The IP Code: the Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate
The Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate and Record of Equipment connect safe carriage of industrial personnel with the ship’s regime, equipment and number of persons carried.
Operational Explanation
The IP Code addresses specific risks of carrying and transferring personnel destined for offshore industrial activities on other ships or facilities. Voyage preparation connects the ship’s applicable regime with the persons actually carried and the recorded equipment and conditions. The total number of persons for which the ship is certified in the Record is distinct from the aggregate used for applicability.
The Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate supplements the relevant SOLAS certificates and is accompanied by a Record of Equipment. It is issued by the flag or authorized RO after the required verification; validity, survey dates and endorsements are harmonized with the relevant SOLAS certificates. Applicability requires the aggregate count of industrial personnel, special personnel and passengers, with separate consideration of transitional provisions.
| Document / evidence | How to use it |
|---|---|
| IP certificate | Identity, applicable XV/3 basis, expiry and endorsements; compare the stated regime with the ship’s regime. |
| Record of Equipment (Form IP) | Supplement to remain attached to the certificate: total persons for which the ship is certified and pertinent life-saving equipment. |
| Mission and personnel | Updated list of identities and categories, aggregate count, required evidence and transfer conditions. |
Regulatory Reference
MSC.521(106), SOLAS XV; MSC.527(106), IP Code, Part I/3.
SOLAS XV/2.3 defines the aggregate and XV/3.2–3.4 the transitions. IP Code I/3.5–3.6 and the appendix connect certificate, supplement and SOLAS certificates; III/1–2 addresses personnel and transfer. For ships already authorised before 1 July 2024 apply the provisions expressly referenced by XV/3.2 or 3.3, without automatically attributing the complete new-ship regime.
Scope of Application
Within SOLAS international-voyage scope: cargo ships and high-speed cargo craft of at least 500 GT constructed from 1 July 2024 and exceeding 12 under the aggregate-count rule. For earlier ships check SOLAS XV/3.2–3.4 and prior authorization. For domestic voyages or vessels below 500 GT check flag-specific application.
Procedure / How to Complete It
- Calculate the aggregate of IP, special personnel and passengers, with no more than 12 passengers.
- Check construction date, ship/craft type and prior flag authorisation.
- For cargo ships constructed before 1 July 2024 and already authorised under IMO recommendations, comply with the transitional provisions by the first intermediate or renewal survey after that date, whichever occurs first.
- For high-speed cargo craft constructed before 1 July 2024 and already authorised under IMO recommendations, comply with the transitional provisions by the third periodical or first renewal survey after that date, whichever occurs first.
- Without the prior authorisation specified in XV/3.4, comply and certify before carriage exceeding 12 under the aggregate-count rule.
Before boarding reconcile the persons list, categories and limits with certificate and Record. Make pertinent fitness and training evidence available for industrial personnel; arrange ship-specific and transfer familiarisation under the applicable regime. For transfer at sea also check procedures, environmental conditions and operational limits of the arrangements, without treating the certificate as authorisation for any operation.
Practical Example
A high-speed cargo craft authorised before 1 July 2024 follows the third-periodical or first-renewal deadline after that date, whichever occurs first; not the first intermediate or renewal deadline for cargo ships.
On a ship within scope, 10 IP, 2 special personnel and 1 passenger give an aggregate of 13 even though IP alone number 10. Check the ship’s regime and limits before carriage; crew are instead included in the total persons for which equipment is sized.
What Typically Goes Wrong
Counting only IP, saying authorisations cease to apply, or using one transition for cargo and HSC.
Common Mistakes Mistake Library
| Mistake | Consequence | How to avoid it |
|---|---|---|
| Count only IP to determine applicability | The aggregate threshold may be exceeded without identifying the required regime before carriage. | Add IP, special personnel and passengers, retain the 12-passenger limit and check the ship’s scope and documents. |
| Apply the high-speed transition to cargo ships, or vice versa | The pertinent compliance deadline may be missed. | Document type, construction date and prior authorisation, then use the distinct SOLAS XV/3.2 or 3.3 deadline. |
| Treat the certificate as sufficient for any boarding and transfer | Persons carried, evidence or operating conditions may not match the applicable arrangements. | Reconcile list, categories and limits with certificate/Record and check personnel evidence and transfer conditions. |
What the PSCO Checks
Operational Tips
- Document the transitional basis without equating cargo ships and HSC.
- Keep the persons-on-board list, certificate and Record of Equipment current.
Preparation checklist
- Aggregate count and passenger limit checked
- 500 GT, construction date and voyage regime checked
- Prior authorisation documented
- Cargo transitional deadline checked, where applicable
- HSC transitional deadline checked, where applicable
FAQ
Related Topics
Certified substantive revision: 13 October 2026 · page fingerprint 92d096244dbe