On 1st
January 2016 new requirement enter in to force for fixed Inert Gas System,
which require oil & Chemical Tankers of 8,000 DWT and above to
be provided with it.
The new
requirements has been introduced by IMO Resolution MSC.365(93) &
MSC.367(93), as a result of these two new resolution, Resolution 365(93),
adopted on 22/05/14, highlight changes to SOLAS II-2, Regulation 4 (Probability
of Ignition), Chapter 5 (Cargo Areas of Tankers), New Paragraph 5.5.1.2
requiring all tankers of 8000 DWT and above, constructed on or after 01/01/2016
to be provided with an Inert Gas System. This requirement only apply when
loading and transporting cargoes described under SOLAS Chapter II-2, Part A,
Reg 1, Paragraph 6.1 and 6.2 (Oil & petroleum products less than 60 ªC
Flash Point, Products listed under IBCC (Table 17) and product listed in the
GCC. However the requirement for Gas Carriers still can be waived when agreed
with the administration, as per SOLAS II-2/4.5.5.2.
Resolution
367(93) introduce amendments to chapter 15 of the FSS code and include among
others new definitions, the general requirements to be satisfied by the
installation, system components as well as describe the different types of
inert gas sources that can be used to satisfy new SOLAS amendments.
When
considering Insert Gas System in oil & chemical tankers, the administration
can consider other equivalent systems or arrangements, as stated under SOLAS
Ii-2/4.5.5.4. Where an installation equivalent to a fixed IGS is installed:
- be capable of preventing dangerous accumulations
of explosive mixtures in intact cargo tank during normal service
throughout the ballast voyage and necessary in-tank operations and
- be so designed as to minimize the risk of
ignition from the generation of static electricity by the system itself.
