History SOLAS Convention

1 history

1.1 origin , versions
1.2 1960 version
1.3 1974 version
1.4 1988 version
1.5 later amendments

history
origin , versions

the first version of solas passed in 1914 in response sinking of rms titanic. prescribed numbers of lifeboats , other emergency equipment along safety procedures, including continuous radio watches. 1914 treaty never entered force due outbreak of first world war.

further versions adopted in 1929 , 1948.

1960 version

the 1960 convention adopted on 17 june 1960 , entered force on 26 may 1965. fourth solas convention , first major achievement international maritime organization (imo). represented considerable step forward in modernising regulations , keeping technical developments in shipping industry.

1974 version

in 1974 new convention adopted allow solas amended , implemented within reasonable timescale, instead of previous procedure incorporate amendments, proved slow. under solas 1960, take several years amendments come force since countries had give notice of acceptance imo , there minimum threshold of countries , tonnage. under solas 1974, amendments enter force via tacit acceptance procedure – allows amendment enter force on specified date, unless objections amendment received agreed number of parties.

the 1974 solas came force on 25 may 1980, 12 months after ratification @ least 50 countries @ least 50% of gross tonnage. has been updated , amended on numerous occasions since , convention in force today referred solas, 1974, amended.

in 1975 assembly of imo decided 1974 convention should in future use si (metric) units only.

1988 version

in particular, amendments in 1988 based on amendments of international radio regulations in 1987 replaced morse code global maritime distress safety system (gmdss) , came force beginning 1 february 1992. idea of range of issues covered treaty can gained list of sections (below).

later amendments

the up-to-date list of amendments solas maintained imo. previous amendments made in may 2011. in 2015, later amendment solas container weight verification regulation vi/2. regulation, implemented imo maritime safety committee (msc) requires full weight of loaded containers must obtained prior being onboarded on ocean vessel. communicating weight value has called introduction of new electronic data interchange (edi) communication protocol called vgm (verified gross mass) or vermas (verification of mass), , involves cooperation between ocean carriers, freight forwarders/nvoccs, edi providers exporters. regulation states exporters (shippers) responsible obtain verified container weight. scheduled implementation on july 1, 2016, regulation allows flexibility , practical refinement according maritime safety committee memorandum #1548 october 1, 2016.