International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974

Consolidated Edition, 2024 — 50th anniversary 1974–2024

Consolidated text of the Convention and its Protocol of 1988: articles, annexes and certificates

Incorporating all amendments in effect on 1 July 2024 · International Maritime Organization, London

CONSOLIDATED EDITION, 2024

year anniversary 1974-2024

Consolidated text of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, and its Protocol of 1988: articles, annexes and certificates

Incorporating all amendments in effect on 1 July 2024

IMO ~ INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANIZATION

London,2024

Contents

Foreword … v

Part 1

Articles of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 … 3

Articles of the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 … 11

Consolidated text of the annex to the 1974 SOLAS Convention and the 1988 Protocol relating thereto Chapter I General provisions

Chapter 11-1 Construction - Structure, subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations

Chapter 11-2 Construction - Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction

Chapter Ill Life-saving appliances and arrangements

Chapter IV Radiocommunications

Chapter V Safety of navigation

Chapter VI Carriage of cargoes and oil fuels

Chapter Vil Carriage of dangerous goods

Chapter VI 11 Nuclear ships

Chapter IX Management for the safe operation of ships

Chapter X Safety measures for high-speed craft

Chapter Xl-1 Special measures to enhance maritime safety

Chapter Xl-2 Special measures to enhance maritime security

Chapter XII Additional safety measures for bulk carriers

Chapter XIII Verification of compliance

Chapter XIV Safety measures for ships operating in polar waters

Chapter XV Safety measures for ships carrying industrial personnel

Appendix Certificates

Part 2

Annex 1 Certificates and documents required to be carried on board ships

Annex 2 List of resolutions adopted by the SOLAS Conferences

Foreword

Introduction

1 The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, currently in force, was adopted on 1 November 1974 by the International Conference on Safety of Life at Sea, under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and entered into force on 25 May 1980. It has since been amended twice by means of the following protocols:

.1 the Protocol of 1978 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (1978 SOLAS Protocol), adopted on 17 February 1978 by the International Conference on Tanker Safety and Pollution Prevention, which entered into force on 1 May 1981; and

.2 the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (1988 SOLAS Protocol), adopted on 11 November 1988 by the International Conference on the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification, which entered into force on 3 February 2000 and replaced and abrogated the 1978 SOLAS Protocol, as between Parties to the 1988 SOLAS Protocol.

2 In addition, the 1974 SOLAS Convention has been amended by means of resolutions adopted either by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in its expanded form specified in SOLAS article VIII or by Conferences of SOLAS Contracting Governments, also specified in article VIII, as follows:

.1 by the 1981 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.1(XLV) and entered into force on 1 September 1984;

.2 by the 1983 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.6(48) and entered into force on

1 July 1986;

.3 by the April 1988 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.11(55) and entered into force on 22 October 1989;

.4 by the October 1988 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.12(56) and entered into force on 29 April 1990;

.5 by the November 1988 amendments, which were adopted by resolutions 1 and 2 of the Conference of Contracting Governments to SOLAS 1974 on the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System and entered into force on 1 February 1992;

.6 by the 1989 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.13(57) and entered into force on

1 February 1992;

.7 by the 1990 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.19(58) and entered into force on

1 February 1992;

.8 by the 1991 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.22(59) and entered into force on

1 January 1994;

.9 by the April 1992 amendments, which were adopted by resolutions MSC.24(60) and MSC.26(60)

and entered into force on 1 October 1994;

.10 by the December 1992 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.27(61) and entered into force on 1 October 1994;

.11 by the May 1994 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.31(63) and entered into force on 1 January 1996 (annex 1) and on 1 July 1998 (annex 2);

Foreword

.12 by the May 1994 amendments, which were adopted by resolution 1 of the Conference of Contracting Governments to SOLAS 1974 and entered into force on 1 January 1996 (annex 1) and on 1 July 1998 (annex 2);

.13 by the December 1994 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.42(64) and entered into force on 1 July 1996;

.14 by the May 1995 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.46(65) and entered into force on 1 January 1997;

.15 by the November 1995 amendments, which were adopted by resolution 1 of the Conference of Contracting Governments to SOLAS 1974 and entered into force on 1 July 1997;

.16 by the June 1996 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.47(66) and entered into force on 1 July 1998;

.17 by the December 1996 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.57(67) and entered into force on 1 July 1998;

.18 by the June 1997 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.65(68) and entered into force on 1 July 1999;

