What are the major amendments to SOLAS which have entered into force in 2015?

  1. checking and use of personal protective equipment required for entry;
  2. checking and use of communication equipment and procedures;
  3. checking and use of instruments for measuring the atmosphere in enclosed spaces;
  4. checking and use of rescue equipment and procedures; and
  5. instructions in first aid and resuscitation techniques.

Every crew member shall be instructed about risks associated with entering enclosed spaces and applicable procedures on board. The instruction shall be given within the regular intervals of instructions in the use of the ship’s life-saving and fire extinguishing appliances every two months (SOLAS III, Reg. 19.4.2.5 in conjunction with Reg. 19.4.1). Drills shall be recorded in the ship’s log-book.

Note :- Related amendments also to the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC Code), the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU Code) and the Code of Safety for Dynamically Supported Craft (DSC Code).

  1. Amendments to the ISM-Code
  • According to paragraph 6.2 of the ISM-Code the company is required to ensure that the ship is appropriately manned in all situations of ship operation (cf. Principles of minimum safe manning, Resolution A.1047(27)):
     “6.2 The Company should ensure that each ship is:

    1. manned with qualified, certificated and medically fit seafarers in accordance with national and international requirements; and
    2. appropriately manned in order to encompass all aspects of maintaining safe operations on board.”
  • According to new paragraph 12.2 the responsible company is obliged to verify in regular intervals whether third parties which undertake ISM-related tasks act in conformity with the company’s safety management system:

“12.2 The Company should periodically verify whether all those undertaking delegated ISM-related tasks are acting in conformity with the Company’s responsibilities under the Code.”

In the ISM-Code, reference to guidelines and recommendations developed by the IMO will be added in footnotes

About the author

Amit Sharma

Graduated from M.E.R.I. Mumbai (Mumbai University), After a brief sailing founded this website with the idea to bring the maritime education online which must be free and available for all at all times and to find basic solutions that are of extreme importance to a seafarer by our innovative ideas.

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