IGC Code
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The International Code of the
Construction and Equipment of Ships
Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC
Code), adopted by resolution
MSC.5(48), has been mandatory under
SOLAS chapter VII since 1 July 1986.
The IGC Code applies to ships
regardless of their size, including those
of less than 500 gross tonnage,
engaged in carriage of liquefied gases
having a vapour pressure exceeding 2.8
bar absolute at a temperature of 37.8°C,
and certain other substances listed in
chapter 19 of the Code. The aim of the
Code is to provide an international
standard for the safe carriage by sea in
bulk of liquefied gases and the
substances listed in chapter 19, by
prescribing the design and construction
standards of ships involved in such
carriage and the equipment they should
carry so as to minimize the risk to the
ship, to its crew and to the environment,
having regard to the nature of the
products involved.
The basic philosophy is one of ship
types related to the hazards of the
products covered by these codes, each
of which may have one or more hazard
properties. A further possible hazard
may arise owing to the products being
transported under cryogenic
(refrigerated) or pressure conditions.
Severe collisions or strandings could
lead to cargo tank damage and
uncontrolled release of the product.
Such release could result in evaporation
and dispersion of the product and, in
some cases, could cause brittle fracture
of the ship's hull. The requirements in
the codes are intended to minimize
these risks as far as is practicable,
based upon present knowledge and
technology.
Throughout the development of the
Code it was recognized that it must be
based upon sound naval architectural
and engineering principles and the best
understanding available as to the
hazards of the various products
covered; furthermore that gas carrier
design technology is not only a complex
technology but is rapidly evolving and
that the Code should not remain static.
Therefore, IGC Code is kept under
review, taking into account experience
and technological development. The
latest comprehensive amendments of
the IGC Code were adopted by
resolution MSC.370(93), expected to
enter into force on 1 July 2016.
Code for the Construction
Equipment of Ships Carrying
Liquefied Gases in Bulk (GC
Code) and Code for Existing
Ships Carrying Liquefied
Gases in Bulk (EGC Code)
Gas carriers constructed before 1 July
1986 and after 31 October 1976 should
comply with the requirements of the
Code for the Construction Equipment of
Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk
(GC Code), while gas carriers that had
already been trading prior to the
application of the GC Code should
comply with the requirements of the
Code for Existing Ships Carrying
Liquefied Gases in Bulk.
For further information about the IGC
Code and related publications, please
send an email to ccc@[Link].
More Information
" Bulk Cargoes (IMSBC) Code
" Grain Code
" IBC Code
" BLU Code and BLU Manual
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