The draft International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code) together with the proposed amendments to make the code mandatory under SOLAS have been approved at the inaugural meeting of the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC 1). The draft amendments include a new Part G in SOLAS chapter II-1 (Construction – Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations), which is related to ships using low-flashpoint fuels, requiring such ships to comply with the IGF Code and related amendments to SOLAS chapter II-2 (Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction), covering to the use of fuel with a low flashpoint. Further draft amendments will update the form of safety certificates to include reference to the new Part G.

In a nutshell, the IGF Code will provide mandatory provisions for the arrangement, installation, control and monitoring of machinery, equipment and systems using low flashpoint fuels such as LNG. It will also apply to new and existing ships converting to the use of LNG, but not to cargo ships of less than 500 gross tonnes. Read More