The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) will actively participate in the 11th session of the IMO Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 11), scheduled from 8 to 12 September 2025.
As IMO’s principal technical advisor, IACS continues to support the organization by providing guidance, proposing amendments, and clarifying requirements to enhance the safety of ships using alternative fuels, including hydrogen, LNG, and alcohol-based fuels.
Proposed Amendments and Unified Interpretations
IACS has submitted a series of documents to CCC 11 to ensure clarity and alignment with existing regulations:
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IGF Code amendments: CCC 11/3/1 proposes expanding paragraph 5.7.1 to include “fuel gas vent pipes,” aligning the IGF and IGC Codes.
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Hydrogen safety guidelines: CCC 11/3/13, 3/14, and 3/15 provide comments on the correspondence group report developing interim guidelines for hydrogen-fuelled ships, covering sections 2–20.
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Unified interpretations (UI): CCC 11/9 and 11/9/2 notify UIs regarding gas fuel vent pipes and clarify when a single common flange may be accepted in fuel transfer piping systems.
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IGC Code revisions: CCC 11/9/3 proposes revised interpretations for secondary barrier testing and effectiveness assessment, based on extensive risk assessments and operational experience from 2019–2024.
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Alcohol-fuelled engine safety: CCC 11/15/1 notifies UI GF 21 for fixed fire-extinguishing systems in machinery and fuel preparation spaces where methyl/ethyl alcohol is used as fuel.
Implementation Timelines and Regulatory Compliance
IACS members plan to implement the new unified interpretations as follows:
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Fuel gas vent pipes: Effective 1 July 2026, unless otherwise instructed by flag Administrations.
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Alcohol-fuelled engines: For ships contracted on or after 1 January 2026, subject to flag Administration requirements.
These measures reflect IACS’s ongoing commitment to global safety, ensuring consistent application of technical standards and facilitating compliance by shipowners and flag states.
By actively contributing to CCC 11, IACS continues to strengthen the safety framework for ships using emerging fuels, including hydrogen, LNG, and alcohol-based alternatives. These efforts provide clarity for all stakeholders, promote uniform application of international regulations, and reinforce IMO’s mission to enhance maritime safety, environmental protection, and operational reliability worldwide.
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Source: IACS
