Interferry supports the new IMO regulation requiring all RoPax vessels to be equipped with fire detection and water-based firefighting systems on weather decks. The rules apply to newbuildings from 2026 and existing vessels from 2028.
However, the association warns that retrofitting an estimated 300 existing RoPax vessels by their first survey after 1 January 2028 is not realistic.
Interferry will therefore ask the IMO to link compliance to the first renewal survey after that date, spreading implementation over a five-year period and making the rollout more practical for operators.
Source: Johan Roos on Linkedin