Although all ships are required to have stability instruments, maritime conventions specifically call for only bulk carriers, tankers, and gas ships to carry these instruments. However, Classification Society rules mandate that all ships under their classification have stability instruments. Recognized Organizations (R.O.) have authority under SOLAS to conduct surveys and issue certificates on behalf of flag states. Without classification, it would be practically impossible to operate a ship commercially. Therefore, one can argue that even though maritime conventions only require stability instruments for certain ships, indirectly, through Classification, all ships have stability instruments.
Summary of IMO Circulars:
MSC 370/93: Amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code).
All ships subject to the Code must be fitted with a stability instrument to verify compliance with intact and damage stability requirements.
Ships constructed before 1 July 2016 must comply with this requirement by 1 July 2021.
Stability instruments installed on ships before 1 July 2016 may not need replacement if they satisfy the Administration's requirements.
MSC 369/93: Amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code).
Added definitions of "purging" and "gas-freeing" to the Code.
Introduced requirements for ships to be fitted with a stability instrument for verifying intact and damage stability.
Existing ships must comply with the stability instrument requirement by 1 January 2021.
MSC 93-22-Add.1 - Annex 13: Amendments to the Code for Existing Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (EGC Code).
Ships subject to the Code should be fitted with a stability instrument for intact and damage stability verification.
Existing ships must comply with the stability instrument requirement by 1 January 2021.
Stability instruments installed before 1 January 2016 may not need replacement if they meet the Administration's satisfaction.
MSC 377/93: Amendments to the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (GC Code).
All ships subject to the Code should be fitted with a stability instrument to verify intact and damage stability compliance.
Existing ships must comply with the stability instrument requirement by 1 January 2021.
Stability instruments installed before 1 January 2016 may not need replacement if they meet the Administration's satisfaction.
MEPC 248/66: Amendments to MARPOL Annex I on mandatory carriage requirements for a stability instrument.
All oil tankers must be fitted with a stability instrument to verify intact and damage stability compliance.
Existing oil tankers must comply with this regulation by 1 January 2021.
Stability instruments installed before 1 January 2016 on oil tankers may not need replacement if they meet the Administration's satisfaction.
MSC 376/93: Amendments to the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code).
All ships subject to the Code should be fitted with a stability instrument for intact and damage stability verification.
Existing ships must comply with the stability instrument requirement by 1 January 2021.
Stability instruments installed before 1 January 2016 may not need replacement if they meet the Administration's satisfaction.
MEPC 248/66 Corrigendum: Amendments to MARPOL Annex I on mandatory carriage requirements for a stability instrument.
All oil tankers must be fitted with a stability instrument to verify intact and damage stability compliance.
Existing oil tankers must comply with this regulation by 1 January 2021.
Stability instruments installed before 1 January 2016 on oil tankers may not need replacement if they meet the Administration's satisfaction.
MSC 370/93
AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CODE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF SHIPS CARRYING LIQUEFIED GASES IN BULK (IGC CODE)
2.2.6 All ships, subject to the Code shall be fitted with a stability instrument, capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability requirements, approved by the Administration having regard to the performance standards recommended by the Organization3 . .1 ships constructed before 1 July 2016 shall comply with this paragraph at the first scheduled renewal survey of the ship after 1 July 2016 but not later than 1 July 2021; .2 notwithstanding the requirements of paragraph 2.2.6.1 a stability instrument installed on a ship constructed before 1 July 2016 need not be replaced provided it is capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability, to the satisfaction of the Administration; and .3 for the purposes of control under SOLAS regulation XI-1/4, the Administration shall issue a document of approval for the stability instrument.
MSC 369/93
ANNEX AMENDMENTS TO THE INTERNATIONAL CODE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF SHIPS CARRYING DANGEROUS CHEMICALS IN BULK (IBC CODE) Chapter 1 – General 1 New paragraphs 1.3.37 and 1.3.38 are added as follows: "1.3.37 Purging means the introduction of inert gas into a tank which is already in an inert condition with the object of further reducing the oxygen content; and/or reducing the existing hydrocarbon or other flammable vapours content to a level below which combustion cannot be supported if air is subsequently introduced into the tank. 1.3.38 Gas-freeing means the process where a portable or fixed ventilation system is used to introduce fresh air into a tank in order to reduce the concentration of hazardous gases or vapours to a level safe for tank entry." Chapter 2 – Ship survival capability and location of cargo tanks 2.2 – Freeboard and intact stability 2 The title of section 2.2 is amended to read: "Freeboard and stability" 3 A new subparagraph 2.2.6 is added as follows: "2.2.6 All ships, subject to the Code, shall be fitted with a stability instrument, capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability requirements, approved by the Administration having regard to the performance standards recommended by the Organization* : .1 ships constructed before 1 January 2016 shall comply with this requirement at the first scheduled renewal survey of the ship on or after 1 January 2016 but not later than 1 January 2021; .2 notwithstanding the requirements of 2.2.6.1, a stability instrument fitted on a ship constructed before 1 January 2016 need not be replaced provided it is capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability, to the satisfaction of the Administration; and .3 for the purposes of control under regulation 16 of MARPOL Annex II, the Administration shall issue a document of approval for the stability instrument. _____________ * Refer to part B, chapter 4, of the International Code on Intact Stability, 2008 (2008 IS Code), as amended; the Guidelines for the Approval of Stability Instruments (MSC.1/Circ.1229), annex, section 4, as amended; and the technical standards defined in part 1 of the Guidelines for verification of damage stability requirements for tankers (MSC.1/Circ.1461)."
