SSE8 agrees ro-ro fire safety amendments

The session, held from 28 February to 4 March, progressed draft amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2 for new vessels which includes requirements for heat detectors and video monitoring, specification of structural fire protection of decks within ro-ro spaces when the deluge system cannot cover both levels, and requirements for fire detectors and water monitors for weather decks.

SSE 8 also agreed to draft new SOLAS requirements for existing ro-ro passenger ships, which includes requirements for new heat detectors and video monitoring on ro-ro decks.

DNV reports that amendments to the Fire Safety Systems (FSS) Code’s Chapter 7 were agreed to address the new draft requirements for fixed water-based fire-extinguishing systems on weather decks, and to Chapter 9 to address the new draft requirement for both smoke and heat detectors for vehicle spaces.

The draft amendments are targeted to enter into force on 1 January 2026, with 1 January 2028 as the implementation date for existing ships, pending finalization at SSE 9 (March 2023) and subsequent approval and adoption by the MSC.

SSE 8 also finalised the draft of new ventilation requirements for lifeboats and liferafts, and draft new guidelines for the design, construction, installation, testing, maintenance and operation of lifting appliances and anchor handling winches.

More information is available from DNV here.