20/01/2026
𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐈𝐀𝐂𝐒 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠
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 IMO’s 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 𝐔𝐈 𝐒𝐂𝟕𝟑 and 𝐔𝐈 𝐒𝐂𝟏𝟔𝟎 represent a refined approach to fire protection, distinguishing between open-air environments and enclosed high-risk service areas.
𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐈𝐀𝐂𝐒 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬
1. 𝑼𝑰 𝑺𝑪73 (𝑹𝒆𝒗.3): 𝑷𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝑬𝒙𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒖𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝑽𝒆𝒉𝒊𝒄𝒍𝒆 𝑺𝒑𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔
This update focuses on 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐈-𝟐/𝟐𝟎.𝟔.𝟑.𝟏, which dictates the quantity and placement of portable fire extinguishers in spaces designed for the carriage of vehicles.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The primary change in Revision 3 is the explicit exclusion of 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐬 from the requirement to carry portable fire extinguishers specifically for vehicle carriage.
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐞: 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.
𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: This interpretation will be uniformly applied by IACS societies from 𝟏 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.
2. 𝑼𝑰 𝑺𝑪160 (𝑹𝒆𝒗.2): 𝑭𝒊𝒙𝒆𝒅 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑹𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔
This revision addresses 𝐒𝐎𝐋𝐀𝐒 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐈-𝟐/𝟕.𝟓.𝟓.𝟑, 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).
𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 & 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐈𝐈𝐂:
(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 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐢𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐤.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐨 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐬: 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.
𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: The requirement remains stringent for all escape routes and accommodation spaces to ensure early warning for crew members.
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞:
These requirements are tied to the vessel's "Date of Build." It applies to ships 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔.
𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 : 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
• UI SC73 (Vehicle Spaces): Portable extinguishers are not required on weather decks.
• UI SC160 (Detection Systems): Service spaces outside accommodation (Method IIIC) may be exempt; control stations are never exempt. (Applies to new builds only)
📅 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝟏 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝
These updates reflect the maritime industry's move toward "smart compliance"—ensuring 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.
𝐅𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐒𝐂𝟕𝟑 (𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐬) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐂𝟏𝟔𝟎 (𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐝 𝐈𝐈𝐈𝐂 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧).
https://maritimecyprus.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/SC73-SC160.pdf
