Overview

A growing offshore renewable energy sector (e.g. wind farms) has increased demand for ships which may combine transportation and accommodation of industrial personnel working offshore.

There are currently no international regulations for cargo ships carrying more than 12 personnel who are not engaged on board. Today, ships carrying more than 12 persons, not engaged on board, would be considered passenger ships under the SOLAS Convention. The non-mandatory SPS Code has, however, frequently been accepted by flag administrations for such vessels, instead of full passenger ship compliance, although the SPS Code is explicitly not intended to enable carrying persons not working on board. Furthermore, the SPS Code is not accepted by all flag administrations. These regulatory gaps have resulted in inconsistent application of requirements by the various flag administrations, and a confusing compliance regime for shipowners and operators.

The IMO has developed the draft of a new SOLAS Chapter XV and a related mandatory draft of the new IP Code for the carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel on cargo ships and high-speed cargo craft. The IP Code will intentionally fill and clarify the regulatory gap between SOLAS cargo ships and SOLAS passenger ships.

The information on these pages is based on the approved draft text and may be subject to modification pending final adoption at the IMO.

Milestones

The new draft of SOLAS Chapter XV and the draft IP Code were approved in April 2022, and are expected to be finally adopted in November 2022, entering into force on 1 July 2024.

All ships to which the IP Code applies shall (prior to the carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel on board) have on board an Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate, from the entry-into- force date.

Please read more about the applicability and implications for Existing ships and New ships using these links, or use the menu at the top or bottom of this page for the same topics.