.19 by the November 1997 amendments, which were adopted by resolution 1 of the Conference of Contracting Governments to SOLAS 1974 and entered into force on 1 July 1999;

.20 by the May 1998 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.69(69) and entered into force on 1 July 2002;

.21 by the May 1999 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.87(71) and entered into force on 1 January 2001;

.22 by the May 2000 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.91 (72) and entered into force on 1 January 2002;

.23 by the November 2000 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.99(73) and entered into force on 1 July 2002;

.24 by the June 2001 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.117(74) and entered into force on 1 January 2003;

.25 by the May 2002 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.123(75) and entered into force on 1 January 2004;

.26 by the December 2002 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.134(76) and entered into force on 1 July 2004;

.27 by the December 2002 amendments, which were adopted by resolution 1 of the Conference of Contracting Governments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 and entered into force on 1 July 2004;

.28 by the June 2003 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.142(77) and entered into force on 1 July 2006;

.29 by the May 2004 amendments, which were adopted by resolutions MSC.151(78), MSC.152(78) and MSC.153(78), and entered into force on 1 January 2006, 1 July 2006 and 1 July 2006, respectively;

.30 by the December 2004 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.170(79) and entered into force on 1 July 2006;

.31 by the May 2005 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.194(80) and entered into force on 1 January 2007 (annex 1) and 1 January 2009 (annex 2);

Foreword

.32 by the May 2006 amendments, which were adopted by resolutions MSC.201(81) and MSC.202(81)

and entered into force on 1 July 2010 and 1 January 2008, respectively;

.33 by the December 2006 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.216(82) and entered into force on 1 July 2008 (annex 1), 1 January 2009 (annex 2), and 1 July 2010 (annex 3);

.34 by the October 2007 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.239(83) and entered into force on 1 July 2009;

.35 by the May 2008 amendments, which were adopted by resolutions MSC.256(84) and MSC.257(84)

and entered into force on 1 January 201 O;

.36 by the December 2008 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.269(85) and entered into force on 1 July 2010 (annex 1) and 1 January 2011 (annex 2);

.37 by the June 2009 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.282(86) and entered into force on 1 January 2011;

.38 by the May 2010 amendments, which were adopted by resolutions MSC.290(87) and MSC.291(87)

and entered into force on 1 January 2012;

.39 by the December 2010 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.308(88) and entered into force on 1 July 2012;

.40 by the May 2011 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.317(89) and entered into force on 1 January 2013;

.41 by the May 2012 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.325(90) and entered into force on 1 January 2014;

.42 by the November 2012 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.338(91) and entered into force on 1 July 2014;

.43 by the June 2013 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.350(92) and entered into force on 1 January 2015;

.44 by the May 2014 amendments, which were adopted by resolutions MSC.365(93) and MSC.366(93)

and entered into force on 1 January 2016;

.45 by the November 2014 amendments, which were adopted by resolutions MSC.380(94) and MSC.386(94) and entered into force on 1 July 2016 and on 1 January 2017, respectively;

.46 by the June 2015 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.392(95) and entered into force on 1 January 2017;

.47 by the Secretariat corrections to resolution MSC.290(87) (see sub-paragraph .38 above) under the cover of Note Verbale NV.009;

.48 by the May 2016 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.404(96) and entered into force on 1 January 2020;

.49 by the November 2016 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.409(97) and entered into force on 1 January 2020;

.50 by the June 2017 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.421 (98) and entered into force on 1 January 2020;

.51 by the May 2018 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.436(99) and entered into force on 1 January 2020;

.52 by the June 2019 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.456(101) and entered into force on 1 January 2024;

.53 by the November 2020 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.474(102) and entered into force on 1 January 2024;

Foreword

.54 by the May 2021 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.482(103) and entered into force on 1 January 2024;

.55 by the April 2022 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.496(105) and entered into force on 1 January 2024; and

.56 by the November 2022 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.521(106) and entered into force on 1 July 2024.

3 In addition to the above-mentioned amendments, the 1978 SOLAS Protocol has been amended, as follows:

.1 by the 1981 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.2(XLV) and entered into force on 1 September 1984;

.2 by the 1988 amendments, which were adopted by resolution 1 of the Conference of Contracting Governments to SOLAS 1974 on the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System and entered into force on 1 February 1992;

.3 by the 2012 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.343(91) and entered into force on 1 July 2014; and

.4 by the 2015 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.394(95) and entered into force on 1 January 2017.

