Part B Prevention of Fire and Explosion
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Resolutions - Maritime Safety Committee - Resolution MSC.365(93) – Amendments to the International Convention For the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended – (Adopted on 22 May 2014) - Annex – Amendments to the International Convention For the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended - Chapter II-2Construction – Protection, Fire Detection and Fire Extinction - Part BPrevention of Fire and Explosion

Part B Prevention of Fire and Explosion

 These amendments have been consolidated into SOLAS Chapter II-2 Part B

  Regulation 4 – Probability of ignition

  5 Paragraph 5.5 is replaced with the following:

  "5.5 Inert gas systems

  5.5.1 Application

  5.5.1.1 For tankers of 20,000 tonnes deadweight and upwards constructed on or after 1 July 2002 but before 1 January 2016, the protection of the cargo tanks shall be achieved by a fixed inert gas system in accordance with the requirements of the Fire Safety Systems Code, as adopted by resolution MSC.98(73), except that the Administration may accept other equivalent systems or arrangements, as described in paragraph 5.5.4.

  5.5.1.2 For tankers of 8,000 tonnes deadweight and upwards constructed on or after 1 January 2016 when carrying cargoes described in regulation 1.6.1 or 1.6.2, the protection of the cargo tanks shall be achieved by a fixed inert gas system in accordance with the requirements of the Fire Safety Systems Code, except that the Administration may accept other equivalent systems or arrangements, as described in paragraph 5.5.4.

  5.5.1.3 Tankers operating with a cargo tank cleaning procedure using crude oil washing shall be fitted with an inert gas system complying with the Fire Safety Systems Code and with fixed tank washing machines. However, inert gas systems fitted on tankers constructed on or after 1 July 2002 but before 1 January 2016 shall comply with the Fire Safety Systems Code, as adopted by resolution MSC.98(73).

  5.5.1.4 Tankers required to be fitted with inert gas systems shall comply with the following provisions:

  • .1 double-hull spaces shall be fitted with suitable connections for the supply of inert gas;

  • .2 where hull spaces are connected to a permanently fitted inert gas distribution system, means shall be provided to prevent hydrocarbon gases from the cargo tanks entering the double hull spaces through the system; and

  • .3 where such spaces are not permanently connected to an inert gas distribution system, appropriate means shall be provided to allow connection to the inert gas main.

  5.5.2 Inert gas systems of chemical tankers and gas carriers

  5.5.2.1 The requirements for inert gas systems contained in the Fire Safety Systems Code need not be applied to chemical tankers constructed before 1 January 2016, including those constructed before 1 July 2012, and all gas carriers:

  • .1 when carrying cargoes described in regulation 1.6.1, provided that they comply with the requirements for inert gas systems on chemical tankers established by the Administration, based on the guidelines developed by the Organizationfootnote; or

  • .2 when carrying flammable cargoes other than crude oil or petroleum products such as cargoes listed in chapters 17 and 18 of the International Bulk Chemical Code, provided that the capacity of tanks used for their carriage does not exceed 3,000 m3 and the individual nozzle capacities of tank washing machines do not exceed 17.5 m3/h and the total combined throughput from the number of machines in use in a cargo tank at any one time does not exceed 110 m3/h.

  5.5.3 General requirements for inert gas systems

  5.5.3.1 The inert gas system shall be capable of inerting, purging and gas-freeing empty tanks and maintaining the atmosphere in cargo tanks with the required oxygen content.

  5.5.3.2 Tankers fitted with a fixed inert gas system shall be provided with a closed ullage system.

  5.5.4 Requirements for equivalent systems

  5.5.4.1 The Administration may, after having given consideration to the ship's arrangement and equipment, accept other fixed installations, in accordance with regulation I/5 and paragraph 5.5.4.3.

  5.5.4.2 For tankers of 8,000 tonnes deadweight and upwards but less than 20,000 tonnes deadweight constructed on or after 1 January 2016, in lieu of fixed installations as required by paragraph 5.5.4.1, the Administration may accept other equivalent arrangements or means of protection in accordance with regulation I/5 and paragraph 5.5.4.3.

  5.5.4.3 Equivalent systems or arrangements shall:

  • .1 be capable of preventing dangerous accumulations of explosive mixtures in intact cargo tanks during normal service throughout the ballast voyage and necessary in-tank operations; and

  • .1 be so designed as to minimize the risk of ignition from the generation of static electricity by the system itself.”

Parent topic: Chapter II-2 Construction – Protection, Fire Detection and Fire Extinction
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