Korean Register (KR) has completed an impact assessment of upcoming amendments to the IGC Code and published technical guidance to help the maritime industry prepare for implementation.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been revising the IGC Code since 2022 through its Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers (CCC), reflecting increased adoption of environmentally friendly technologies and stricter greenhouse gas reduction requirements.
The amendments are due for approval at MSC 111 in May, with formal adoption expected in December, and entry into force set for 1 July 2028.
With around 2,600 LNG and LPG carriers currently in service and a further 650 on order, according to Clarksons Research, the amendments are set to impact ship design, construction schedules, and equipment procurement.
The 18‑month window between adoption and enforcement raises concerns that insufficient preparation could cause delays.
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Notably, the amendments depart from conventional IMO practice by using the keel laying date, rather than the building contract date, as the point of applicability, potentially applying different regulatory requirements across ships built under a single contract.
To support practical compliance, KR analysed 97 amendment items, assessing applicability and design implications, and published updated technical guidance.
Technical seminars were held for major Korean shipbuilders, including Samsung Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, HD Hyundai Samho, and Hanwha Ocean.
KR also prepared four documents addressing key issues for submission to the IMO, after review by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (South Korea) and the Panama Maritime Authority, for consideration at MSC 111.
To mitigate potential delays from design changes, KR, in coordination with the Active Shipbuilding Experts’ Federation (ASEF) and the Panama Maritime Authority, proposed revising the applicability from the keel laying date to the building contract date.
For more information:
Korean Register – https://www.krs.co.kr/kor/