MSC 93-22-Add.1 - Annex 13
ANNEX 13 AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE FOR EXISTING SHIPS CARRYING LIQUEFIED GASES IN BULK (EGC CODE) Chapter II – Freeboard and stability 1 A new paragraph 2.3 is added as follows: "2.3 All ships, subject to the Code should be fitted with a stability instrument, capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability requirements, approved by the Administration, at the first scheduled periodical survey of the ship on or after 1 January 2016, but not later than 1 January 2021, having regard to the performance standards recommended by the Organization* : .1 notwithstanding the requirements, a stability instrument fitted on a ship before 1 January 2016 need not be replaced provided it is capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability, to the satisfaction of the Administration; and .2 the Administration should issue a document of approval for the stability instrument.
ANNEX 13 AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE FOR EXISTING SHIPS CARRYING LIQUEFIED GASES IN BULK (EGC CODE) Chapter II – Freeboard and stability 4 The text of paragraph 2.3.1 is amended to read: ".1 notwithstanding the requirements above, a stability instrument fitted on a ship before 1 January 2016 need not be replaced provided it is capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability, to the satisfaction of the Administration; and"
MSC 377/93
ANNEX AMENDMENTS TO THE CODE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND EQUIPMENT OF SHIPS CARRYING LIQUEFIED GASES IN BULK (GC CODE) CHAPTER II SHIP SURVIVAL CAPABILITY AND CARGO TANK LOCATION Paragraph 2.2 – Freeboard and stability 1 A new subparagraph 2.2.4 is added as follows: "2.2.4 All ships, subject to the Code, should be fitted with a stability instrument, capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability requirements, approved by the Administration, at the first scheduled periodical survey of the ship on or after 1 January 2016, but not later than 1 January 2021, having regard to the performance standards recommended by the Organization* : .1 notwithstanding the requirements above, a stability instrument fitted on a ship before 1 January 2016 need not be replaced provided it is capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability, to the satisfaction of the Administration; and .2 the Administration should issue a document of approval for the stability instrument.
MEPC 248/66
Annex 9 2 The subtitle of resolution MEPC.248(66) is replaced with the following: "(Amendments to MARPOL Annex I on mandatory carriage requirements for a stability instrument)"
MSC 376/93
2.2.1.2 All ships subject to the Code, shall be fitted with a stability instrument, capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability requirements approved by the Administration, at the first scheduled renewal survey of the ship on or after 1 January 2016, but not later than 1 January 2021, having regard to the performance standards recommended by the Organization* : .1 notwithstanding the above, a stability instrument fitted on a ship before 1 January 2016 need not be replaced provided it is capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability, to the satisfaction of the Administration; and .2 for the purposes of control under regulation 16 of MARPOL Annex II, the Administration shall issue a document of approval for the stability instrument.
Refer to part B, chapter 4, of the International Code on Intact Stability, 2008 (2008 IS Code), as amended; the Guidelines for the Approval of Stability Instruments (MSC.1/Circ.1229), annex, section 4, as amended; and the technical standards defined in part 1 of the Guidelines for verification of damage stability requirements for tankers (MSC.1/Circ.1461).
MEPC 248/66 Corrigendum
ANNEX 9 RESOLUTION MEPC.248(66) Adopted on 4 April 2014 AMENDMENTS TO THE ANNEX OF THE PROTOCOL OF 1978 RELATING TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE PREVENTION OF POLLUTION FROM SHIPS, 1973 Amendments to MARPOL Annex I (Mandatory carriage requirements for a stability instrument)
All oil tankers shall be fitted with a stability instrument, capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability requirements approved by the Administration having regard to the performance standards recommended by the Organization* :
.1 oil tankers constructed before 1 January 2016 shall comply with this regulation at the first scheduled renewal survey of the ship after 1 January 2016 but not later than 1 January 2021;
.2 notwithstanding the requirements of subparagraph .1 a stability instrument fitted on an oil tanker constructed before 1 January 2016 need not be replaced provided it is capable of verifying compliance with intact and damage stability, to the satisfaction of the Administration; and
.3 for the purposes of control under regulation 11, the Administration shall issue a document of approval for the stability instrument.
Form of IOPP Certificate and Supplements, Form B 4 The following new paragraphs 5.7.5 and 5.7.6 are inserted: "5.7.5 The ship is provided with an Approved Stability Instrument in accordance with regulation 28(6)...…………………………………………..…………
MSC_93-22-Add.1-Corr.1 - Corrigendum (Secretariat)