The Isle of Man has, on the 1st August 2014, written to advise the IMO that it will be implementing the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships, 2008 to new vessels constructed to the Code from 01 July 2014. In addition the Isle of Man intends to apply the code as far as is practicable to existing vessels that are compliant. 1) Application - special purpose ship of not less than 500 gross tonnage certified on or after 01 Jan 2008. - as far as reasonable and practicable to special purpose ships of less than 500 gross tonnage and to special purpose ships constructed before 01 Jan 2008..* * as far as reasonable and practicable to existing ship 2) Main contents - Therefore for fully SPS compliant vessels Class are authorised survey vessels for compliance with and to issue vessels with a Special Purpose Ship Safety Certificate on behalf of the Government of the Isle of Man, in addition to the SOLAS Safety Equipment Certificate as required by the convention. - Class should maintain close contact with the Ship Registry through the design and build of any vessel being built to this code, bringing areas of proposed equivalence or alternative arrangements to our attention well in advance of delivery of the vessel in order that these can be assessed for approval. - The required exemption certificate will be issued by the Isle of Man Ship Registry. -End-