Global Maritime Regulatory System

Regarding SOLAS

SOLAS 2014 Edition

Solas is also known as The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. It is one of the most important publication that all seafarers need to know as for the actions to be taken and ways to prevent accidents or bad incidents to happen. The convention of SOLAS requires flag states to ensure that ships flagged by them comply with at least these standards. SOLAS is divided into few important chapters. In total, there are 14 chapters and every chapter is important. 

RMS Titanic
SOurce by Maritime Cyprus
https://maritimecyprus.com/2017/04/15/flashback-in-history-sinking-of-rms-titanic-on-14-april-1912-2/

Purpose of SOLAS:

SOLAS is a set of international standards first released in 1914, in consequence to the Titanic disaster. 

• Today SOLAS regulates basic safety aspects for ships on international voyages such as stability, machinery, electrical installations, fire protection and lifesaving appliances.
• The main objective of the SOLAS Convention is to specify minimum standards for the construction, equipment and operation of ships.

source by marine insight
 https://www.marineinsight.com/maritime-law/safety-of-life-at-sea-solas-convention-for-prevention-of-marine-pollution-marpol-a-general-overview/

 The chapters are as below:

Chapter I – General Provisions: Surveys and certification of all the safety items etc are included.

Chapter II-1 – Construction – Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations: Deals with watertight integrity of the ship, especially for passenger vessel.

Chapter II-2 – Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction: This chapter elaborates the means and measure for fire protection in accommodation, cargo spaces and engine room for the passenger, cargo and tanker ship.

Chapter III – Life-saving appliances and arrangements: All the life-saving appliances and there use in different situations is described.

Chapter IV – Radio communications: Includes requirements of GMDSS, SART, EPIRB and etc for cargo and passenger vessel.

Chapter V – Safety of navigation: This chapter deals with all the seagoing vessels of all sizes, from boats to VLCCs, and includes passage planning, navigation, distress signal etc.

Chapter VI – Carriage of Cargoes: This chapter defines storage and securing of different types of cargo and containers, but does not include oil and gas cargo.

Chapter VII – Carriage of dangerous goods: Defines the International Maritime Goods Code for storage and transportation of dangerous goods.

Chapter VIII – Nuclear ships: The code of safety for a nuclear-propelled ship is stated in this chapter.

Chapter IX – Management for the Safe Operation of Ships: The International Safety Management code for ship owner and the operator is described clearly.

Chapter X – Safety measures for high-speed craft: safety code for the high-speed craft is explained.

Chapter XI-1 & 2– Special measures to enhance maritime safety: Special and enhanced survey for safe operation, other operational requirements and ISPS code is briefed in this chapter.

Chapter XII – Additional safety measures for bulk carriers: Includes safety requirement for above 150 meters length bulk carrier.

Chapter XIII  – Verification of Compliance

Chapter XIV -Safety Measures for Ships Operating in Polar Waters

Now, here we will go through the chapter with some important informations.

SOLAS Chapter I

In the SOLAS Chapter 1; General Provisions, Surveys and certification of all the safety items, structure, machinery etc. are included.

This chapter is further subdivided into 3 parts- Part A, Part B and Part C.

Part A contains 5 regulation which explains the “Application” of this chapter in different types of the ship along with the “Definition” of different terminology which is used in the chapter. The regulation may not be applicable to all types of a ship; hence a separate section of “Exceptions” and “Exemptions” is also provided.

All the SOLAS chapters cover a general basic minimum criterion which applies to seagoing ships, regardless of their location and nationality. It is possible that the material or appliances available in one country are not available for the ship in another country. An “Equivalent” Section is also provided to deal with such a situation.

Part B contains the important regulations informing about surveys and certificates seagoing ships need to have to be said compliant with SOLAS. For this, 15 regulations are kept under Part B. Regulation 6 to Regulation 11 provides details of different survey requirement on different ships, equipment, machinery etc. clauses on how to do the repair and what kind of surveys to go through.

