SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA

CONVENTION
N 1974
4
(SOLAS)

1914
4 SOLAS
Sinking of passenger ship Titanic in 1912
with loss of 1500 lives
Conference convened by United
Kingdom
g
Government
13 Countries attended
First international safety standards for
merchant ships.

1914
4 SOLAS
S (continued)
Provisions
Carriage
g of radiotelegraphy
g p y equipment
q p
for ships carrying more than 50 persons
North Atlantic ice patrol
originally fully financed by the USA
now contributions by users

LiveLive-saving appliances
Fire prevention and fire fighting
appliances

1929
9 SOLAS
To update 1914 SOLAS and add new
provisions
18 Countries attended
Revised the Colreg
Followed the same lay
lay--out as 1914
SOLAS
Entered into force 1933

1948
8 SOLAS
To incorporate advances in technology
IMO convention adopted
p
in 1948
IMO convention entered into force in
1958
1948 SOLAS entered into force in 1952

1960 SOLAS
FIRST
T MAJOR
R TASK
K FOR
R
THE ORGANIZATION

55 Countries attended
Conference held under IMO
Additional provisions
Govts to investigate casualties
more safety measures extended to cargo
ships
hi
entered into force 1965

1974
4 SOLAS

Amendments to 1960 SOLAS

1966, 1967, 1968,1969, 1971 & 1973
NONE
O
ENTERED INTO
O FORCE
O C
Reasons for the 1974 SOLAS
-to
t incorporate
i
t allll previous
i
amendments
d
t
-to introduce tacit acceptance procedure
to ensure amendments enter into force on
specified dates
-71 Countries attended
-entered into force 1980

SOLAS
S CONVENTIONS
ADOPTED
IN FORCE
x 1914
x 1929
x 1948
x 1960
x 1974

1933
1952
1965
1980

4 YRS
4 YRS
5 YRS
6 YRS

SOLAS
S (CONTD)
Amendment adopted by two
two--thirds
majority
Normally 2 years but not less than 1 year
deemed to be accepted.
p
In exceptional
p
circumstances conf. Can reduce to not
less than 6 months
Entry into force 6 months later

1978
8 PROTOCOL
Developed in response to spate of tanker
accidents between 1976 -1977
Measures mainly affecting tanker design
and operation
p
Applicable to SOLAS and MARPOL

1978
8 PROTOCOL
Unscheduled inspection and/or annual
surveys, strengthening of port State inspection
Inert gas system for new tankers 20
20,000
000 dwt
and above
Inert gas system for existing crude oil carriers
70,000 dwt and above
Two remote steering gear control systems for
tankers of 10,000 grt and above

SOLAS
S AMENDMENTS
SOLAS is dynamic with amendments adopted
almost every year
Whole chapters have been renewed
renewed, revised or
included
Amendments enter into force on agreed dates
Generally amendments affecting design or
structures apply only to new ships,those
affecting equipment or procedures extend to
existing ships (grand father clause)
New rules apply to non
non--parties (NMFT Art
Art.1.3)
1 3)

 SOLAS provisions are supplemented by:

- Codes
- Guidelines
- Assembly resolutions
- MSC circulars
- Sub
Sub--committee circulars
Govts are requested to use these where
appropriate

ENFORCEMENT
Conventions are only international
agreements and need national laws to be
applicable to individual Parties
Enforcement is a task for Governments
that have ratified the conventions and
p
in their national
have implemented
laws

APPLICATION OF SOLAS
(Reg. 1/3)
The application of SOLAS differs between
chapters
In general, SOLAS is not applicable to:
-Ships of war
-Ships on Government service
-Cargo ships of less than 500gt
-Sailing ships
-wooden primitive ships

APPLICATION
N OF
F SOLAS
- Pleasure craft
- Fishing
g vessels
- Ships employed in national trade

SOLAS
PROVISIONS
In the past IMO reacted on basis of results of
investigations reported to IMO
In the nineties policy became proactive
In this respect Classification societies
( represented by IACS ) play a vital role
because they :
- Have a lot of experience
- Have research Departments
manned by experts
- Conduct regular surveys during the
service life of ship

OTHER LIMITS OF SOLAS

APPLICATION
N BETWEEN
N
CHAPTERS
CHAPTER II -I / 45: NO lower limit
Chapter
p III : Generally
y 500 GT but
different limits in specific regulations
CHAPTER IV:
Lower limit 300gt
CAPTER V:
No lower limit
CHAPTERS VI & VII
VII: N
No llower lilimit
it
For HSC : A specific formula applies

INTERNATIONAL MARITIME
ORGANISATION
CONVENTION ADOPTED IN 1948
ENTERED INTO FORCE IN 1958
ORIGINALLY KNOWNED AS THE INTERINTER-GOVERNMENTAL
MARITIME CONSULTATIVE ORGANIZATION (IMCO)
CHANGED IN 1982 BY AMENDMENT TO THE CONVENTION
TO INTERNTIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION (IMO)
167 MEMBERS
3 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS (H.K. (CHINA), MACAO (CHINA) and
FAROE IS (DENMARK)
ORGANIZATIONS IN CONSULTATIVE STAUS
`- NGOs 65
- INTER
INTER--GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS 42