Guidelines for the transport and handling of limited amounts of hazardous and noxious liquid substances in bulk on Offshore Support Vessels, for new and existing U.S. Offshore Supply Vessels

The Coast Guard Office of Design and Engineering Standards has released CG-ENG Policy Letter 03-12 – Ch 1, Implementation of IMO Resolution A.673(16), Guidelines for the Transport and Handling of Limited Amounts of Hazardous and Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk on Offshore Support Vessels, For New and Existing U.S. Offshore Supply Vessels.

IMO resolutions MEPC.318(74) and MSC.460(101) adopted amendments to the IBC Code, updating carriage requirements for a significant number of products. These amendments became effective on January 1, 2021 and affected several cargoes listed in appendix one to CG-ENG policy letter 03-12.  On 16 May, 2022, 03-12 CH-1 was published, which includes a second enclosure with changes in carriage requirements for affected cargoes.

Vessel companies have been granted extensions to their certificates of fitness in the interim between the effective date of the amendments and the publishing of the updated policy letter. As of now, those extensions have been granted until December 31, 2022.

Before the expiration of vessel COFs, a plan must be proposed to CG-ENG-5 at hazmatstandards@uscg.mil to meet the updated requirements for affected products, or with proposed equivalencies to specific requirements. Once a plan is approved, the modifications will be required by the vessel’s next drydock date.