Foreword At its forty-eighth session (June 1983)@ the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted amendments to the International Maritime Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea@ 1974 (SOLAS)@ by resolution MSC.6(48). The amendments consisted of complete replacement texts of chapters III and VII and changes in chapters II -1@ II -2 and IV. The new chapter VII made the provisions of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code)@ which was adopted by resolution MSC.5(48)@ mandatory under the 1974 SOLAS Convention. The new 2016 edition of the IG C Code incorporates the amendments adopted by the MSC at its ninety-third session (May 2014) by resolution MSC.370(93). These amendments@ which entered into force on 1 January 2016@ consist of a complete replacement text of the IGC Code. Unless expressly provided otherwise@ the requirements of the IG C Code@ as amended by resolution MSC.370(93)@ apply to ships whose keels are laid@ or which are at a similar stage of construction@ on or after 1 July 2016. For ships constructed on or after 1 July 1986 and before 1 July 2016@ unless expressly provided otherwise@ the Administration shall ensure that such ships comply with the requirements which are applicable under the IG C Code@ as adopted by resolution MSC.5(48) and as amended by resolutions MSC.17(58)@ MSC.30(61)@ MSC.32(63)@ MSC.59(67)@ MSC.103(73)@ MSC.177(79) and MSC.220(82).