Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships, 2008 (2008 SPS Code) (KA820E)

For the purpose of this Code, a special purpose ship of not less than 500 gross tonnage which carries more than 12 special personnel, i.e. person who are specially needed for the particular operational duties of the ship and are carried in addition to those persons required for the normal navigation, engineering and maintenance of the ship or engaged to provide services for the persons carried on board.

The Maritime Safety Committee, at its eighty-fourth session (7 to 16 May 2008), adopted, by resolution MSC.266(84), the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships, 2008 (2008 SPS Code), which had been developed following a thorough revision of the SPS Code adopted in 1983 by resolution A.534(13).

In adopting the 2008 SPS Code, the Committee recalled that, since the adoption of the previous SPS Code, many requirements of the SOLAS Convention had been amended and considerable experience had been gained in the Code’s application, all of which was taken into account during the development of the new Code. Particular attention was paid to the matter of trainees on training ships which lead to a comprehensive revision of the term ‘‘special personnel’’.

The 2008 SPS Code supersedes the SPS Code adopted by resolution A.534(13) for special purpose ships certified on or after 13 May 2008. For special purpose ships certified before that date, the previous SPS Code (resolution A.534(13)) still applies.

Preamble
Chapter 1 – General
Chapter 2 – Stability and subdivision
Chapter 3 – Machinery installations
Chapter 4 – Electrical installations
Chapter 5 – Periodically unattended machinery spaces
Chapter 6 – Fire protection
Chapter 7 – Dangerous goods
Chapter 8 – Life-saving appliances
Chapter 9 – Radiocommunications
Chapter 10 – Safety of navigation
Chapter 11 – Security

Annex – Form of Safety Certificate for Special Purpose Ships
Resolution MSC.266(84)
Supplement – March 2018

A??s a specialized agency of the United Nations, IMO is the global standard-setting authority for the safety, security and environmental performance of international shipping. Its main role is to create a regulatory framework for the shipping industry that is fair and effective, universally adopted and universally implemented.

In other words, its role is to create a level playing field so that ship operators cannot address their financial issues by simply cutting corners and compromising on safety, security and environmental performance. This approach also encourages innovation and efficiency.

Shipping is a truly international industry, and it can only operate effectively if the regulations and standards are themselves agreed, adopted and implemented on an international basis. IMO is the forum at which this process takes place.