1.1 SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-6, Section 1
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1464/Rev.1 - Unified Interpretations of SOLAS Chapters II-1 and XII, of the Technical Provisions for Means of Access for Inspections (Resolution MSC.158(78)) and of the Performance Standards - Annex - 1 SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-6 – Access to and Within Spaces in, and forward of, the Cargo Area of Oil Tankers and Bulk Carriers - 1.1 SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-6, Section 1

1.1 SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-6, Section 1

Parent topic: 1 SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-6 – Access to and Within Spaces in, and forward of, the Cargo Area of Oil Tankers and Bulk Carriers

Interpretation

  Oil tankers

 This regulation is only applicable to oil tankers having integral tanks for carriage of oil in bulk, which is contained in the definition of oil in Annex I of MARPOL. Independent oil tanks can be excluded. Regulation II-1/3-6 should not normally be applied to FPSO or FSO unless the Administration decides otherwise.

Technical background

 Means of Access (MA) specified in the Technical provisions contained in resolution MSC.158(78) are not specific with respect to the application to integral cargo oil tanks or also to independent cargo oil tanks. ESP requirements of oil tankers have been established assuming the target cargo oil tanks are integral tanks. The MA regulated under SOLAS regulation II-1/3-6 is for overall and close-up inspections as defined in regulation IX/1. Therefore it is assumed that the target cargo oil tanks are those of ESP, i.e. integral cargo tanks. Regulation II-1/3-6 is applicable to new, purpose-built FPSO or FSU if they are subject to the scope of the ESP Code (resolution A.1049(27), as amended). Considering that the principles of the Technical provisions for means of access for inspections (resolution MSC.158(78)) recognize that permanent means of access should be considered and provided for at the design stage so that, to the maximum extent possible, they can be made an integral part of the designed structural arrangement, regulation II-1/3-6 is not considered applicable to an FPSO/FSU that is converted from an existing tanker.

Reference

 SOLAS regulation IX/1 and 2011 ESP Code, as amended.

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