4 The 1988 SOLAS Protocol has also been amended, as follows:

.1 by the May 2000 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.92(72) and entered into force on 1 January 2002;

.2 by the December 2000 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.100(73) and entered into force on 1 July 2002;

.3 by the May 2002 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.124(75) and entered into force on 1 January 2004;

.4 by the May 2004 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.154(78) and entered into force on 1 July 2006;

.5 by the December 2004 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.171(79) and entered into force on 1 July 2006;

.6 by the May 2006 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.204(81) and shall be deemed to have been accepted on the date on which they are accepted by two thirds of the Parties to the Protocol and shall enter into force six months after that date;

.7 by the December 2006 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.227(82) and entered into force on 1 July 2008;

.8 by the October 2007 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.240(83) and entered into force on 1 July 2009;

.9 by the May 2008 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.258(84) and entered into force on 1 January 201 O;

.10 by the June 2009 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.283(86) and entered into force on 1 January 2011;

.11 by the December 2010 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.309(88) and entered into force on 1 July 2012;

.12 by the November 2012 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.344(91) and entered into force on 1 July 2014;

Foreword

.13 by the June 2015 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.395(95) and entered into force on 1 January 2017; and

.14 by the April 2022 amendments, which were adopted by resolution MSC.497(105) and entered into force on 1 January 2024.

Content of the consolidated text

5 This publication, compiled by the Secretariat to provide an easy reference to SOLAS requirements, contains a consolidated text of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, the 1988 SOLAS Protocol, and all subsequent amendments thereto in force as on 1 July 2024.

6 In addition to the above, this publication contains the unified interpretations of SOLAS regulations, as approved by IMO's Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) in order to facilitate global and consistent implementation of the requirements of the Convention. The Secretariat has compiled all unified interpretations approved by MSC since 2011 (i.e. MSC 89). The unified interpretations are arranged by chapter and placed at the end of each chapter. They are also numbered by chapter and cross-referenced to the regulation they clarify.

7 This publication has been arranged in two parts:

.1 part 1 contains the 1974 SOLAS Convention and the 1988 SOLAS Protocol articles, requirements and certificates; and

.2 part 2 contains a list of certificates and documents* to be carried on board ships and a list of resolutions adopted by the aforementioned SOLAS Conferences.

8 The operational requirements contained in this consolidated text are, in general, applicable to all ships, while the requirements for ship construction and equipment apply to ships constructed on or after the dates specified in the various regulations. To identify construction and equipment requirements applicable to ships constructed before 1 July 2024, previous texts of the 1974 SOLAS Convention, the 1988 SOLAS Protocol and the amendments to the Convention should be consulted.

9 Those requirements of chapter I and of the appendix to the annex to the 1974 SOLAS Convention which were modified by the 1988 SOLAS Protocol are indicated by the symbol rn. No similar symbol is shown for requirements of the 1974 SOLAS Convention which were modified by the 1978 SOLAS Protocol because, while, in respect of chapter I of the Convention, the requirements thereof have been replaced and abrogated by the 1988 SOLAS Protocol, as between Parties to the Protocol, for requirements in other chapters of the Convention, they have been superseded by SOLAS amendments subsequently adopted.

10 In general, this publication reproduces the text of the 1974 SOLAS Convention and the 1988 SOLAS Protocol, and includes the modifications and amendments thereto given in their authentic texts. In addition, it includes some minor editorial changes, which, while not altering the substance, aim at achieving a degree of consistency between the texts of the 1974 SOLAS Convention and the 1988 SOLAS Protocol and the various amendments. In particular:

.1 while the decimal numbering system is used for paragraphs and sub-paragraphs of regulations in chapters 11-1, 11-2, 111, IV, V, VI and VII, which were completely rewritten in the respective amendments, the original numbering system is retained in chapters I and VIII;

.2 the references to regulations, paragraphs and chapters in the texts adopted in the 1981 and subsequent amendments use an abbreviated form (e.g. "regulation 11-2/23.6" for paragraph 6 (Control and monitoring of safety systems) of regulation 23 (Safety centre on passenger ships) in SOLAS chapter 11-2), whereas the original reference system is retained in unamended regulations (e.g. "regulation 5 of this chapter", "paragraph (a) of this regulation", etc.);

• The list only includes the certificates and documents that are required under IMO instruments and it does not include certificates or documents required by other international organizations or governmental authorities. It should not be used in the context of port State control inspections for which convention requirements should be referred to.

