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Amended Solas Rules for Ships Enter into Force Today

July 1, 2014

New requirements under the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) to require all ships to have plans and procedures to recover persons from the water are among a set of SOLAS amendments entering into force on 1 July 2014.

Amended Solas Rules for Ships Enter into Force Today

The SOLAS amendments, adopted in 2012, were developed as part of the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s work on large passenger ship safety and are aimed at ensuring all ships have the capability to effectively serve as a rescue asset and have the right equipment to be able to rescue persons from the water and from survival craft, in the event of an incident.

This new requirement is intended to enhance safety at sea and also to provide support to search and rescue coordinators in all types of rescue operations and, particularly, in those situations where there is insufficient dedicated search and rescue capacity or access to helicopters and specialized rescue craft is limited.

The ship’s plans and procedures should take into account related Guidelines for the development of plans and procedures for recovery of persons from the water (MSC.1/Circ.1447).

Ships constructed before 1 July 2014 are required to comply with the requirement by the first periodical or renewal safety equipment survey of the ship to be carried out after 1 July 2014,whichever comes first.

The implementation of the requirements on ships to which SOLAS does not apply is encouraged under a related MSC resolution​, also adopted in 2012, which invites SOLAS Contracting Governments to determine to what extent the requirements should apply to:

  • cargo ships of a gross tonnage below 500 engaged on any voyage;
  • cargo ships of a gross tonnage of 500 and above not engaged on international voyages;
  • passenger ships not engaged on international voyages; fishing vessels; high-speed craft;
  • dynamically supported craft; special purpose ships;
  • and mobile offshore drilling units.

Full amended requirements of the SOLAS convention can be viewed here.

 

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Press Release, July 1, 2014