SOLAS - International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea

Chapter XV: Safety Measures for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel

For the purpose of this chapter:

Industrial personnel (IP) means all persons transported or accommodated on board for the purpose of offshore industrial activities performed on board other ships and/or offshore facilities.
IP Code means the International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel, as adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC.527(106), as may be amended, provided that such amendments are adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the provisions of article VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures applicable to the annex other than chapter I.
Offshore industrial activities mean the construction, maintenance, decommissioning, operation or servicing of offshore facilities related, but not limited to, exploration and exploitation of resources by the renewable or hydrocarbon energy sectors, aquaculture, ocean mining or similar activities.
HSC Code means the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft, 2000, adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee by resolution MSC.97(73), as may be amended, provided that such amendments are adopted, brought into force and take effect in accordance with the provisions of article VIII of the present Convention concerning the amendment procedures applicable to the annex other than chapter I. (Added by Res.MSC.521(106))

Wherever in the IP Code a reference is made to passenger ship requirements, the corresponding cargo ship requirements are deemed to be complied with.
For the purpose of this chapter, industrial personnel shall not be treated or considered as passengers.
Wherever in this chapter, or in the IP Code, the number of industrial personnel appears as a parameter, it shall be the aggregate number of industrial personnel, special personnel, and passengers carried on board, where the number of passengers shall not exceed 12. (Refer to the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships, 2008).
For high-speed craft to which chapter X applies, and notwithstanding the provisions of chapters 2 to 12 and 18 of the HSC Code, a ship certified in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and the IP Code shall be deemed to have complied with the requirements of chapters 2 to 12 and 18 of the HSC Code. (Added by Res.MSC.521(106))

Unless expressly provided otherwise, this chapter applies to cargo ships and high-speed cargo craft, of 500 gross tonnage and upwards, constructed on or after 1 July 2024, which carry more than 12 industrial personnel.
Cargo ships constructed before 1 July 2024, authorized by the Administration to carry more than 12 industrial personnel in accordance with the recommendations developed by the Organization, shall comply with regulations III/1, III/2 (except for paragraph 2.1.7), IV/7, and IV/8 of the IP Code by the first intermediate or renewal survey, whichever occurs first, after 1 July 2024.
High-speed cargo craft constructed before 1 July 2024, authorized by the Administration to carry more than 12 industrial personnel in accordance with the recommendations developed by the Organization, shall comply with regulations III/1, III/2 (except for paragraph 2.1.7), V/7, and V/8 of the IP Code by the third periodical or first renewal survey, whichever occurs first, after 1 July 2024.
Cargo ships and high-speed cargo craft, irrespective of date of construction, which prior to 1 July 2024 have not been authorized by the Administration to carry more than 12 industrial personnel based on the recommendations developed by the Organization, shall comply and be certified in accordance with this chapter and the IP Code prior to the carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel on board.

The regulations for cargo ships contained in the other chapters of the present Convention apply to ships described in regulation 3.1 above, except as modified by this chapter.
For high-speed craft to which the HSC Code applies, the regulations for cargo craft in that Code apply except as modified by this chapter. (Added by Res.MSC.521(106))

Ships and high-speed craft to which this chapter applies shall:
- Be certified as a cargo ship or high-speed cargo craft in accordance with either chapter I, chapter VIII, or chapter X, as applicable;
- Meet the requirements of the IP Code; and
- In addition to the requirements of regulations I/8, I/9, and I/10 or of sections 1.5 to 1.9 of the HSC Code, as applicable, be surveyed and certified, as provided for in the IP Code.
Ships and high-speed craft to which this chapter applies, holding a certificate issued pursuant to the provisions of regulation 5.1 above, shall be subject to the control established in regulation I/19 or XI-1/4, and in 1.10 of the HSC Code, as applicable. For this purpose, such certificates shall be treated as a certificate issued under regulation I/12 or I/13. (Added by Res.MSC.521(106))