1. New international requirements from the IMO will come into force on January 1st, 2012 regarding cargo vessels, tankers, and passenger ships. 2. Key changes include requirements for emergency towing procedures on cargo vessels, additional oxygen measuring instruments on chemical and oil tankers, gas detection systems on oil tankers, and changes to fire safety standards. 3. The average mass of persons in liferafts will also be increased to better reflect the weight of passengers and crew based on new data.

1. international requirements
coming into force on 1st of January 2012
The table presents the new requirements
adopted by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Convention, Date of entry
№ Regulation Applicable to Subject
Code into force
1 2 3 4 5 6
1. SOLAS II-1/3-4.2 (new 01-01-2012 Cargo vessels, Within this date ships to be
para.2) keel-laid<=31-12-2009, provided with an em ergency
GT >=500. towing procedure. This
Applicable to all vessels procedure may use existing
other than Tankers, which arrangement, equipment and
need an emergency fittings.
towing arrangement as
specified in SOLAS II-1,
Reg 3-4 para. 1
2. SOLAS II-2/1.2.2.6 (new 01-01-2012 All chemical tankers and To be equipped with at least
sub. para. .6) and oil tankers. one portable instrument for
II-2/5.7.1 measuring oxygen in addition
to the one f or measuring
flammable vapour
concentrates. Spares required.
3. SOLAS II-2/4.5.7.2.1 01-01-2012 Chemical tankers and oil Editorial changes underlining
tankers, that this sub- paragraph refers
keel-laid >=01-07-2002 to gas and v apour measuring
in double-hull spaces and
double-bottom spaces.
4. SOLAS II-2/4.5.7.3 (new 01-01-2012 Oil tankers, To be f itted with a f ixed
sub-para..3) keel-laid >=01-01-2012 hydrocarbon gas detection
DWT >=20000. system complying with the
FSS Code for measuring
hydrocarbon gas
concentrations in ballast and
void spaces of double-hull and
double-bottom.
5. FSS Code Ch.10 01-01-2012 Cargo vessels, HSC/ DSC The existing text of Ch.10 is
and passenger vessels, replaced. More detailed
keel-laid >= 01-01-2012 requirements for sample
extraction smoke detection
systems for cargo spaces.
New requirement: The control
panel for the smoke detection
system shall be tested
according to standards
EN 54-2 (1997), EN 54-4
(1997) and IEC 60092-504
(2001). Alternative standards
may be used as deter- mined
by the Administration. New
requirement: After installation,
the system shall be
functionally tested using
smoke generating machines or
equivalent as a smoke source.
An alarm shall be r eceived at
the control unit in not more
than 180 s for vehicle decks,
and not more than 300 s for
container and general cargo
holds, after smoke is
introduced at the most remote
accumulator.
6. FSS Code Ch.16 (new Ch.) 01-01-2012 Oil tankers, New chapter specifying details
keel-laid >=01-01-2012 for fixed hydrocarbon gas
detection systems required by
SOLAS Ch. II-2.

2. Convention, Date of entry
№ Regulation Applicable to Subject
Code into force
1 2 3 4 5 6
7. LSA Code 4.2.2.1, 4.2.3.3 and 01-01-2012 Vessels, Average (design) mass of
4.3.3.3 keel-laid >=01-01-2012 persons in inflatable and r igid
liferafts increased from 75 k g
to 82.5 kg.
8. IMDG Code 01-01-2012 Cargo vessels, HSC/ DSC Minor changes in general
and passenger vessels, throughout the Code:
keel-laid >= 01-01-2012. Technical and editorial
Ships carrying dangerous changes. Major changes:
goods. Ch.1.2: New definitions added.
Ch.3.2: New entries added i n
the Dangerous Goods (DG)
List. Ch.3.3: Special provisions
amended or replaced.
Ch.3.4.5: New marking for DG
in limited quantities and for
packages containing DG
consigned for Air Transport.
Ch.4.1.4: Packing instructions
amended or replaced.
9. IMSBC Code Appendix 1 01-01-2012 All cargo vessels, In Appendix 1, Individual
Voluntary GT >=500 schedules of solid bulk
implementation cargoes, some schedules
date. have been m odified and some
new schedules have been
introduced. The most
important new schedule is
Wood products - general,
classified as a Group B cargo
10. Res. Part 1 & Part 2 01-01-2012 Cargo vessels, HSC/ DSC Changes to reflect that the
MSC.81(70) and passenger vessels, average (design) mass of
keel-laid >= 01-01-2012. persons in inflatable and r igid
Liferafts. liferafts increased from 75 k g
to 82.5 kg.
11. MARPOL Annex VI, Reg.14 01-01-2012 All cargo vessels The sulphur content of any
Sulphur Oxides fuel oil used on boar d ships
(SOx) shall not exceed the following
MEPC.176(58) limits: 3.50% m/m on and after
1 January 2012
12. MARPOL Certification 01-02-2012 All cargo vessels, The Supplement to the IAPP
Format GT >=400 Certificate is to annotated to
(MEPC.194(61)) specify the sulphur content of
bunker used by the ship as
reported in the ship's bunker
delivery notes.
13. MARPOL Annex I/Ch.8 01-04-2012 Oil tankers STS operations conducted
Ship-to-Ship GT >=150 must be i n accordance with
Transfer of Cargo the approved plan. Records of
Oil STS operations shall be
(MEPC.186(59)) recorded in the Oil Record
Book and ar e to be r etained
on board for a per iod of not
less than 3 years since the
transfer occurred
14. SOLAS V/19.2.2.3.2 (new 01-07-2012 Passenger vessels, Bridge navigational watch
sub- para.3.2) First PSSC keel- laid <= 30-06-2011 alarm system (BNWAS)
survey after. required and shall be in
operation whenever the ship is
underway at sea.
15. SOLAS V/19.2.2.3.3 (new 01-07-2012 Cargo vessels, Bridge navigational watch