Foreword

.3 the term tons gross tonnage has been replaced by the term gross tonnage in view of the Assembly's decision (resolution A.493(XII)) that the term tons gross tonnage used in IMO instruments should be considered as having the same meaning as gross tonnage as determined under the 1969 Tonnage Convention; and

.4 metric values of the SI system have been used in accordance with resolution A.351 (IX).

Status of footnotes

11 Most of the footnotes contained in this publication are not part of the authentic text of the Convention.

They were inserted or updated at the time of publication by the Secretariat, taking into account the provisions of the Uniform wording for referencing /MO instruments (resolution A.911 (22)). The footnotes inserted or updated in this publication refer to codes, guidelines, recommendations, explanatory notes or decisions of the MSC relating to a particular text, or they refer to the instruments published by other international organizations, such as the International Electrotechnical Commission and the International Organization for Standardization. The reader must make use of the latest versions of the referenced texts, bearing in mind that such texts may have been revised or superseded by updated material since the publication of this consolidated edition of the

1974 SOLAS Convention, as amended. However, this does not apply to the footnotes containing references to specific editions of industry standards, such as their number or effective date, which should only be amended after agreement of the relevant IMO body to reference the relevant revised edition of the industry standard.

How to keep the publication up to date

12 The Secretariat issues supplements with corrections and amendments that have entered into force since the latest edition of SOLAS. The readers are invited to download the latest supplements from IMO's public website: https://www.imo.org/en/publications/ Pages/English.aspx SOLAS, regulating safety at sea for 50 years

13 Since its adoption in 1974, the SOLAS Convention has stood as the beacon of safety standards for international shipping, ensuring the protection of lives, property, and the marine environment. Over the past five decades, the Convention has continuously evolved and expanded to address emerging challenges and keep up with technological advancements. Its comprehensive framework has fostered a culture of safety consciousness among maritime nations and industry stakeholders worldwide.

14 As the maritime community commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1974 SOLAS Convention in 2024, this landmark occasion is reflected in the cover design of this publication to highlight the Convention's enduring legacy and to reaffirm the community's continuous and solid commitment to maritime safety for generations to come.

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

THE CONTRACTING GOVERNMENTS

BEING DESIROUS of promoting safety of life at sea by establishing in a common agreement uniform principles and rules directed thereto,

CONSIDERING that this end may best be achieved by the conclusion of a Convention to replace the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1960, taking account of developments since that Convention was concluded,

HAVE AGREED as follows:

Article I General obligations under the Convention (a) The Contracting Governments undertake to give effect to the provisions of the present Convention and the annex thereto, which shall constitute an integral part of the present Convention. Every reference to the present Convention constitutes at the same time a reference to the annex.

(b) The Contracting Governments undertake to promulgate all laws, decrees, orders and regulations and to take all other steps which may be necessary to give the present Convention full and complete effect, so as to ensure that, from the point of view of safety of life, a ship is fit for the service for which it is intended.

Article II Application* The present Convention shall apply to ships entitled to fly the flag of States the Governments of which are Contracting Governments.

Article Ill Laws, regulationst The Contracting Governments undertake to communicate to and deposit with the Secretary-General of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization+ (hereinafter referred to as "the Organization"):

(a) a list of non-governmental agencies which are authorized to act in their behalf in the administration of measures for safety of life at sea for circulation to the Contracting Governments for the information of their officers;

• Refer to Transfer of ships between States (MSC/Circ.1140-MEPC/Circ.424). t Refer to Article Ill of the 1988 SOLAS Protocol; Notification and circulation through the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) (resolution A.1074(28)) and Guidance on communication of information by Member States (resolution A.1139(31)). +The name of the Organization was changed to "International Maritime Organization" (IMO) by virtue of amendments to the Organization's Convention which entered into force on 22 May 1982.

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 Article IV

(b) the text of laws, decrees, orders and regulations which shall have been promulgated on the various matters within the scope of the present Convention;

(c) a sufficient number of specimens of their certificates issued under the provisions of the present Convention for circulation to the Contracting Governments for the information of their officers.

Article IV Cases of force majeure

(a) A ship, which is not subject to the provisions of the present Convention at the time of its departure on any voyage, shall not become subject to the provisions of the present Convention on account of any deviation from its intended voyage due to stress of weather or any other case of force majeure.

(b) Persons who are on board a ship by reason of force majeure or in consequence of the obligation laid upon the master to carry shipwrecked or other persons shall not be taken into account for the purpose of ascertaining the application to a ship of any provisions of the present Convention.

Article V Carriage of persons in emergencies

(a) For the purpose of evacuating persons in order to avoid a threat to the security of their lives a Contracting Government may permit the carriage of a larger number of persons in its ships than is otherwise permissible under the present Convention.

