As already advised in ClassNK Technical Information No.TEC-1024, IMO Resolution MSC.380(94) was adopted in its ninety-fourth session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC94) held on November 2014, and mandatory requirement for portable atmosphere testing instruments for enclosed spaces was newly added to SOLAS Chapter XI-1 Regulation 7.
With regard to the said requirements, please be informed as follows.

1. Application
All ships of not less than 500 gross tonnage engaged on international voyages (except steel barges, submersibles)

2. Carriage requirements of appropriate portable atmosphere testing instruments
(1) An appropriate portable atmosphere testing instrument or instruments for enclosed spaces is to be provided on board on or after 1 July 2016.
(2) As a minimum, these are to be capable of measuring concentrations of oxygen, flammable gases or vapours, hydrogen sulphide and carbon monoxide prior to entry into enclosed spaces.
(3) Suitable means are to be provided for the calibration of all such instruments.
(4) For Japanese flag ships, an appropriate portable atmosphere testing instrument or instruments according to following (i) or (ii) are to be provided on board on or after 1 July 2016.
This requirement need not be applied to those ships for which the date of contract for construction or the date on which keel was laid is before 1 July 2016 and which have been provided with an appropriate portable atmosphere testing instrument or instruments on board by the delivery date.
(i) Portable atmosphere testing instrument or instruments which have been certified in accordance with the Ship Safety Act (Article 6, Paragraph 3, prototype approvals) or (Article 6.4, Paragraph 1, type-approved), or;
(ii) Portable atmosphere testing instrument or instruments which have been certified by Nippon Hakuyohin Kentei Kyokai (HK)

3. Inspection of confirmation
Compliance with the above requirements will be verified by ClassNK surveyors at surveys according to the Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificates on or after 1 July 2016.

(To be continued)