The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) has found emergency power supply deficiencies on 853 ships during a year-long inspection campaign covering 36,723 vessels, exposing recurring failures in blackout testing, emergency diesel generator arrangements and crew procedures. The 2025 Concentrated Inspection Campaign (CIC) ran from 1 January to 31 December, launched after concerns from the Tokyo MoU over whether simulated blackout tests properly demonstrate compliance with SOLAS Chapter II-1 Regulations 42 and 43.
The deficiencies represented 2.32% of ships inspected, meaning more than 97% had no recorded issues. IACS said the results nevertheless showed repeated weak points in systems meant to keep essential emergency services running after a loss of main power.
Quick-closing valves were the largest deficiency category at 22%, followed by control unit or circuit malfunctions at 16% and emergency diesel generator starting arrangement failures at 14%. Malfunctioning air circuit breakers and incorrect crew selection of starting switch modes each accounted for 12%. Loss of power to essential emergency services represented 10%, engine malfunctions 8%, and other issues 7%.
IACS said company and shipboard safety management systems often lacked detailed controlled blackout test procedures. The body called for closer scrutiny during ISM audits of whether emergency diesel generator tests prove the full functionality of the emergency power system. IACS Secretary General Robert Ashdown said the campaign produced robust and detailed data insights across the global fleet.
IACS is the membership association of ABS, Bureau Veritas, ClassNK, CCS, CR Classification, DNV, IRS, KR, Lloyd's Register, PRS and RINA. Its common rules and unified technical standards cover more than 90% of the world's cargo-carrying tonnage.
Key Takeaways:
1. The IACS 2025 Concentrated Inspection Campaign covered 36,723 ships; 853 (2.32%) had emergency power deficiencies.
2. The campaign followed Tokyo MoU concerns about SOLAS II-1 Regulations 42 and 43 compliance.
3. Top deficiency categories were quick-closing valves (22%), control unit/circuit malfunctions (16%) and emergency diesel generator starting failures (14%).
4. IACS found that many company safety management systems lacked detailed controlled blackout test procedures.
5. Secretary General Robert Ashdown called for closer ISM-audit scrutiny of emergency power system testing.