3. Convention, Date of entry
№ Regulation Applicable to Subject
Code into force
1 2 3 4 5 6
sub- para.3.3) First safety keel-laid<= 30-06-2011 alarm system (BNWAS)
equipment GT >=3000. required and shall be in
survey after. operation whenever the ship is
underway at sea.
16. SOLAS V/19.2.10.1 (new 01-07-2012 Passenger vessels, Electronic Chart Display and
sub- para.10.1) keel- laid >= 01-07-2012, Information System (ECDIS)
GT>= 500. required, i.e. no longer only an
option, it has become
mandatory.
17. SOLAS V/19.2.10.2 (new 01-07-2012 Chemical tankers and oil Electronic Chart Display and
sub- para.10.2) tankers, Information System (ECDIS)
keel-laid >= 01-07-2012, required, i.e. no longer only an
GT >=3000. option, it has become
mandatory.
18. FTP Code 01-07-2012 Cargo vessels, HSC/ DSC Adoption of the 2010 F TP
(2010) and passenger vessels, Code superseding the FTP
keel-laid >= 01-07-2012 Code of 1996 (Res.
MSC.61(67)).
19. SOLAS II-1/41.6 01-07-2012 Passenger vessels, Editorial change to clarify that
keel- laid >= 01-07-2010 emergency lighting in all
cabins on boar d passenger
vessels, as required by the
Dec. 2006 A m., Res.
MSC.216(82), is applicable to
ships constructed on or after
2010-07-01.
20. SOLAS II-2/3.23 01-07-2012 Cargo vessels and Text replaced giving reference
passenger vessels, to the 2010 F TP code as
keel-laid>= 01-07-2012 adopted by resolution
MSC.307(88), i.e. the 2010
FTP Code superseding the
existing FTP Code of 1996.
21. SOLAS II-2/7.4.1.3 01-07-2012 Cargo vessels and A fixed fire detection and f ire
(new sub-para.3) passenger vessels, alarm system also required in
keel-laid>= 01-07-2012 enclosed spaces containing
incinerators.
22. SOLAS V/18.9 01-07-2012 All cargo vessels and The Automatic Identification
(new para.9) passenger vessels. System (AIS) shall be t ested
annually by an appr oved
surveyor or an approved
testing or servicing facility
verifying the functionality of
the AIS as specified in the new
paragraph. A copy of the test
report shall be r etained on
board the ship.
23. SOLAS V/23 01-07-2012 Cargo vessels and Reg. 23 replaced with a new
passenger vessels, text applicable for equipment
keel-laid>= 01-07-2012 and arrangements for pilot
transfer installed on or after 1
July 2012. In the new text the
description of the use of
combination arrangements
(i.e. accommodation ladder in
conjunction with pilot ladder) is
more extensive, and the use of
mechanical hoist is
abandoned. Certification of
pilot ladders by manufacturer

4. Convention, Date of entry
№ Regulation Applicable to Subject
Code into force
1 2 3 4 5 6
introduced together with
requirement for inspection at
annual /periodical surveys,
identification and r ecord
keeping. Footnotes are also
changed, giving references to
MSC.1/ Circ's and ISO
799:2004 amongst others.
24. SOLAS V/23.1.6 & V/23.6 01-07-2012 Cargo vessels and Mechanical pilot hoist shall no
passenger vessels, longer be used.
keel-laid<= 30-06-2012
25. FSS Code Ch. 9 01-07-2012 Cargo vessels, HSC/ DSC The existing text of Ch. 9
and passenger vessels, (Fixed fire detection and alarm
keel-laid >= 01-07-2012 systems) is replaced. The
main concept of the fire
detection requirements i s not
changed, however, several
clarifications and
interpretations have now been
implemented as part of the
FSS Code. Highlighted here
are: Approval standards for
essential components such as
control panels, detectors,
manual call points, and cables
have been def ined;
clarification of which other fire
safety systems (previously
only fire doors) may receive
output signals from the fire
detection system; acceptable
arrangements for power
supply have been def ined
including required capacity in
case back-up power is
provided from batteries;
protection of staircases have
been clarified (detector at top
level and ev ery second level
below); and ac ceptable
temporary disconnection of
detectors for particular spaces.
26. FSS Code Ch. 9, para. 01-07-2012 Passenger vessels, Detectors and manual call
2.1.7 keel- laid >= 01-07-2012 points shall be r emotely and
individually identifiable.
27. SOLAS V/23.1.5 & V/23.5 01-07-2012 Cargo vessels and Shipside doors used for pilot
First survey passenger vessels, transfer shall not open
after. keel-laid<= 31-12-1993 outwards.