Gas-tight chemical suits on ships: IBC, IGC and EN 943

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A chemical tanker crew member closing a leaking manifold valve on a toxic cargo, or a gas carrier crew member isolating a leak of ammonia, needs more than breathing apparatus. Some cargoes burn or poison through the skin, and vapour reaches the body through any gap in the clothing. The protection is a suit that keeps gas out completely, worn with a breathing set, and it only works if it has no hole the size of a pinprick.

The IBC and IGC Codes require these suits on ships carrying the right products. The European standard EN 943 sets how gas-tight suits are built and tested. The maker’s instructions set the leak tests that keep them in service. This lesson connects the three.

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In this lesson

Try it: A toxic cargo leak on a chemical tanker
In plain words
In detail
What the rules say
Flag and class notes
Key numbers
What inspectors find
Questions people ask
Quiz: 6 questions

Sources

1 IMO Resolution MSC.176(79), 2004 amendments to the IBC Code (adopted 10 December 2004, in force 1 January 2007), Annex, chapter 14, paragraphs 14.1 to 14.3. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.176(79).pdf
2 IMO Resolution MSC.370(93), Amendments to the IGC Code (adopted 22 May 2014; applies to gas carriers constructed on or after 1 July 2016), Annex, chapter 14, paragraphs 14.1 to 14.4. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.370(93).pdf
3 EN 943-1:2015+A1:2019, Protective clothing against dangerous solid, liquid and gaseous chemicals: Part 1, Performance requirements for Type 1 (gas-tight) chemical protective suits; and EN 943-2:2019, Part 2, Type 1 suits for emergency teams (ET); type definitions as published in the standard’s scope (summary by the Swedish Institute for Standards). https://sis.se/en/produkter/environment-health-protection-safety/protective-equipment/protective-clothing/ssen9431
4 Dräger, Instructions for use, Dräger CPS 5900 gas-tight chemical protective suit, sections 5 to 8 (maintenance table, leak test, suit valve test, storage, life span). Distributor copy: https://en.gazdetect.com/media/catalog/product/instruction/Manuel-technique-CPS_5900-Dr_ger-EN.pdf
5 IMO Resolution MSC.581(110), Revised recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships (adopted 27 June 2025), Annex, sections 6.8, 9.5 and 10.1.2. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.581(110).pdf

Free awareness training. Al Safwan Marine is not an approved training provider, so no certificate is given, and these courses are not a qualification. They don't replace STCW training, manufacturer training or the certification technicians need for this work. The manufacturer's manual and your flag's rules always come first.

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