What are major IMO amendments with their Date of enforcement?

Amendments to SOLAS regulations V/2 Definitions and V/22 Navigation Bridge Visibility add the definition of “length” to regulation V/2 and a consequential editorial change is made to regulation V/22. The definition states that “length of a ship means its length overall”.

Amendments to SOLAS regulation V/28 on Records of navigational activities add a new paragraph on daily reporting. The amendment will require all ships of 500 gross tonnage and above, engaged on international voyages exceeding 48 hours, to submit a daily report to their company, to include ship’s position; ship’s course and speed; and details of any external or internal conditions that are affecting the ship’s voyage or the normal safe operation of the ship. The aim of the amendments is to address the responsibilities of ship operators to provide information of benefit to those responsible for mounting rescue operations. 1 July 2006

May 2004 amendments to SAR – persons in distress

The amendments to the Annex to the SAR Convention include:

  • addition of a new paragraph in chapter 2 (Organization and co-ordination) relating to definition of persons in distress;
    new paragraphs in chapter 3 (Co-operation between States) relating to assistance to the master in delivering persons rescued at sea to a place of safety; and
  • a new paragraph in chapter 4 (Operating procedures) relating to rescue co- ordination centres initiating the process of identifying the most appropriate places for disembarking persons found in distress at sea.
1 July 2006
May 2004 amendments to SOLAS

Persons in distress at sea
Amendments to chapter V (Safety of Navigation) – to add a definition of search and rescue services; to set an obligation to provide assistance, regardless of nationality or status of persons in distress, and mandate co-ordination and co-operation between States to assist the ship’s master in delivering persons rescued at sea to a place of safety; and to add a new regulation on master’s discretion.

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