The 106th session of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 106) was held in London, UK, from 2 to 11 November. MSC 106 adopted a new SOLAS Chapter XV on safety measures for ships carrying industrial personnel (IP) along with a related mandatory IP Code, and progressed the development of the draft of a new international code of safety for autonomous ships. Requirements to permit LNG tanks constructed from high manganese steel were adopted, and new safety guidelines for lifting appliances and anchor handling winches were approved. Amendments to mandatory instruments Industrial personnel A growing offshore renewable energy sector (e.g. wind farms) has triggered the need for a unified application of requirements to vessels that transport and accommodate industrial personnel working offshore. MSC 106 adopted a new SOLAS Chapter XV and a related new mandatory international code of safety for ships carrying industrial personnel (IP Code). Industrial personnel are defined as persons who are on board for the purpose of offshore industrial activities performed on board other ships and/or offshore facilities. The new regulations are applicable to new and existing cargo ships, and to high-speed cargo craft, which: -are of 500 gross tonnage and over, -operate on international voyages, and -carry more than a total of 12 industrial personnel, special personnel and passengers combined. The new IP Code is based on the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships (2008 SPS Code), but with adaptations and provisions for the training of industrial personnel, the safe transfer of personnel and the carriage of dangerous goods. The carriage of toxic products, low-flashpoint products, and acids as cargo are not allowed on ships having more than 60 persons on board. Grandfather provisions will allow existing vessels already authorized to carry industrial personnel to obtain certification by complying with parts of the IP Code, i.e. the provisions for training, safe personnel transfer, life-saving appliances and the carriage of dangerous goods. The new regulations will enter into force on 1 July 2024. Safety of ships relating to the use of fuel oil Low-flashpoint fuels are attractive from an environmental perspective due to their clean burning characteristics and low sulphur content. MSC 106 adopted amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2, Regulations 3 and 4, requiring new and existing ships carrying oil fuel to be provided with a bunker delivery note, prior to bunkering, stating that the flashpoint of the actual fuel batch is in conformity with the flashpoint requirements of SOLAS. The amendments further request contracting governments to inform the IMO of cases where oil fuel suppliers have delivered fuels that do not meet the SOLAS flashpoint requirements, and to take appropriate action against oil fuel suppliers accordingly. The amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2026. Metallic materials for cryogenic service MSC 106 adopted amendments to the IGC and IGF Codes to include high manganese austenitic (hi-Mn) steel for cryogenic service. The amendments permit the use of high manganese austenitic steel for type A, B and C tanks, for among others butane and methane (LNG) as cargo or fuel. The amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2026. Enhance survey programme (ESP) MSC 106 adopted amendments to the 2011 ESP Code to enhance the consistent implementation of survey requirements. The main amendments are summarized below: -Ballast tanks to be examined annually if the protective coating condition is found to be “less than GOOD”. -Double-skin void spaces bounding cargo holds in bulk carriers exceeding 20 years of age and 150 m in length to be examined annually if the protective coating is found to be “POOR”. -New requirements to the annual survey of double-skin void spaces, when required, for bulk carriers exceeding 20 years of age and 150 m in length. Oil tankers -Amended definition of oil tankers to clarify that the ESP Code does not apply to oil tankers carrying oil in independent tanks which are not part of ship’s hull (e.g. asphalt carriers). -Pressure testing requirements on double and single-hull oil tankers were editorially amended The amendments will enter into force on 1 July 2024. Watertight doors on cargo ships MSC 106 adopted amendments to the IBC Code, completing the harmonization of consideration of watertight doors in damage stability calculations across MARPOL Annex I, the Load Line Convention, the IBC Code and the IGC Code with those in SOLAS. The inconsistencies were related to the type of watertight doors (sliding, hinged), to the technical/operational requirements and to the terminology for the frequency of use of watertight doors. The amendments will not have any impact on existing ships. The amendments will enter into force on 1 July 2024. Communication equipment in life-saving appliances MSC 105 adopted amendments to relocate the provisions for communication equipment in life-saving appliances from SOLAS Chapter III to Chapter IV. MSC 106 adopted consequential draft amendments to the 1978 SOLAS Protocol remove the reference to radio installations used in life-saving appliances in the Form of Safety Equipment Certificate for Cargo Ships. The amendments will enter into force on 1 January 2026.