AMSA seeks feedback on requirements for carriage of industrial personnel

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is seeking feedback on the draft of the new Marine Order 55 (Vessels carrying industrial personnel) 2024, which contains mandatory requirements to ensure the safe carriage of more than 12 industrial personnel on cargo vessels and high-speed cargo crafts.

Marine Order 55 gives effect to the new SOLAS chapter XV and the associated International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (the IP Code).

The marine order addresses aspects of safety including:

• stability
• machinery and electrical installations
• fire safety
• life-saving appliances and arrangements
• carriage of dangerous goods
• training of industrial personnel and their transfer arrangements

Key requirements of Marine Order 55

• To carry more than 12 IP, cargo vessels and high-speed cargo crafts of 500GT and upwards must be designed, constructed, surveyed, and issued with an IP Safety Certificate under the IP Code.
• Vessels must be certified as a cargo ship or a high-speed cargo craft under either chapter I or chapter VIII or chapter X of SOLAS as applicable. This is a pre-requisite before an IP Safety Certificate can be issued.
• Foreign-flagged vessels must comply with the requirements of Chapter XV of SOLAS and the IP Code as applicable to them.
• Before boarding a vessel for transportation, industrial personnel will need to fulfil all relevant requirements including training.

Interested parties are invited to provide feedback until midnight on April 14, 2024.

More information can be read on the AMSA website here.