SPS Code and IP Code

This publication includes the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships, 2008 (2008 SPS Code), the new International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP Code), and SOLAS chapter XV on safety measures for ships carrying industrial personnel.

The 2008 SPS Code sets safety standards for special purpose ships carrying ‘special personnel’ such as scientists and technicians involved in specific onboard activities. The IP Code, which came into force on 1 July 2024, extends these safety principles to ships transporting ‘industrial personnel’. This new code addresses the safety requirements for the offshore and energy sectors, ensuring safer transport and transfer of personnel involved in offshore industrial activities.