(b) Such permission shall not deprive other Contracting Governments of any right of control under the present Convention over such ships which come within their ports.

(c) Notice of any such permission, together with a statement of the circumstances, shall be sent to the Secretary-General of the Organization by the Contracting Government granting such permission.

Article VI Prior treaties and conventions

(a) As between the Contracting Governments, the present Convention replaces and abrogates the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea which was signed in London on 17 June 1960.

(b) All other treaties, conventions and arrangements relating to safety of life at sea, or matters appertaining thereto, at present in force between Governments parties to the present Convention shall continue to have full and complete effect during the terms thereof as regards:

(i) ships to which the present Convention does not apply;

(ii) ships to which the present Convention applies, in respect of matters for which it has not expressly provided.

(c) To the extent, however, that such treaties, conventions or arrangements conflict with the provisions of the present Convention, the provisions of the present Convention shall prevail.

(d) All matters which are not expressly provided for in the present Convention remain subject to the legislation of the Contracting Governments.

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 Article VIII

Article VII Special rules drawn up by agreement When in accordance with the present Convention special rules are drawn up by agreement between all or some of the Contracting Governments, such rules shall be communicated to the Secretary-General of the Organization for circulation to all Contracting Governments.

Article VIII Amendments* (a) The present Convention may be amended by either of the procedures specified in the following paragraphs.

(b) Amendments after consideration within the Organization: (i) Any amendment proposed by a Contracting Government shall be submitted to the Secretary- General of the Organization, who shall then circulate it to all Members of the Organization and all Contracting Governments at least six months prior to its consideration. (ii) Any amendment proposed and circulated as above shall be referred to the Maritime Safety Committee of the Organization for consideration. (iii) Contracting Governments of States, whether or not Members of the Organization, shall be entitled to participate in the proceedings of the Maritime Safety Committee for the consideration and adoption of amendments. (iv) Amendments shall be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Governments present and voting in the Maritime Safety Committee expanded as provided for in sub-paragraph (iii) of this paragraph (hereinafter referred to as "the expanded Maritime Safety Committee") on condition that at least one third of the Contracting Governments shall be present at the time of voting. (v) Amendments adopted in accordance with sub-paragraph (iv) of this paragraph shall be communicated by the Secretary-General of the Organization to all Contracting Governments for acceptance.

(vi) (1) An amendment to an article of the Convention or to chapter I of the annex shall be deemed to have been accepted on the date on which it is accepted by two thirds of the Contracting Governments. (2) An amendment to the annex other than chapter I shall be deemed to have been accepted (aa) at the end of two years from the date on which it is communicated to Contracting Governments for acceptance; or (bb) at the end of a different period, which shall not be less than one year, if so determined at the time of its adoption by a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Governments present and voting in the expanded Maritime Safety Committee. However, if within the specified period either more than one third of Contracting Governments, or Contracting Governments the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant fleet, notify the Secretary-General of the Organization that they object to the amendment, it shall be deemed not to have been accepted.

(vii) (1) An amendment to an article of the Convention or to chapter I of the annex shall enter into force with respect to those Contracting Governments which have accepted it, six months after the date on which it is deemed to have been accepted, and with respect to each Contracting Government which accepts it after that date, six months after the date of that Contracting Government's acceptance.

• Refer to Guidance on entry into force of amendments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention and related mandatory instruments (MSC.1/Circ.1481) and Guidance on drafting of amendments to the 1974 SOLAS Convention and related mandatory instruments (MSC.1/Circ.1500/Rev.3).

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 Article IX

(2) An amendment to the annex other than chapter I shall enter into force with respect to all Contracting Governments, except those which have objected to the amendment under sub-paragraph (vi)(2) of this paragraph and which have not withdrawn such objections, six months after the date on which it is deemed to have been accepted. However, before the date set for entry into force, any Contracting Government may give notice to the Secretary- General of the Organization that it exempts itself from giving effect to that amendment for a period not longer than one year from the date of its entry into force, or for such longer period as may be determined by a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Governments present and voting in the expanded Maritime Safety Committee at the time of the adoption of the amendment.

