20/01/2026
๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ง๐๐: ๐๐๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐
๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ฌ๐ก๐ข๐ง๐
https://maritimecyprus.com/
The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) continues to play a pivotal role in harmonizing the interpretation of international maritime regulations. By issuing Unified Interpretations (UIs), IACS ensures that the broad language used in the IMOโs SOLAS conventions is applied consistently by all member societies and flag states, eliminating "gray areas" that could lead to safety lapses or compliance confusion during ship construction and inspection.
The recent revisions to ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ and ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ represent a refined approach to fire protection, distinguishing between open-air environments and enclosed high-risk service areas.
๐๐๐ญ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ
1. ๐ผ๐ฐ ๐บ๐ช73 (๐น๐๐.3): ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐
This update focuses on ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐-๐/๐๐.๐.๐.๐, which dictates the quantity and placement of portable fire extinguishers in spaces designed for the carriage of vehicles.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: The primary change in Revision 3 is the explicit exclusion of ๐ฐ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฌ from the requirement to carry portable fire extinguishers specifically for vehicle carriage.
๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐: Firefighting on an open weather deck presents different challenges and dynamics compared to enclosed vehicle decks (like those on Ro-Ro ships). Existing fire-main requirements (hydrants and hoses) are deemed more effective for weather deck arrangements, where smoke accumulation is not a primary risk.
๐๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: This interpretation will be uniformly applied by IACS societies from ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐.
2. ๐ผ๐ฐ ๐บ๐ช160 (๐น๐๐.2): ๐ญ๐๐๐๐
๐ญ๐๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐น๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
This revision addresses ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ฅ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐-๐/๐.๐.๐.๐, which concerns the protection of crew and vital ship functions through fixed fire detection and alarm systems. The interpretation varies based on the "Method" of fire protection chosen for the vessel (specifically Method IIIC).
๐๐ซ๐๐๐ค๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ช๐ฎ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐ฌ:
๐๐๐ซ๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ ๐๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฌ & ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐:
(which relies on the subdivision of accommodation spaces by "A" and "B" class boundaries without a mandatory sprinkler system), fixed fire detection in "service spaces" (like galleys or laundries) is ๐จ๐ง๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐๐ง๐๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐ข๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ฌ๐ ๐ฌ๐ฉ๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ฅ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐ฐ๐ข๐ญ๐ก๐ข๐ง ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐จ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ค.
๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐ญ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ & ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ซ๐จ๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐จ๐ฆ๐ฌ: Regardless of the construction method used, these areas are considered critical for the ship's command and safety. Therefore, fixed fire detection and fire alarm systems are always required.
๐๐๐จ๐ฉ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง: The requirement remains stringent for all escape routes and accommodation spaces to ensure early warning for crew members.
๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐:
These requirements are tied to the vessel's "Date of Build." It applies to ships ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐๐ ๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐ญ๐๐ซ ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐.
๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ซ๐ฒ : ๐๐ฎ๐ข๐๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐
โข UI SC73 (Vehicle Spaces): Portable extinguishers are not required on weather decks.
โข UI SC160 (Detection Systems): Service spaces outside accommodation (Method IIIC) may be exempt; control stations are never exempt. (Applies to new builds only)
๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐: ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐๐๐
๐
๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐
These updates reflect the maritime industry's move toward "smart compliance"โensuring that safety equipment is placed where it is most effective rather than simply following a blanket requirement. For shipowners, designers, and shipyards, the July 2026 deadline serves as a critical milestone. Incorporating these interpretations during the design phase of upcoming projects will be essential to avoid costly retrofits or delays in certification during the next generation of shipbuilding.
๐
๐จ๐ซ ๐ฆ๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง, ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ค ๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐ฐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐ง๐ค ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐จ๐ฐ๐ง๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ (๐
๐ข๐ซ๐ ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ญ๐๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ฐ๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐๐ซ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ฌ) ๐๐ง๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ (๐๐๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ฌ๐ญ๐ซ๐ฎ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง).
https://maritimecyprus.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/SC73-SC160.pdf
