International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP Code)

In association with the new SOLAS Chapter XV, the Maritime Safety Committee also adopted Resolution MSC.527(106) containing the International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel, or IP Code. For ships which are subject to SOLAS Chapter XV, this chapter requires application of the IP Code to supplement existing IMO instruments (SOLAS or HSC Code) and address the additional transport and personnel transfer risks connected to industrial personnel.

Structure of the IP Code:

The scope of the IP Code is organized into five main parts:

(*) Parts III, IV, and V are prescriptive requirements for Ships/Craft. Vessels fully complying with these regulations are considered as meeting the Goals and Functional Requirements in Part II.

Goal-Based Approach

The scope of the IP Code includes goals and functional requirements for nine specific aspects of ship design and operation, with each oriented to address specific hazards that may be encountered during the transport and transfer of industrial personnel:

1. Industrial personnel 
2. Safe transfer of personnel
3. Subdivision and stability
4. Machinery installations
5. Electrical installations
6. Periodically unattended machinery spaces
7. Fire safety
8. Life-saving appliances and arrangements
9. Dangerous goods

The reliance upon a goal-based approach for the IP Code serves to provide an achievable and verifiable standard irrespective of ship design and technology while also being specific enough to avoid differing opinions on these standards.

New Ships

For newbuilding cargo ships and high-speed cargo crafts of 500 gross tonnage and above constructed on or after 1 July 2024 which are engaged in international voyages and will carry an aggregate number of industrial personnel, special personnel and passengers exceeding 12 persons, such ships must plan for compliance with SOLAS Chapter XV and the IP Code. Compliance will be documented by issuance of an Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate and accompanying Record of Equipment (Form IP) to be kept available onboard the ship.

Existing Ships

For existing ships that have been authorized by their flag administration to carry industrial personnel before the entry into force of the IP Code on 1 July 2024, a grace period will be given before selected regulations in the IP Code enter into force for these ships. Existing ships may continue to carry industrial personnel if the following provisions have been met:

• Prior to 1 July 2024, the ship has been authorized by the Administration to carry more than 12 industrial personnel based on the recommendations given in the Interim Recommendations On The Safe Carriage Of More Than 12 Industrial Personnel On Board Vessels Engaged On International Voyages (Resolution MSC.418(97))

• Existing cargo ships constructed before 1 July 2024 shall comply with regulations III/1, III/2 (except for paragraph 2.1.7), IV/7 and IV/8 of the IP Code by the first intermediate or renewal survey, whichever occurs first, after 1 July 2024.

• Existing high-speed cargo craft constructed before 1 July 2024 shall comply with regulations III/1, III/2 (except for paragraph 2.1.7), V/7 and V/8 of the IP Code by the third periodical or first renewal survey, whichever occurs first, after 1 July 2024.

Compliance will be documented by issuance of an Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate and accompanying Record of Equipment (Form IP) to be kept available onboard the ship.

For existing ships that have not been authorized by their flag administration to carry industrial personnel before the entry into force of the IP Code on 1 July 2024, such ships will have to comply with the complete IP Code before being able to carry more than 12 Industrial Personnel after 1 July 2024. To obtain an Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate these ships are to be certified for compliance with the entire IP Code.

Owners will need to take action to so that existing ships will be able to continue to carry Industrial Personnel once the IP Code enters into force. Shipowners already carrying industrial personnel should contact the relevant flag administration to obtain formal confirmation on whether their vessels are considered covered by the grace period provisions, or if any actions are required to obtain IP Code certification.

Non-Convention Ships

SOLAS Chapter XV and the IP Code apply to ships of 500 gross tonnage and upwards. Ships below 500 gross tonnage may also be designed to carry an aggregated number of passengers, special personnel and industrial personnel in excess of 12. In such cases, the Administration may apply the goals and functional requirements of the Code as far as practicable. If such ships are in compliance with the IP Code, Administrations may consider issuing an Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate for a ship carrying more than 12 industrial personnel, as long as all relaxations are indicated in this certificate.

What is the difference between industrial personnel and special personnel?

Industrial personnel are any persons who are transported or accommodated on board for the purpose of offshore industrial activities performed on board other ships and/or offshore facilities. [IP Code reg. III/ 2.4]

On the other hand, special personnel are considered persons who are not passengers or members of the crew or children under one year of age and who are carried on board in connection with the special purpose of that ship or because of special work being carried out aboard that ship. [SPS Code reg. 1.3.11]

What distinguishes the IP Code from the SPS Code?

For cargo ships, the IP Code is largely based on the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships (2008 SPS Code), with a few additions and alterations. For high-speed craft, the IP Code is based on the IMO HSC Code.

The IP Code is made mandatory through the new Chapter XV in the SOLAS Convention. The key difference between industrial personnel and special personnel is:

• Special personnel work on board the ship in connection with the “special purpose” of the ship or because of special work being carried out on board the ship

• Industrial personnel are merely transported by or accommodated on the ship and do not work on board the ship

Existing SPS Code ships are particularly impacted by the aggregation of passengers, special personnel and industrial personnel in the IP Code.