Source by Sea Service

SOLAS Chapter II-1

Construction – Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations: This chapter of SOLAS Deals with watertight integrity of the ship, including the passenger’s vessel and comprises of 7 parts, explaining the requirement for structural, machinery, electrical, stability and other criteria for a safe ship.

Part A contains 3 regulations which explain the “Application” of this chapter on ships as per their keel laying. The regulations explain the “Definition” of different terminology which is used in the chapter.

Part A-1 comprises of regulations explaining the requirement for the structure of the ship including protective coating, towing arrangements, deck equipment fittings, construction and drawings etc. It also includes the regulation on how to provide access to different parts of oil tanker and bulk carrier and the structure access manual which contains the details of the structure including plans for means of access. Method to construct a ship which complies with the regulation for protection against noise is also included.

Fire extinguisher
Source by Marine Insight

SOLAS Chapter II-2

Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction: This chapter elaborates the means and measure for fire protection in accommodation, cargo spaces and engine room for the passenger, cargo and tanker ship. This chapter is divided into 7 parts, explaining the various requirement for fire safety system installed on a ship.

Part A contains regulations 1 to 3 which explains the “Application” of this chapter on ships construction date and the regulations also explains the “Definition” of different terminology which is used in the chapter and the objective and functional requirement of this chapter.

Part B of this chapter specifies the requirement to prevent fire and explosion on cargo ship including tankers. It has 3 regulations from Regulation 4 to regulation 6; Regulation 4 giving the details of how to prevent the ignition of a combustible source present on ships including the limitations and arrangements on the use of fuel and lube oils used onboard, and prevention of fire in the cargo areas of the tanker ship.

Regulation 5 laid down the requirement to curb the growth of the fire in different spaces on the ship, which includes cutting any one side of the fire triangle, i.e. to control either air supply, oil supply or the heat source (using protection materials like insulation, linings etc.) in the potential hazardous space.

Lifeboat
Source by Aysan Marine

SOLAS Chapter III 

Life-saving appliances and arrangements: All the lifesaving appliances and there use in different situations according to the ship type is described in this chapter.

This chapter comprises of 3 Parts. Part A contains 5 regulation which explains the “Application” of this chapter in different types of the ship along with the “Definition” of different terminology which is used in the chapter. The regulation may not be applicable to all types of a ship; hence a separate section of “Exceptions” and “Exemptions” is also provided. Further, onboard testing and production testing procedures are also explained.

Part B comprises of total 32 regulations (from Regulation no. 6 to 37) dealing with the requirements of life-saving appliances on passenger and cargo ships. Regulation 6 describes the communication appliance (Radio, Pyrotechnics etc.) used for safety and life-saving situations on vessels.

VHF (radio communication)
Source by Cobham

SOLAS Chapter IV

Radio communications: This chapter Includes requirements of different radio communication equipment used onboard ships such as GMDSS, SART, EPIRB etc for cargo and passenger vessel. This chapter is divided into 3 parts; Part A, Part B and Part C.

Part A contains regulations 1 to 4 which explains the “Application” of this chapter and the regulations also explains the “Definition” of different terminology which is used in the chapter and the objective and functional requirement of this chapter. Further, it includes the exemptional requirement and the details of GMDSS satellite providers.

SOLAS Chapter V

Safety of navigation: This chapter consists of total 35 regulations dealing with all the seagoing vessels of all sizes, from boats to VLCCs, and includes passage planning,  navigation, distress signal etc.

Regulations 1 to 3 explains the “Application” of this chapter on the safety of navigation and the regulations also explains the “Definition” of different terminology which is used in the chapter and the objective and functional requirement of this chapter. Further, it includes the exemptional requirement to be granted by the administration to a complying ship.

Regulation 4 and 5 lists down different navigational and mineralogical service warnings which are essential for a navigating officer for safe passage plan.

Source by MFAME

SOLAS Chapter VI 

Carriage of Cargoes and Oil Fuel: This chapter defines storage and securing of different types of cargo and containers, but does not include oil and gas cargo. This chapter is further divided into 3 parts; Part A, Part B, and Part C.

