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  A quick handy guide to the SOLAS Chapters

 

As a quick pause in the certificates handy guides here is a quick handy guide to the SOLAS chapters. SOLAS is the top level legislation for the majority of the Maritime safety  related subjects so knowing what it contains in ‘big handfuls’ is useful knowledge.

What is the full name for SOLAS?

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974

 Its aim is to promote safety of life at sea.

When was it implemented?

Adoption: 1 November 1974; entry into force: 25 May 1980

Click here for the IMO SOLAS page>

“The SOLAS Convention in its successive forms is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant ships. The first version was adopted in 1914, in response to the Titanic disaster, the second in 1929, the third in 1948, and the fourth in 1960. The 1974 version includes the tacit acceptance procedure – which provides that an amendment shall enter into force on a specified date unless, before that date, objections to the amendment are received from an agreed number of Parties.” IMO Website 2016

 Click here for a poster showing the link between the Titanic and SOLAS on the IMO website>

The SOLAS chapters with a summary of some of their contents

Chapter I – General Provisions

• Surveys
• Certification
• Port state control

Chapter II-1 – Construction: Structure, Subdivisions and Stability, Machinery and Electrical Installations

• Subdivision
• Pumping arrangements
• Stability requirements
• Essential systems

Chapter II-2 – Construction: Fire Protection, Fire Detection and Fire Extinction

• Fire zones
• Fire boundaries
• Fire detection
• Means of escape
• Access for fire-fighting
• Fire extinguishing appliences

Chapter III – Life-Saving Appliances

• Lifeboats
• Rescue boats
• Lifejackets

Chapter IV – Radiocommunications

• GMDSS
• EPIRBS
• SARTS

Chapter V – Safety of Navigation

• Metrological services
• Ice patrol services
• Routeing Search and rescue
• Distress
• VDRs
• AIS

Chapter VI – Carriage of Cargoes and Oil Fuels

• Stowage and securing of cargo

Chapter VII – Dangerous Goods

• Part A Dangerous goods in package form
• Part B Dangerous chemicals in bulk
• Part C    Liquefied gases in bulk

Part D Radioactive substances

Chapter VIII – Nuclear Ships

Chapter IX – ISM

• ISM code

Chapter X – High-Speed Craft

• HSC code

Chapter XI-1 – Special Measures to Enhance Maritime Safety

• Authorisation of organisations
• Enhanced surveys
• Ship identification numbers
• Port state control

Chapter XI-2 – Special Measures to Enhance Maritime Security

• ISPS code
• Ship alert system
• Port facilities
• Control of ships in port

Chapter XII – Additional Safety Measures for Bulk Carriers

• Structural requirements for bulk carriers

Chapter XIII – Verification of Compliance

• IMO member state audit scheme

Chapter XIV-Safety measures for ships operating in polar waters

• • • The Polar Code

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