1 The purpose of this Codefootnote is to provide an international standard for the safe carriage by sea
in bulk of liquefied gases and certain other substances listed in chapter 19 of the Code, by prescribing the design and
construction standards of ships involved in such carriage and the equipment they should
carry so as to minimize the risk to the ship, to its crew and to the environment, having
regard to the nature of the products involved.
2 The basic philosophy is one
of ship types related to the hazards of the products covered by the
Code. Each of the products may have one or more hazard properties
which include flammability, toxicity, corrosivity and reactivity.
A further possible hazard may arise due to the products being transported
under cryogenic or pressure conditions.
3 Severe collisions or strandings
could lead to cargo tank damage and result in uncontrolled release
of the product. Such release could result in evaporation and dispersion
of the product and, in some cases, could cause brittle fracture of
the ship's hull. The requirements in the Code are intended to minimize
this risk as far as is practicable, based upon present knowledge and
technology.
4 Throughout the development
of the Code it was recognized that it must be based upon sound naval
architectural and engineering principles and the best understanding
available as to the hazards of the various products covered; furthermore
that gas carrier design technology is not only a complex technology
but is rapidly evolving and that the Code should not remain static.
Therefore the Organization will periodically review the Code taking
into account both experience and future development.
5 Requirements for new products
and their conditions of carriage will be circulated as recommendations,
on an interim basis, when adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee
of the Organization, prior to the entry into force of the appropriate
amendments, under the terms of article VIII of the International Convention
for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974.
6 The Code primarily deals with
ship design and equipment. In order to ensure the safe transport of
the products the total system must, however, be appraised. Other important
facets of the safe transport of the products, such as training, operation,
traffic control and handling in port, are being or will be examined
further by the Organization.
7 The development of the Code has been greatly assisted by
the work of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) and full
account has been taken of the IACS Unified Requirements for Liquefied Gas Tankers in
chapters 4, 5 and 6.
8 The relevant work of the International
Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), has contributed substantially to
the development of chapter 10.
9
Chapter 18 of the Code dealing with operation of liquefied gas
carriers highlights the regulations in other chapters that are operational in nature and
mentions those other important safety features that are peculiar to gas carrier
operation.
10 The layout of the Code is
in line with the International Code for the Construction and Equipment
of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code) adopted by
the Maritime Safety Committee at its forty-eighth session.