(i) Upon the request of a Contracting Government concurred in by at least one third of the Contracting Governments, the Organization shall convene a Conference of Contracting Governments to consider amendments to the present Convention. (ii) Every amendment adopted by such a Conference by a two-thirds majority of the Contracting Governments present and voting shall be communicated by the Secretary-General of the Organization to all Contracting Governments for acceptance. (iii) Unless the Conference decides otherwise, the amendment shall be deemed to have been accepted and shall enter into force in accordance with the procedures specified in sub-paragraphs (b)(vi) and (b)(vii) respectively of this article, provided that references in these paragraphs to the expanded Maritime Safety Committee shall be taken to mean references to the Conference.

(d) (i) A Contracting Government which has accepted an amendment to the annex which has entered into force shall not be obliged to extend the benefit of the present Convention in respect of the certificates issued to a ship entitled to fly the flag of a State the Government of which, pursuant to the provisions of sub-paragraph (b)(vi)(2) of this article, has objected to the amendment and has not withdrawn such an objection, but only to the extent that such certificates relate to matters covered by the amendment in question. (ii) A Contracting Government which has accepted an amendment to the annex which has entered into force shall extend the benefit of the present Convention in respect of the certificates issued to a ship entitled to fly the flag of a State the Government of which, pursuant to the provisions of sub-paragraph (b)(vii)(2) of this article, has notified the Secretary-General of the Organization that it exempts itself from giving effect to the amendment.

(e) Unless expressly provided otherwise, any amendment to the present Convention made under this article, which relates to the structure of a ship, shall apply only to ships the keels of which are laid or which are at a similar stage of construction, on or after the date on which the amendment enters into force.

(f) Any declaration of acceptance of, or objection to, an amendment or any notice given under sub-paragraph (b)(vii)(2) of this article shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary-General of the Organization, who shall inform all Contracting Governments of any such submission and the date of its receipt.

(g) The Secretary-General of the Organization shall inform all Contracting Governments of any amendments which enter into force under this article, together with the date on which each such amendment enters into force.

Article IX Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession (a) The present Convention shall remain open for signature at the Headquarters of the Organization from

1 November 1974 until 1 July 1975 and shall thereafter remain open for accession. States may become Parties to the present Convention by: (i) signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval; or International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 Article XII (ii) signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval; or (iii) accession.

(b) Ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument to that effect with the Secretary-General of the Organization.

(c) The Secretary-General of the Organization shall inform the Governments of all States which have signed the present Convention or acceded to it of any signature or of the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession and the date of its deposit.

Article X Entry into force

(a) The present Convention shall enter into force 12 months after the date on which not less than 25 States, the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant shipping, have become parties to it in accordance with article IX.

(b) Any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited after the date on which the present Convention enters into force shall take effect three months after the date of deposit.

(c) After the date on which an amendment to the present Convention is deemed to have been accepted under article VIII, any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited shall apply to the Convention as amended.

Article XI Denunciation

(a) The present Convention may be denounced by any Contracting Government at any time after the expiry of five years from the date on which the Convention enters into force for that Government.

(b) Denunciation shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of denunciation with the Secretary- General of the Organization who shall notify all the other Contracting Governments of any instrument of denunciation received and of the date of its receipt as well as the date on which such denunciation takes effect.

(c) A denunciation shall take effect one year, or such longer period as may be specified in the instrument of denunciation, after its receipt by the Secretary-General of the Organization.

Article XII Deposit and registration

(a) The present Convention shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the Organization who shall transmit certified true copies thereof to the Governments of all States which have signed the present Convention or acceded to it.

(b) As soon as the present Convention enters into force, the text shall be transmitted by the Secretary- General of the Organization to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for registration and publication, in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 Article XI 11

Article XI 11 Languages The present Convention is established in a single copy in the Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish languages, each text being equally authentic. Official translations in the Arabic, German and Italian languages shall be prepared and deposited with the signed original.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned,* being duly authorized by their respective Governments for that purpose, have signed the present Convention.

DONE AT LONDON this first day of November one thousand nine hundred and seventy-four.

* Signatures omitted.

Articles of the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974

THE PARTIES TO THE PRESENT PROTOCOL,

BEING PARTIES to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, done at London on 1 November 1974,

RECOGNIZING the need for the introduction into the above-mentioned Convention of provisions for survey and certification harmonized with corresponding provisions in other international instruments,

CONSIDERING that this need may best be met by the conclusion of a Protocol relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974,

HAVE AGREED as follows:

Article I General obligations

1 The Parties to the present Protocol undertake to give effect to the provisions of the present Protocol and the annex hereto, which shall constitute an integral part of the present Protocol. Every reference to the present Protocol constitutes at the same time a reference to the annex hereto.

