The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is a crucial treaty that focuses on shipper safety and the ocean environment.
The treaty provides strategies and regulations to enhance the functioning of the maritime industry and empower national and international economies. Objectives include minimizing the impact on the marine environment, reducing pollution, ensuring safety, encouraging the use of sustainable and greener technologies, and promoting development towards eco-friendly innovations.
SOLAS ensures that ships registered by signatory states comply with safety standards in the construction, equipment, and operation of ships. It’s essential to maritime shipping and the logistics and supply chain industry.
Here are five updates that help to ensure the safety and efficiency of maritime shipping operations.
The use of GMDSS equipment for transmitting and receiving general communications is now a requirement. This integration of modern communication technologies replaces outdated or obsolete equipment to improve communication capabilities and streamline emergency response. These changes enhance maritime safety and are applicable to ships of 300 gross tonnage and above.
For new cargo ships constructed after January 2024, recent amendments address progressive flooding, valves in the collision bulkhead, and the consideration of watertight doors. These damage stability measures assess the probability of survival for a ship in case of damage. These measures are considered to provide a more realistic representation of a ship's condition in damaged situations and allow greater flexibility regarding the placement of watertight bulkheads. This ensures ships are better prepared to withstand damage and flooding.
The latest SOLAS requirements enhance mooring safety by introducing additional requirements for the selection, arrangement, inspection, maintenance, and replacement of mooring equipment, including lines. Safety updates include addressing potential hazards associated with mooring operations. Updated regulations emphasize the need for proper selection, arrangement, and maintenance of mooring equipment to prevent accidents and ensure safety. Documentation regarding the design of mooring arrangements, towing and mooring equipment, and inspection/maintenance practices must be provided and kept on board.
SOLAS prioritizes the safety of passengers and crew. The carriage of life-saving appliances to be used by passengers and crew in case of emergency is mandatory per the SOLAS Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) code. This includes lifeboats, lifebuoys, life rafts, rescue boats, immersion suits, anti-exposure suits, alarm and public-address systems, and more. The number, capacity, and type of life-saving appliances vary according to a ship’s size, type, and voyage. The LSA Code also outlines specific requirements for the manufacturing, testing, maintenance, and record-keeping of life-saving appliances.
Increasingly, the global fleet is turning to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a marine fuel. Due to its significant environmental advantages, it's especially attractive for ships operating in areas with stricter emissions regulations. SOLAS provides mandatory provisions for the design and construction of ships using low-flashpoint fuels like LNG. The updated code addresses the potential hazards associated with handling and using low-flashpoint fuels and covers unique safety considerations. These regulations help minimize risks to the vessel, crew, and the environment.
Shippers need to provide an accurate and reliable total weight of the container, known as the verified gross mass, to the carrier moving the goods. The International Maritime Organization (IMO), in collaboration with industry representatives, has adopted specific rules as part of the SOLAS Convention to ensure that reliable container weights are provided.
The shipper must provide the ocean carrier with the VGM of containers, including cargo weight, the weight of all loading equipment and materials, dunnage, and the tare weight of the container. These requirements impact all participants in the shipping supply chain, including those involved in communication, infrastructure, and processes.
SOLAS regulations also outline specific design, arrangement, and operational requirements. Staying on top of every update to SOLAS can be a challenge. Cole can help you seamlessly navigate new and updated regulations—today and in the future.
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