At the recent 56th session of the IMO Fire Protection Sub-committee (FP56) a strong INTERTANKO delegation was present . INTERTANKO report that of particular note at the meeting was the ongoing work related to the ‘Development of Measures to Prevent Explosions on Oil and Chemical Tankers Transporting Low-flash Point Cargoes'. Other outcomes from the meeting concerned ‘Means of Escape from Machinery Spaces’ for new vessels and amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2 with enhanced requirements for escape routes from machinery control rooms and main workshops within machinery spaces. Additional amendments were considered for the construction of inclined ladders/stairways that require fitting of steel shields to the undersides.