Part A contains regulations 1 to Regulation 5. Regulation 1 explains the “Application” of this chapter and also explains the “Definition” of different terminology which is used in the chapter and the requirements to carry the solid cargo other than grain.

Regulation 2 tells about the information exchange to be done between the shipper and the master on the type of cargo being loaded.

IMDG Code 2018 Edition

Solas Chapter VII

Carriage of dangerous goods: Defines the International Maritime Goods Code for storage and transportation of dangerous goods. This chapter is further divided into 4 parts; Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D.

Part A is provided with information on the carriage of dangerous goods in the packaged form under 7 regulations. Regulation 1, 2 and 3 explain the “Application” of this chapter and also explains the “Definition” of different terminology which is used in the chapter along with the requirements to carry dangerous goods in the packaged form.

SOLAS Chapter VIII 

Nuclear ships: The code of safety for the nuclear-propelled ship is stated in this chapter.

This chapter consists of 12 regulations explaining the application, exemptions, approvals, and requirement (for reactor installations), Safety against radiation, safety assessment, operating manual, surveys and certifications, Controlling authority and steps in case of any causality due to radiation etc.

SOLAS Chapter IX

Management for the Safe Operation of Ships

The International Safety Management code for ship owner and the operator is described clearly. Regulation 1 and 2 of this chapter explains the details about the “Application” of SOLAS Chapter 9 and also explains the “Definition” of different terminology which is used in the chapter.

Regulation 3 provides the requirement to comply with the ISM code followed by important certifications in Regulation 4, which includes DOC, SMC etc.

2000 HSC Code

SOLAS Chapter X

Safety measures for high-speed craft

This chapter is dedicated to high-speed crafts only, explaining the safety requirements and comprises of 3 regulations interpreting the Definitions of different terminology which are used in the chapter and “Application” of high-speed craft along with the requirements for high-speed crafts.

SOLAS Consolidated Edition 2014 ISPS

SOLAS Chapter XI

This chapter is divided into two sections.

Section one, i.e. Chapter XI -1 deal with the Special measures to enhance maritime safety which includes Special and Enhanced survey for safe operation. The second section of this SOLAS  chapter which is Chapter XI-2 list down the regulations for special rules to improve maritime security.

Chapter XI-1 consist of 7 regulations. Regulation 1 provides information about the authorization of a recognised organisation. Regulation 2 compiles the requirements for the enhanced survey for bulk carriers and oil tankers along with the harmonization of survey periods of ships which are not subjected to the ESP code.

SOLAS Chapter XII

Additional safety measures for bulk carriers: This chapter Includes safety requirement for above 150 meters length bulk carrier. It consists of 14 regulations.

Regulation 1,2 and 3 gives details about the “Definition” of different terminology which are used in the chapter and the details about the “Application” of this chapter, followed by the implementation schedule for the survey as per the date of construction.

SOLAS Chapter XIII 

Verification of Compliance: This chapter was adopted on 22 May 2014 which requires all the Contracting Party to undergo periodic audits by the approved organization following the audit standard to verify compliance with and implementation of the present Convention.

This chapter consists of regulation 1 to regulation 3 explaining the “Definition” of different terminologies which are used in the chapter and the details about the “Application” of this chapter, followed by the verification system for contracting government.

Polaar Code 2014 Edition

SOLAS Chapter XIV

Safety Measures for Ships Operating in Polar Waters – As the name suggest, the SOLAS chapter 14 deals with the ships that intend to operate within the Arctic and Antarctic areas and need to carry Polar Ship Certificate.

This  Code entered into force on 1 January 2017 and explains the shipowners and ship managers about the steps to be taken to have their ships in compliance within the different categories. This is one of the latest chapter introduced within SOLAS in 2017.

It comprises of 4 Regulations starting from regulation 1 & 2 which gives the details about the definitions of the terminology used in this chapter and application of this code.

For further information, you may browse through IMO and look for SOLAS publication at Malaysia Maritime Academy Resource Centre.

SOLAS 2004 Edition Book