2 As between the Parties to the present Protocol, the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as amended, (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention") shall apply subject to the modifications and additions set out in the present Protocol.

3 With respect to ships entitled to fly the flag of a State which is not a Party to the Convention and the present Protocol, the Parties to the present Protocol shall apply the requirements of the Convention and the present Protocol as may be necessary to ensure that no more favourable treatment is given to such ships.

Article II Prior treaties

1 As between the Parties to the present Protocol, the present Protocol replaces and abrogates the Protocol of 1978 relating to the Convention.

2 Notwithstanding any other provisions of the present Protocol, any certificate issued under, and in accordance with, the provisions of the Convention and any supplement to such certificate issued under, and in accordance with, the provisions of the Protocol of 1978 relating to the Convention which is current when the present Protocol enters into force in respect of the Party by which the certificate or supplement was issued, shall remain valid until it expires under the terms of the Convention or the Protocol of 1978 relating to the Convention, as the case may be.

3 A Party to the present Protocol shall not issue certificates under, and in accordance with, the provisions of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as adopted on 1 November 1974.

Articles of the Protocol of 1988 relating to SOLAS 1974 Article Ill

Article Ill Communication of information* The Parties to the present Protocol undertake to communicate to, and deposit with, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (hereinafter referred to as "the Organization"): (a) the text of laws, decrees, orders and regulations and other instruments which have been promulgated on the various matters within the scope of the present Protocol; (b) a list of nominated surveyors or recognized organizations which are authorized to act on their behalf in the administration of measures for safety of life at sea for circulation to the Parties for information of their officers, and a notification of the specific responsibilities and conditions of the authority delegated to those nominated surveyors or recognized organizations; and (c) a sufficient number of specimens of their certificates issued under the provision of the present Protocol.

Article IV Signature, ratification, acceptance, approval and accession

1 The present Protocol shall be open for signature at the Headquarters of the Organization from 1 March

1989 to 28 February 1990 and shall thereafter remain open for accession. Subject to the provisions of paragraph 3, States may express their consent to be bound by the present Protocol by: (a) signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval; or (b) signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval; or (c) accession.

2 Ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument to that effect with the Secretary-General of the Organization.

3 The present Protocol may be signed without reservation, ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to only by States which have signed without reservation, ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to the Convention.

Article V Entry into force

1 The present Protocol shall enter into force twelve months after the date on which both the following conditions have been met: (a) not less than fifteen States, the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant shipping, have expressed their consent to be bound by it in accordance with article IV, and (b) the conditions for the entry into force of the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966, have been met, provided that the present Protocol shall not enter into force before 1 February 1992.

2 For States which have deposited an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession in respect of the present Protocol after the conditions for entry into force thereof have been met but prior to the date of entry into force, the ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall take effect on the date of entry into force of the present Protocol or three months after the date of deposit of the instrument, whichever is the later date.

* Refer to Notification and circulation through the Global Integrated Shipping Information System (GISIS) (resolution A.1074(28)) and Guidance on communication of information by Member States (resolution A.1139(31)).

Articles of the Protocol of 1988 relating to SOLAS 1974 Article VIII

3 Any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited after the date on which the present Protocol enters into force shall take effect three months after the date of deposit.

4 After the date on which an amendment to the present Protocol is deemed to have been accepted under article VI, any instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession deposited shall apply to the present Protocol as amended.

Article VI Amendments* The procedures set out in article VIII of the Convention shall apply to amendments to the present Protocol, provided that:

(a) references in that article to the Convention and to Contracting Governments shall be taken to mean references to the present Protocol and to the Parties to the present Protocol respectively; (b) amendments to the articles of the present Protocol and to the annex thereto shall be adopted and brought into force in accordance with the procedure applicable to amendments to the articles of the Convention or to chapter I of the annex thereto; and

(c) amendments to the appendix to the annex to the present Protocol may be adopted and brought into force in accordance with the procedure applicable to amendments to the annex to the Convention other than chapter I.

Article VII Denunciation The present Protocol may be denounced by any Party at any time after the expiry of five years from the date on which the present Protocol enters into force for that Party.

2 Denunciation shall be effected by the deposit of an instrument of denunciation with the Secretary- General of the Organization.

3 A denunciation shall take effect one year, or such longer period as may be specified in the instrument of denunciation, after its receipt by the Secretary-General of the Organization.

4 A denunciation of the Convention by a Party shall be deemed to be a denunciation of the present Protocol by that Party. Such denunciation shall take effect on the same date as denunciation of the Convention takes effect according to paragraph (c) of article XI of the Convention.

