Safety of Life

at Sea
 History
The first version of SOLAS was adopted at a conference of
13 countries, held in London in 1914, following the sinking of
the RMS Titanic in 1912.
Since then there have been four other SOLAS Conventions:-
 the second, which entered into force in 1933.
 the third, which entered into force in 1952.
 the fourth, which entered into force in 1965.
 the fifth, adopted in 1974 which entered into force in 1980.
 Format of S.O.L.A.S.’74

 SOLAS 74 in its present form consists of twelve chapters

each concerned with different aspects of maritime safety.
 Some chapters are further sub-divided into parts.
 New chapters can and have been added following
response by IMO to various casualties and changes in
technology.
 Technical Provisions

 SOLAS 74 specifies minimum standards for the

construction, equipment and operation of ships.
 Flag state and Port state responsibilities are established.
 Cross reference is made to Codes, compliance with
which becomes mandatory when included within the
fabric of the convention.
 SOLAS Chapter I
General Provisions

 Regulations concerning the survey of various types of

vessel.
 The issuing of certificates signifying that vessels meet
the requirements of the convention.
 Provisions for the control of ships in ports of other
contracting governments (port state inspection).
 SOLAS Chapter II-1
Vessel construction, subdivision and stability

Details a vessel’s safety construction features e.g.

 The watertight subdivision of ships.
 Requirements for watertight integrity.
 Bilge pumping arrangements
 Stability requirements.
 SOLAS Chapter II-1
Machinery and electrical installations

Details the machinery and electrical installations

required to ensure that the services which are essential
for the safety of the ship are maintained under various
emergency conditions.e.g.
 Emergency generators - Uninterruptable power
supplies.
 Emergency fire pumps - Bilge pumps - Air
compressors.
 SOLAS Chapter II-2
Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction

Details fire safety provisions e.g.

 Division of the ship into zones by thermal and structural
boundaries.
 Separation of accommodation spaces from the remainder
of the ship by thermal and structural boundaries.
 Restricted use of combustible materials.
 Detection, containment and extinction of any fire in the
space of origin.
 SOLAS Chapter II-2
Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction

 Protection of the means of escape or of access for fire-

fighting purposes.
 Minimization of the possibility of ignition of flammable
cargo vapour.
 SOLAS Chapter III
Life-saving appliances and arrangements

 Requirements for lifeboats, liferafts, evacuation systems,

personal survival aids etc.
 The chapter incorporates the mandatory International
Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code.
 Various amendments concerning lifeboat drills and the
provision of immersion suits due to come into force in
July 2006.
 SOLAS Chapter IV
Radiocommunications
Revised in 1988 to introduce the Global Maritime Distress
and Safety System (GMDSS) and phase out R.T./W.T.
communication.
All ships of above 300 gt on international voyages are now
required to be fitted with:-
 GMDSS .
 SART (Search and Rescue Transponder).
 NAVTEX (Navigational text receiver).
 SOLAS Chapter V
Safety of navigation

Details requirements for:-

 Meteorological information; ice patrol; routeing systems;
search and rescue.
 Fitting of automatic ship identification systems (AIS)
and the phasing in of voyage data recorders (VDR).
 Masters to proceed to the assistance of those in distress.
 Safe manning of ships.
 24 hour position and condition reporting.
 SOLAS Chapter VI
Carriage of Cargoes

 Originally only covered the carriage of grain -

International Grain Code.
 Now covers all types of cargo (except liquids and gases
in bulk) ‘which, owing to their particular hazards to
ships or persons on board, may require special
precautions’.

 Include requirements for stowage and securing of cargo

or cargo units i.e. containers.
 SOLAS Chapter VII
Carriage of dangerous goods: Part A

 Covers the carriage of dangerous goods in packaged

form, solid form or bulk.
 The chapter refers to the mandatory International
Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
 SOLAS Chapter VII
Carriage of dangerous goods: Part B

 Covers the construction and equipment of ships carrying

dangerous liquid chemicals in bulk.
 Chemical tankers built after 1st July 1986 must comply
with the mandatory International Bulk Chemical (IBC)
Code.
 SOLAS Chapter VII
Carriage of dangerous goods: Part C

 Covers the construction and equipment of ships carrying

liquefied gases in bulk.
 Gas carriers constructed after 1st July 1986 must comply
with the requirements of the mandatory International
Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships
Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC) Code.
 SOLAS Chapter VII
Carriage of dangerous goods: Part D

 Covers the construction and equipment of ships carrying

radioactive materials.
 Ships must comply with the requirements of the
mandatory International Code for the Safe Carriage of
Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, Plutonium and High-
Level Radioactive Wastes on Board Ships (INF) Code.
 SOLAS Chapter VIII
Nuclear ships

 This chapter gives basic requirements for the

construction and operation of nuclear-powered ships and
is particularly concerned with radiation hazards.
 It also refers to the mandatory Code of Safety for
Nuclear Merchant Ships.
 SOLAS Chapter IX
Management for the Safe Operation of Ships

 The chapter makes mandatory the International Safety

Management (ISM) Code
 The chapter entered into force on 1st July 1998
 SOLAS Chapter X
Safety measures for high-speed craft

 This chapter makes mandatory the International Code of

Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC Code)
 Applies to high-speed craft built on or after
1st January 1996.
 New regulations now apply to craft built on or after
1st July 2002.
 SOLAS Chapter XI - 1
Special measures to enhance maritime safety

Originally a single chapter which entered into force on

1st January 1996.and stated requirements for:-
 authorisation of organisations responsible for carrying
out surveys and inspections on behalf of administrations
i.e. classification societies;
 enhanced surveys;
 ship identification number scheme;
 port state control.
 SOLAS Chapter XI - 2
Special measures to enhance maritime safety

A second part of this chapter has now been created and

requires ships, companies and ports to comply with the
International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

 Also sets out requirements for ship security alert

systems
 SOLAS Chapter XII
Additional safety measures for bulk carriers.

This entered into force on 1st July 1999 and includes:-

 Structural requirements for new bulk carriers over 150
metres in length built after 1st July 1999 and carrying
cargoes with a density of over 1,000 kg/m3.
 Specific structural requirements for existing bulk carriers
carrying cargoes with a density of over 1,780 kg/m3.
 Requirement for water level detectors to be installed in
cargo holds.
.