomes higher and closer to the commonly accepted maximum lowering speed for large cargo ships.
SSE 9 agreed on draft amendments to paragraphs 6.1.2.8 and 6.1.2.10 of the LSA Code to include a minimum lowering speed calculated as a function of height, but of not higher than 1.0 m/s, and to define a maximum lowering speed of 1.3 m/s. The Administration may accept other maximum lowering speeds.
The draft amendments will be submitted to MSC 107 (June 2023) for approval and are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2026.
Revision of SOLAS Chapter III & The LSA Code
The IMO has embarked on a revision of SOLAS Chapter III and the LSA Code to remove gaps, inconsistencies and ambiguities and to restructure the requirements to a goal-based format.
Fire Protection of Ro-Ro Passenger Ships
The number of fire incidents on vehicle decks of Ro-Ro passenger ships has grown over the past decade.
SSE 9 finalized several draft amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2, the FSS Code and MSC.1/Circ.1430 to reduce the risk of fire in Ro-Ro and special category spaces on new and existing Ro-Ro passenger ships, considering the:
- arrangement of Ro-Ro spaces for new Ro-Ro passenger ships,
- arrangement of weather decks for new Ro-Ro passenger ships,
- water monitors on weather decks of existing Ro-Ro passenger ships.
In addition, SSE 9 agreed on draft amendments to the FFS Code regarding specifications for linear heat detection systems, as well as a clarification of the term “free height” of a protected space in the revised guidelines for the design and approval of fixed water-based fire-fighting systems for Ro-Ro spaces and special category spaces (MSC./Circ.1430/Rev.1).
The draft amendments will be submitted to MSC 107 (June 2023) for approval and are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2026.
Thermal Performance of Immersion Suits
SSE 9 agreed on draft amendments to paragraph 3.2.3 of the revised recommendation for the testing of life-saving appliances (Resolution MSC.81(70)) to add a 15-minute time threshold for thermal protective tests carried out with human test subjects. One of the criteria for stopping a test would then be the skin temperature of the hand, foot or lumbar region falling below 10 degrees Celsius for more than 15 minutes.
The draft amendments will be submitted to MSC 107 (June 2023) for approval.
In-Water Performance of SOLAS life jackets
SSE 9 finalized amendments to the LSA Code and the revised recommendation on the testing of life-saving appliances (Resolution MSC.81(70)) to address the in-water performance of SOLAS life jackets, i.e. to specify the criteria for recognizing a successful turn of a test subject.
The draft amendments will be submitted to MSC 107 (June 2023) for approval.
Containership Fire Safety
MSC 106 (November 2022) agreed to establish a Formal Safety Assessment (FSA) expert group to review the outcome of any relevant studies relating to the detection and control of fires on containerships. Accordingly, SSE 9 decided to postpone discussions related to containership fire safety until such studies are available.
Fire Protection of Control Stations in Cargo Ships
SSE 9 agreed on draft amendments to SOLAS Regulation II-2/7.5.5 and the Unified Interpretations in MSC.1/Circ.1456 to extend the fire detection requirements to include control stations and cargo control rooms on cargo ships.
The draft amendments are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2026, subject to approval and adoption by the MSC.
Diving Systems Safety
The Code of Safety for Diving Systems, 1995 (1995 Diving Code) provides international standards for the design, construction and survey of commercial diving systems. The purpose is to enhance the safety of divers/personnel but also to facilitate the international movement and operation of diving systems.
SSE 9 finalized a draft of a new International Code of Safety for Diving Operations, 2023 (2023 Diving Code). The 1995 Diving Code will continue to exist for existing diving systems.
The significant updates include:
- provisions for portable diving systems and surface-supplied diving systems;
- provisions for ships with diving systems installed;
- provisions for integration between the diving systems and the ships carrying them, including integration of the ships’ ISM system with the diving contractors’ safety management system;
- and measures to ensure the evacuation of divers all the way to a place of safety.
The draft of the new code will be submitted to MSC 107 (June 2023) for approval.
Validated Model Training Courses
IMO model courses are intended to assist instructors in developing training programmes for seafarers as per the International Convention of Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978. The model courses are subject to regular review to ensure that they are consistent with the current IMO instruments and reflect best practices and modern technologies.
SSE 9 validated the revised model course 3.03, on the survey of machinery installations, and the associated compendium.
Prohibition of PFOS in fire-fighting foams
MSC 106 approved draft amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2 and the HSC Codes (1994 and 2000) to prohibit the use of firefighting foams containing perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) from 1 January 2026. SSE 9 agreed to propose to MSC 107 (June 2023) that the scope of work be expanded to consider prohibiting the use of fire-fighting foams containing fluorinated substances, in addition to PFOS.
Single fall and hook systems with on-load release capabilities
The Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code, paragraph 4.4.7.6.8, provides measures to prevent the accidental release of the fall and hook system during the recovery of lifeboats and rescue boats. Lifeboats and rescue boats with single fall and hook systems are currently exempted from such measures.
SSE9 finalized draft amendments to paragraphs 4.4.7.6.8 and 4.4.7.6.17 of the LSA Code in order to ensure adequate safety standards for lifeboats and rescue boats fitted with single fall and hook systems.
The draft amendments will be submitted to MSC 107 (June 2023) for approval.
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Source: dnv
