8/29/2014 IMO | IBC Code

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International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships carrying
Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code)
Carriage of chemicals in bulk is covered by regulations in SOLAS Chapter VII - Carriage of
dangerous goods and MARPOL Annex II - Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious
Liquid Substances in Bulk.
Both Conventions require chemical tankers built after 1 July 1986 to comply with the International
Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC
Code).
The IBC Code provides an international standard for the safe carriage by sea of dangerous and
noxious liquid chemicals in bulk. To minimize the risks to ships, their crews and the environment,
the Code prescribes the design and construction standards of ships and the equipment they should
carry, with due regard to the nature of the products involved. In December 1985, by resolution
MEPC.19(22), the Code was extended to cover marine pollution aspects and applies to ships built
after 1 July 1986.
In October 2004, IMO adopted revised MARPOL Annex II Regulations for the control of pollution by
noxious liquid substances in bulk. This incorporates a four-category categorization system for
noxious and liquid substances and it entered into force on 1 January 2007.
Consequential amendments to the International Bulk Chemical Code (IBC Code) were also
adopted in October 2004, reflecting the changes to MARPOL Annex II. The amendments
incorporate revisions to the categorization of certain products relating to their properties as
potential marine pollutants as well as revisions to ship type and carriage requirements following
their evaluation by the Evaluation of Hazardous Substances Working Group.
Ships constructed after 1986 carrying substances identified in chapter 17 of the IBC Code must
follow the requirements for design, construction, equipment and operation of ships contained in the
Code.
Ships subject to the Code shall be designed to one of the following standards:
A type 1 ship is a chemical tanker intended to transport chapter 17 products with very severe
environmental and safety hazards which require maximum preventive measures to preclude
an escape of such cargo.
A type 2 ship is a chemical tanker intended to transport chapter 17 products with appreciably
severe environmental and safety hazards which require significant preventive measures to
preclude an escape of such cargo.
A type 3 ship is a chemical tanker intended to transport chapter 17 products with sufficiently
severe environmental and safety hazards which require a moderate degree of containment to
increase survival capability in a damaged condition.
Thus, a type 1 ship is a chemical tanker intended for the transportation of products considered to
present the greatest overall hazard and type 2 and type 3 for products of progressively lesser
hazards. Accordingly, a type 1 ship shall survive the most severe standard of damage and its cargo
tanks shall be located at the maximum prescribed distance inboard from the shell plating.
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