Mobile and immobile floating units
Clasification Society 2024 - Version 9.40
Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC/Circular.1097 – Guidance Relating to the Implementation of SOLAS chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code – (Adopted on 6 June 2003) - Annex - Guidance Relating to the Implementation of SOLAS chapter XI-2 and the ISPS Code - Mobile and immobile floating units

Mobile and immobile floating units

  2 Paragraphs 3.1.1.1 to .3 of part A of the ISPS Code specify the vessels and mobile offshore drilling units subject to SOLAS chapter XI-2 and ISPS Code requirements. Advice was sought on the position of floating production, storage and offloading units (FPSOs), floating storage units (FSUs) and single buoy moorings (SBMs).

  3 The Committee agreed that neither of the two types of floating production, storage and offloading units (FPSOs) and floating storage units (FSUs), were ships subject to the provisions of the ISPS Code, but that they should have some security procedures in place to prevent “contamination” of ships and port facilities subject to the ISPS Code.

  4 It was concluded that such units, when attached to a fixed platform, should be covered by the security regime in force for the platform.

  5 Such units, when engaged in periodic short voyages between the platform and the coastal State, should not be considered to be ships engaged on international voyages.

  6 The Committee also agreed that single buoy moorings (SBMs), attached to an offshore facility would be covered by that facility's security regime and if it was connected to a port facility it would be covered by the port facility security plan (PFSP).

  7 In all cases the intention was to provide sufficient security to maintain the integrity of ships and port facilities covered by SOLAS and the ISPS Code.


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