Dear SYBAss member,
The 109th session of the Maritime Safety Committee took place in London from 2 to 6 December 2024. I attended the entire Committee to represent SYBAss and have summarised the meeting highlights below.
- Amendments to the International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or other Low flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code). The IGF Code is reviewed regularly, and the amendments incorporate a number of consolidations and additional new provisions based on industry experience.
- Approval of an MSC circular on voluntary early implementation of the amendments to Chapter 16 of the IGF Code and an MSC circular on Interim guidelines for the safety of ships using ammonia as fuel.
- Development of the non-mandatory goal-based MASS Code, with a target for finalisation and adoption of MSC 111 (May 2026)
- With regards to items related to the safe decarbonisation of shipping MSC:
- Updating of the list of alternative fuels and new technologies
- Inclusion of a new category for “swappable traction lithium-ion battery containers” to the list of new technologies
- Approval of draft amendments to SOLAS in relation to the application of the IGF Code to allow gaseous fuels to be within its scope to include ammonia as fuel
The following notes are a more detailed summary of the relevant topics and outcomes discussed. Please note that the presented information reflects the status at the time of MSC 109 and may change as a result of ongoing developments. It is also uncertain at this time whether the mentioned amendments or new regulations will eventually be adopted in future versions of the Red Ensign Group Yacht Codes or other flag codes.
Best regards
Lorenzo Pollicardo
Technical & Environmental Director