If a ship complies with the non-mandatory Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships (2008 SPS Code), the requirements may not be sufficient to address all personnel transfer risks, and the IP Code comes into force requiring the Industrial Personnel Safety certificate, when:

• More than 12 persons are either carried on board solely for the transport and/or accommodation in order to be transferred over to another installation or vessel where they will work, or

• If only one Industrial Personnel is carried and the sum of industrial personnel, special personnel and passengers is more than 12

What is the requirements comparison between the IP and SPS Codes

The IP Code has more requirements than SPS Code for the same number of persons carried onboard. These requirements relate to personnel transfer risks from design, operational and training perspectives.

Will an IP Code certificate be enough to transport special personnel on board the ship?

The new IP Code is designed to facilitate the transportation of industrial personnel. In the new SOLAS Chapter XV and the IP Code, the aggregate number of industrial personnel, special personnel and passengers on board shall be considered, with the passenger count not exceeding 12.

Here are examples of combinations for SOLAS ships carrying industrial personnel, special personnel and passengers and the expected compliance to the applicable codes.

For case No. 1 with 13 industrial personnel on board, the IP Code will be applicable.

For case No. 2, with no industrial personnel on board but with 13 special personnel on board, the SPS Code will be applicable.

For case No. 3 with one industrial personnel and 12 special personnel on board, the IP Code will be applicable. Where the number of industrial personnel is referred to under IP Code, the aggregate number of industrial personnel, special personnel and passengers are to be considered, which in this case will be 13 in aggregate.

Similarly, for case No. 4, there is only one industrial personnel, but the aggregate number exceeds 12.

For case Nos. 7 and 8, the ships are carrying more than 12 passengers; therefore, they are required to comply with SOLAS passenger ship requirement.

For case Nos. 9 and 10, the ship carries more than 12 passengers and there are at least one industrial personnel. The ship will need to comply with SOLAS passenger ship requirement as minimum. Carriage of industrial personnel, if accepted, is subject to further instruction by flag Administration.

Will ships occasionally transporting more than 12 industrial personnel need both an SPS Code certificate and an IP Code certificate?

Following the implementation of SOLAS Chapter XV and the IP Code, any ship carrying more than 12 industrial personnel internationally must possess an IP Code certificate. Therefore, holding an SPS certificate alone is insufficient, as it fails to meet the requirements of SOLAS Chapter XV.

It is recommended to contact the relevant flag Administration.

Could ships that are certified according to the 2008 SPS Code qualify for an IP Code certificate under the grandfather provisions?

For existing ships that already carry more than 12 industrial personnel, flag Administrations may allow the continued accommodation of industrial personnel based on 2008 SPS Code or other equivalent standards that provide an equivalent level of safety, subject to approval by the administration as per Resolution MSC.418(97).

Will wind turbine installation vessels need to possess an IP Code certificate for installation?

All vessels transporting more than 12 industrial personnel on international voyages are required to hold an IP Code certificate. While the voluntary adoption of the new SOLAS Chapter XV in domestic waters is promoted, its implementation remains at the discretion of the relevant administration. In the case where a wind turbine installation vessel operates on international voyages, carries more than a combined total of 12 industrial personnel, special personnel and passengers, and exceeds 500 GT, it is to have an IP Code certificate.

When shall the Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate be issued?

Every ship to which this code applies shall have on board a valid Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate.

The Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate shall be issued after an initial or renewal survey to a ship which complies with the requirements of the IP Code either by the Administration or by an organization recognized by it in accordance with SOLAS regulation XI-1/1.

The Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate validity, survey dates and endorsements shall be harmonized with the relevant SOLAS certificates in accordance with the provisions of SOLAS regulation I/14 or SOLAS regulation X/3.2. The certificate shall include a supplement recording equipment required by the IP Code.

When developing the appropriate design, which considerations should be given to transfer arrangements?

In order to meet the functional requirement in paragraph II/2.2.2, personnel transfer arrangements shall be designed, constructed, tested and installed in accordance with standards acceptable to the Administration or the requirements of a classification society recognized by the Administration in accordance with the provisions of SOLAS regulation XI-1/1.

What are the relevant references?

More information can be found on the following:

ABS:

• ABS Rules for Building and Classing Marine Vessels, specifically Part 5D

• ABS Guide for Certification of Lifting Appliances

• ABS Guide for Certification of Offshore Access Gangways

• ABS Regulatory News, No. 07/2023 Safe Carriage of Industrial Personnel

• ABS Rules for Building and Classing High Speed Craft - Part 5, Specialized Craft and Services

Other References:

• IMO Res. MSC.521(106) – SOLAS Amendments containing new Chapter XV

• IMO Res. MSC.527(106) – IP Code

• IMO Res. MSC.418(97) – Interim Recommendations on the Safe Carriage of more than 12 IP on board Vessels engaged on International Voyages

• IMO Res. MSC.266(84) – SPS Code

• MSC-MEPC.7/Circ. 10 – Guidance on Safety when Transferring Persons at Sea

• IMCA SEL 025, IMCA M202 Guidance on the Transfer of Personnel to/from Offshore Vessels and Structures

• EN 13852-1:2013 – Cranes – Offshore Cranes – Part 1 General-Purpose Offshore Cranes