We would like to kindly inform you that in order to protect crew against exposure to dangerous substances used in firefighting systems as well as to minimize the impact on the environment, IMO’s Sub-Committee on Ship System and Equipment (SSE 8) finalized draft amendments to SOLAS chapter II-2 and the HSC Codes (1994 and 2000) to prohibit the use of PFOS (perfluoro-octane sulfonic acid) from firefighting systems onboard ships.

Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Australia have already banned PFOS/PFAS and as regulations advances, all PFAS (C6 and C8) in firefighting foam will be restricted over the next few years.

This means that there will be restrictions for producing, transporting and selling PFOS/PFAS products, while further strict rules will be applied in relation to the cleaning and disposal of PFOS/PFAS products.

When does the regulation come into effect
The IMO SSE decided to prohibit the use of PFOS from new ships from 1 January 2026 and to eliminate the substance from existing ships no later than five years from the date of this requirement coming into force, probably by the end of 2027. In the meantime, when substances containing PFOS are removed from a vessel they should be transferred to appropriate facilities for disposal and incineration.

How VIKING can help
VIKING has expertise to guide you on choosing the right firefighting foam solutions that are compliant and environmentally friendly.
Powered by the know-how gained over the years and covering the full range of owners needs – from inspections to products, replacements and certification – our principals services include:

• Effective foam transition
• Testing the existing foam for PFAS/PFOS
• Disposal of PFOS/PFAS in a safe manner from the vessel
• Cleaning of existing tank and connected system from PFAS/PFOS foam
• Delivery of new foam together with test of the system
• Certification on disposal, cleaning and test after changes to the existing system
• Environmentally solution in regards to live testing
• Scope the project in connection with 5 yearly dry-docking
• “One stop shop” for all services related to your marine fire equipment