Article VIII Depositary The present Protocol shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the Organization (hereinafter referred to as "the depositary").

2 The depositary shall:

(a) inform the Governments of all States which have signed the present Protocol or acceded thereto of: (i) each new signature or deposit of an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, together with the date thereof;

Articles of the Protocol of 1988 relating to SOLAS 1974 Article IX

(ii) the date of entry into force of the present Protocol; (iii) the deposit of any instrument of denunciation of the present Protocol together with the date on which it was received and the date on which the denunciation takes effect; (b) transmit certified true copies of the present Protocol to the Governments of all States which have signed the present Protocol or acceded thereto.

3 As soon as the present Protocol enters into force, a certified true copy thereof shall be transmitted by the depositary to the Secretariat of the United Nations for registration and publication in accordance with Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.

Article IX Languages The present Protocol is established in a single original in the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish languages, each text being equally authentic. An official translation into the Italian language shall be prepared and deposited with the signed original.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned,* being duly authorized by their respective Governments for that purpose, have signed the present Protocol.

DONE AT LONDON this eleventh day of November one thousand nine hundred and eighty-eight.

* Signatures omitted.

Consolidated text of the annex to the 1974 SOLAS Convention and the 1988 Protocol relating thereto

General provisions

Part A Application, definitions, etc.

Regulation 1 Application

mRegulation 2 Definitions

Regulation 3 Exceptions

Regulation 4 Exemptions

Regulation 5 Equivalents

Part B Surveys and certificates

mRegulation 6 Inspection and survey

mRegulation 7 Surveys of passenger ships

mRegulation 8 Surveys of life-saving appliances and other equipment of cargo ships

mRegulation 9 Surveys of radio installations of cargo ships

mRegulation 10 Surveys of structure, machinery and equipment of cargo ships

mRegulation 11 Maintenance of conditions after survey

mRegulation 12 Issue or endorsement of certificates

mRegulation 13 Issue or endorsement of certificates by another Government

mRegulation 14 Duration and validity of certificates

mRegulation 15 Forms of certificates and records of equipment

mRegulation 16 Availability of certificates

Regulation 17 Acceptance of certificates

Regulation 18 Qualification of certificates

mRegulation 19 Control

Regulation 20 Privileges

Part C Casualties

Regulation 21 Casualties … 35

Application, definitions, etc.

Regulation 1

Application* (a) Unless expressly provided otherwise, the present regulations apply only to ships engaged on international voyages. (b) The classes of ships to which each chapter applies are more precisely defined, and the extent of the application is shown, in each chapter.

Regulation 2

Definitions For the purpose of the present regulations, unless expressly provided otherwise: (a) Regulations means the regulations contained in the annex to the present Convention. (b) Administration means the Government of the State whose flag the ship is entitled to fly. (c) Approved means approved by the Administration. (d) International voyage means a voyage from a country to which the present Convention applies to a port outside such country, or conversely. (e) A passenger is every person other than: (i) the master and the members of the crew or other persons employed or engaged in any capacity on board a ship on the business of that ship; and (ii) a child under one year of age. (f) A passenger ship is a ship which carries more than twelve passengers. (g) A cargo ship is any ship which is not a passenger ship. (h) A tanker is a cargo ship constructed or adapted for the carriage in bulk of liquid cargoes of an inflammablet nature. (i) A fishing vessel is a vessel used for catching fish, whales, seals, walrus or other living resources of the sea. (j) A nuclear ship is a ship provided with a nuclear power plant. m(k) New ship means a ship the keel of which is laid or which is at a similar stage of construction on or after

25 May 1980.

(I) Existing ship means a ship which is not a new ship. (m) A mile is 1,852 metres or 6,080 feet. m(n) Anniversary date means the day and the month of each year which will correspond to the date of expiry of the relevant certificate.

• For some specific type of ships, refer to other IMO instruments, such as the Code of safety for special purpose ships, 2008 (resolution MSC.266(84) and Corr.1), as amended (2008 SPS Code); the Code for the construction and equipment of mobile offshore drilling units, 2009 (resolution A.1023(26) and Corr.1), as amended (2009 MODU Code); the Code for the transport and handling of hazardous and noxious liquid substances in bulk on offshore support vessels (resolution A.1122(30)) (OSV Chemical Code); the International Code of Safety for Diving Systems, 2023 (resolution MSC.548(107)) (Diving Code, 2023) and so on. t "Inflammable" has the same meaning as "flammable".