MIN 731 (M) High Speed Craft Codes 1994 & 2000 - ban of PFOS in firefighting media
Published 5 January 2026
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Summary
This Marine Information Note (MIN) advises of the adoption of IMO resolutions MSC.536(107) and MSC.537(107) and their entry into SOLAS Chapter X by virtue of the Ambulatory Reference provision (Regulation 5) of The Merchant Shipping (High Speed Craft) Regulations, 2022.
The amendments come into force from 1 January 2026 for the IMO High Speed Craft Code (both 1994 and 2000 codes) aligning the requirements with the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Chapter II-2, regarding the maritime ban on PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate acid), which is a persistent organic pollutant, that can be found in firefighting media such as Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF), used on some vessels.
There is also a minor change to the recording of immersion and anti-exposure suits in the Table of life-saving appliances, in the HSC Safety Certificate.
1. Main Change
1.1 The International (IMO) High Speed Craft (HSC) Code includes, at Chapter 7, required arrangements for Fire Safety on HSC. Resolutions MSC.536(107) and MSC.537(107), both adopted on 8 June 2023, introduced new text into the 1994 and 2000 HSC Codes respectively, prohibiting the use, storage or disposal of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) used in fire extinguishing media, for example in aqueous film forming foams (AFFF).
1.2 The prohibition comes into effect from 1 January 2026 and affects HSC no later than the date of their first survey on or after 1 January 2026.
1.3 Any fire extinguishing media prohibited by the above change, should be delivered to appropriate shore-based reception facilities for such chemicals when removed from the craft.
2. Additional Change
2.1 Additionally, at Annex 1 to both HSC Codes, where an example form of “High Speed Craft Safety Certificate” is given, in the Record of Equipment, in the Table “Details of life-saving appliances” entries 9.2 to 10.2 are simplified, to now record only “9. Number of Immersion Suits” and “10 Number of anti-exposure suits”. There are no changes in the actual requirements for either of these, only the recording on the safety certificate.
More information
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