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Gas detection and entryLesson 5 of 6

Entering an enclosed space step by step: permit, testing and rescue

You will be able to run an enclosed space entry from the register to the permit, the pre-entry test, attendance and a planned rescue, as MSC.581(110) and SOLAS III/19 expect.

16 minutes · For signed-up learners, free · Rules checked 20 October 2026

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Most enclosed space accidents happen during jobs that were planned.9 What failed was one step in the chain: a test done with the fan still running, an attendant who went in to help, a permit used again the next morning, a hold access nobody had listed as dangerous.

In June 2025 the IMO replaced its 2011 recommendations with resolution MSC.581(110), Revised recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships. The Maritime Safety Committee invited the 34th IMO Assembly (24 November to 3 December 2025) to revoke the old resolution A.1050(27), and class society notices now treat it as superseded. The new text adds an Enclosed Space Register for every ship, a carbon dioxide limit before entry, a ban on single-person entry and an eight-hour maximum for permits. This lesson walks through the whole chain in order, and shows who does what.

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The rest of this lesson, the interactive One entry from register to rescue drill and the quiz are open to signed-up learners. It's free, takes a minute, and opens every lesson in all 14 courses.

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In this lesson

  • Try it: One entry from register to rescue drill
  • In plain words
  • In detail
  • What the rules say
  • Flag and class notes
  • Key numbers
  • What inspectors find
  • Work it out: a calculator
  • Questions people ask
  • Quiz: 6 questions

Sources

  1. 1 IMO Resolution MSC.581(110), Revised recommendations for entering enclosed spaces aboard ships (adopted 27 June 2025), resolution paragraph 3 and Annex, sections 2 to 11 and appendices 1 and 2. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.581(110).pdf
  2. 2 IMO Resolution MSC.350(92), Amendments to SOLAS (adopted 21 June 2013, in force 1 January 2015), Annex, regulation III/19 paragraphs 3.3, 3.6 and 4.2.5. https://wwwcdn.imo.org/localresources/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/MSCResolutions/MSC.350(92).pdf
  3. 3 Isle of Man Ship Registry, Casualty investigation report: Sally Ann C, enclosed space fatalities and near fatality, 13 March 2015, Summary, section 2.4 and appendix 2. https://www.iomshipregistry.com/media/1124/cr-sally-ann-c-enclosed-space-fatalities-and-near-fatality.pdf
  4. 4 Republic of the Marshall Islands Maritime Administrator, Marine Notice 7-041-1, Entering enclosed spaces: safety precautions (Rev. Jan/2026), sections 1.4, 5 and 6. https://www.register-iri.com/wp-content/uploads/MN-7-041-1.pdf
  5. 5 Antigua and Barbuda Department of Marine Services and Merchant Shipping, SOLAS Circular 2026-002, Enclosed space entry (17 March 2026), paragraphs 4.3 and 4.5. https://abregistry.ag/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/SOLAS-Circular-2026-002-Enclosed-Space-Entry.pdf
  6. 6 West of England P&I Club, Port state control: Paris and Tokyo MoUs concentrated inspection campaign on crew familiarisation for enclosed space entry (31 July 2015). https://www.westpandi.com/news-and-resources/news/port-state-control-paris-and-tokyo-mous-concen-(4)/
  7. 7 Tokyo MoU results of the 2015 concentrated inspection campaign on crew familiarization for enclosed space entry, as reported by The Maritime Executive. https://maritime-executive.com/article/strong-commitment-to-enclosed-spaces-safety
  8. 8 Paris MoU preliminary results of the 2015 concentrated inspection campaign on enclosed space entry, as reported by MarineLink (23 February 2016). https://www.marinelink.com/news/satisfactory-performance405552
  9. 9 InterManager, The analysis of enclosed-space accidents on board ships, IMO document III 12/INF.17 (15 May 2026), Annex paragraphs 15 to 18. https://hksoa.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/III-12-INF.17-The-analysis-of-enclosed-space-accidents-on-board-ships-InterManager.pdf
  10. 10 MAIB on behalf of the Isle of Man Administration, Report 5/2025, Berge Mawson (March 2025), Synopsis. https://www.iomshipregistry.com/media/qoucqgn3/2025-5-bergemawson-reportandannexes.pdf

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