ABS Issues New 2026 Guidance on Machinery-Space Safety, Rescue Boats and IMO Compliance
Shipowners and operators are being urged to review escape routes, rescue-boat davits, access equipment, fire-prevention measures and statutory documentation following a series of regulatory updates issued by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS).
The guidance reflects recent decisions by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), including outcomes from the 111th session of the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC 111), held in London from 13 to 22 May 2026.
Escape routes from machinery spaces clarified
ABS Regulatory News No. 01/2026 has been revised and reissued as No. 11/2026 following the publication of IMO circular MSC.1/Circ.1689/Rev.1.
The circular clarifies the meaning of the “lower part of the space” in SOLAS regulations II-2/13.4.1.1 and II-2/13.4.2.1, which govern escape arrangements from machinery spaces of Category A. Depending on the design of the space, the term may refer to:
- The lowest deck level;
- A platform; or
- A passageway.
The clarification is particularly relevant to vessels with multi-level engine rooms, where the location and adequacy of escape routes may previously have been interpreted differently.
New guidance for Port State Control officers also recommends accepting escape arrangements approved by the ship’s flag Administration. Where uncertainty remains, PSC officers should consult the Administration before deciding whether an approved arrangement constitutes a deficiency.
Revised rules for accommodation ladders and gangways
ABS Regulatory News No. 08/2026 addresses the revised IMO Guidelines for the Construction, Installation, Maintenance and Inspection/Survey of Means of Embarkation and Disembarkation under MSC.1/Circ.1331/Rev.1.
The revised guidelines apply to relevant equipment installed on or after 1 July 2026 and incorporate updated ISO standards for accommodation ladders, gangways and winches. They also introduce enhanced safety practices concerning safety nets, side protection, crew personal protective equipment and equipment marking.
The guidance calls for thorough annual examinations of access equipment and associated fittings. Static load testing of accommodation ladders and gangways, together with operational testing of winches, should be conducted at five-year intervals.
Shipowners should therefore ensure that these requirements are incorporated into planned-maintenance and survey schedules. Equipment manufacturers and shipyards must also verify that new installations comply with the applicable ISO standards. Read ABS Regulatory News No. 08/2026
Existing manual rescue-boat davits may face PSC scrutiny
A potentially significant compliance issue affects existing cargo ships equipped with manually operated rescue-boat davits that do not use gravity or stored mechanical power.
IMO Resolution MSC.459(101) permits manually operated launching appliances for dedicated rescue boats weighing no more than 700 kg when fully equipped with their engines but without crew. However, this exemption applies only to rescue boats installed on or after 1 January 2024.
It does not retrospectively validate manual davits installed before that date.
Consequently, an older vessel may face a PSC deficiency if it cannot demonstrate that its alternative launching arrangement was formally approved or accepted by the flag Administration. ABS recommends that affected owners:
- Confirm the rescue boat’s fully equipped weight;
- Verify that one person can hoist and turn out the boat;
- Check crank-handle force and radius limitations;
- Confirm that suitable bowsing lines or equivalent arrangements are provided;
- Obtain formal flag Administration acceptance under SOLAS regulation I/5; and
- Retain the acceptance and supporting technical documents on board.
The issue is not necessarily the physical condition of the davit, but whether the ship can demonstrate an approved regulatory basis for its continued use during a PSC inspection. Read ABS Regulatory News No. 07/2026
Engine-room fire prevention returns to focus
A recent near-miss involving pressurised oil leaking onto inadequately protected hot surfaces has prompted ABS to reinforce established machinery-space fire-prevention measures.
Fuel-oil, lubricating-oil and other flammable-oil piping systems should be examined for leakage, loose connections, damaged spray shields and unsuitable repairs. Hot surfaces, including exhaust manifolds, turbochargers and indicator valves, must remain effectively insulated or otherwise protected.
Operators should pay particular attention to:
- Pipe joints and flexible hoses near hot surfaces;
- Missing or deteriorated insulation;
- Oil-soaked lagging;
- Spray shields and anti-splashing arrangements;
- Fuel and lubricating-oil leak alarms;
- Housekeeping and bilge cleanliness; and
- Recording defects and repairs in the planned-maintenance system.
The guidance underlines that seemingly minor deterioration in insulation or pipe-joint protection can create the conditions for a serious engine-room fire.
Plimsoll marks must match certification
ABS Regulatory News No. 12/2026 responds to PSC observations involving discrepancies between the Plimsoll mark shown on an International Load Line Certificate and the mark physically displayed on the vessel.
Owners, masters and surveyors should confirm that the certificate accurately represents the vessel’s assigned load-line marks, including the position and orientation of the deck line, load-line disc and seasonal marks. Any modification, repainting or reassignment should be properly surveyed and reflected in the ship’s documentation.
Even where the vessel’s loading condition is compliant, inconsistent drawings or markings may attract PSC attention.
Major IGC Code amendments expected in 2028
ABS has also released guidelines to help gas-carrier stakeholders prepare for a substantial package of amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk.
The amendments were approved at MSC 111 and are expected to be formally adopted at MSC 112 in December 2026, with anticipated entry into force on 1 July 2028. They cover structural and operational areas including cargo-tank filling limits, carriage of carbon dioxide, use of LPG cargo as fuel and emergency shutdown systems.
The forthcoming provisions are expected to affect both new ships constructed from July 2028 and certain existing vessels constructed on or after 1 July 2016. A consolidated IGC Code is expected after formal adoption. The package builds on earlier technical work undertaken by the IMO Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers. Read the IMO background on the IGC Code review
IMO DCS, CII and SEEMP information updated
The ABS webpage covering IMO fuel-consumption reporting and Ship Energy Efficiency Management Plans has been updated following the approval of MEPC.1/Circ.905/Rev.1.
The revised IMO guidance changes the treatment of biofuels under MARPOL Annex VI regulations 26, 27 and 28. It applies from 1 January 2027 and requires, among other matters, the conversion factor for a biofuel blend to be calculated as a mass-weighted average of the individual fuels.
Companies using biofuels may consequently need to revise SEEMP Part II calculation procedures and supporting documentation before the 2027 IMO Data Collection System reporting period. The update also provides further information on SEEMP company audits. Read MEPC.1/Circ.905/Rev.1
Pilot-transfer arrangements receive further clarification
ABS has also updated its guidance on the amendments to SOLAS regulation V/23 covering pilot-transfer arrangements.
The update clarifies the meaning of “installation date” and “first survey” and addresses practical issues involving strong points, pilot ladders, combination arrangements and side-shell doors. Owners should review existing and replacement equipment carefully because the applicable requirements may depend on both the ship’s survey schedule and the date on which the equipment is installed.
Overall, the latest guidance demonstrates that regulatory compliance increasingly depends not only on the condition of equipment, but also on installation dates, documented approvals, survey records and consistency between certificates and the arrangements actually found on board.