Ref.T5/1.01 MSC/Circ.929
MEPC/Circ.362
26July1999
Interpretationofparagraph8.1.5oftheIBCCodeandpartEof chapterIIoftheBCHCode
1 TheMaritimeSafetyCommittee,atitsseventiethsession(7to11December1998),notingtheMarine EnvironmentProtectionCommittee'sconcurrentdecisionatitsforty-secondsession,agreedwiththeSub- Committee'sviewthattherelevantprovisionsforcargo-tankventingcontainedinchapter8oftheIBCCode, ratherthantherequirementsofSOLASregulationII-2/59,shouldapplytocombinedchemical/oiltankers.
2 HavingconsideredtheviewoftheSub-CommitteeonBulkLiquidsandGases,atitsfourthsession, theMaritimeSafetyCommitteeatitsseventy-firstsession(19to28May1999)andtheMarineEnvironment ProtectionCommitteeatitsforty-thirdsession(28Juneto2July1999)approvedthefollowinginterpretation forparagraph8.1.5oftheIBCCodeandpartEofchapterIIoftheBCHCodetocovertheapplicationof cargo-tankventingrequirementsforcombinedchemical/oiltankers:
"Therelevantprovisionsforcontrolledtankventingsystemscontainedinchapter8oftheIBCCode andchapterIIoftheBCHCodeshouldbeappliedtocombinedchemical/oiltankersinlieuofthe requirementsofSOLASregulationII-2/59.1."
3 MemberGovernmentsareinvitedtotakeintoaccounttheaboveinterpretationwhenapplyingthe relevantcargo-tankventingrequirementsoftheIBCCodeandtheBCHCodetocombinedchemical/oil tankersandtonotetheaboveinterpretationwhensubmittingproposalstoamendtherelevantprovisionsof SOLASregulationII-2/59orchapter8oftheIBCCodeandpartEofchapterIIoftheBCHCodewitha viewthattherespectiverequirementsshouldmaintainanequivalentlevelofsafety.