In relation to the amendments to cargo venting system under SOLAS 74/ Chapter II-2, Reg.59 which were effective on 1 July 1998, as informed by NK Technical Information No.305 dated 7 April 1999, IMO basically agreed that combined oil/chemical tankers would comply with the relevant requirements of IBC/BCH Codes as a chemical tanker and would consequently make interpretation of the application based on this agreement. At IMO MSC and IMO MEPC recently held, the interpretation was decided and formally approved. See the attachment 1.

By this interpretation, combined oil/chemical tankers may not comply with the amendments to cargo venting system under SOLAS 74, where they comply with the relevant requirements of controlled cargo venting system under IBC Code Chapter 8/ BCH Code Chapter II, Part E. Meanwhile, IMO is going to amend IBC/BCH codes so that the similar requirements to cargo venting system under SOLAS 74 should apply to chemical tankers including combined oil/chemical tankers on or after 1 July 2002. See the attachment 2.

According to this IMO's decision, this Society accepts that for combined oil/chemical tankers which are provided with cargo venting system complying with the requirements of controlled cargo venting system under IBC/BCH codes, the amendments to cargo venting system under SOLAS 74 should not apply to them and consequently that their present system may be used as it is until the relevant amendments to IBC/BCH codes become effective.

If you have any questions, please contact the Survey Department (Tel: 03-5226-2027, Fax: 03-5226-2029).

Attachment:
1. MSC 71/11 "DRAFT MSC/MEPC CIRCULAR"
2. MSC 70/23/Add.2 "PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL BULK CHEMICAL CODE
(IBC CODE)" and "PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE BULK CHEMICAL (BCH CODE)"