SOLASSafety Of Life At Sea

Background The oldest international convention relating to safety aspect in maritime industry.The first vision have been adopted at a conference held in London in 1914 from the sinking of TITANIC on her maiden voyage in April 1912 with more than 1500 passengers and crew lost their lives.The conference was attended by representatives of 13 countries and was adopted on 20 January 1914

International requirements Safety of navigation for all merchant shipsThe provision of watertight and fire-resistance bulkheadsLife-saving appliances and fire prevention and fire fighting appliances on passenger shipsThe others such as radio-telegraph

Second convention in 1929 London ; 18 countries same format as the 1914 version + preventing collision at sea into force in 1933.Third convention in 1948 Geneva overtaken by technical developments excepts United Kingdom.. Continue from the notes

Content of the SOLAS Convention 74(8 chapters and 3 appendices)Chapter IGeneral provisionChapter II 1Construction subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installationsChapter II 2 Construction Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction (no more exist)

Chapter IIILife saving appliances and arrangementsChapter IVRadio communicationsChapter VSafety of navigationChapter VICarriage of Grain (now Carriage of Cargoes)Chapter VIICarriage of dangerous goodsChapter VIIINuclear ships

AppendicesAppendix 1CertificatesAnnex 1Records of equipmentAnnex 2Forms of attachmentsAnnex 3Resolution A718(17); early implementation of the harmonized system of survey and certificationAppendix 2Resolution Maritime Safety Commitee 22(59): Adoption of amendments to Solas74Appendix 3Certificates and documents required to be carried on board ships

Application The convention applies only to ships engaged on international voyages, and the convention has give an exception to:Ships of war and troopshipsCargo ships of less than 500 tons gross tonnageShips not propelled by mechanical meansWooden ships of primitive buildPleasure yachts not engaged in tradeFishing vesselsSolely navigating the Great Lakes of North America and the River St. Lawrence as far east as a straight line drawn from Cap de Rosiers to West Point, Anticosti Island and, on the north side of Anticosti Island, the 63d Meridian.

Definitions International voyage means a voyage from a country to which the present Convention applies to a port outside such country, or converselyPassenger is every person other than;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 shipA child under one year of agePassenger ship ship carries more than twelve passengers

DefinitionsCargo ship any ship which is not a passenger shipTanker cargo ship constructed or adapted for the carriage in bulk of liquid cargoes of an inflammable natureFishing ship used of catching fish, whales, seals or other living resources of the seaNuclear ship ship provided with a nuclear power plant

DefinitionsNew ship the keel of which is laid or which is at a similar of construction on or after the date of coming into force of the present conventionExisting ship a ship which is not a new shipAge of ship the elapsed period of time determined from the year of build as indicated on the ships registry paper

Survey and inspectionsShips to which SOLAS applies, shall comply with the technical standards, contained in the annex. In order to ensure that at all times a ship meets these standards, the ship is subjected to various surveys and inspections which carried out by duly (correct time and way) authorized officers of the maritime administration of the Flag State or by the surveyors or organizations nominated or recognized by the Flag State AdministrationThe relevant maritime administration guarantees the completeness and efficiency of the surveys and inspections.

Surveys and inspections listInitial surveyAn annual surveyAn intermediate surveyA periodic surveyRenewal surveyInspection of the outside of the ships bottom of cargo shipsAdditional survey

Initial surveyIt is complete inspection before a ship is put into service of all the items relating to a particular certificate to ensure that the relevant requirements are complied with and that these items are satisfactory for the service for which the ship is intended

An annual surveyIt is a general inspection of the items relating to the particular certificate to ensure that they have been maintained and remain satisfactory for the service for which the ship is intended.It should enable the administration to verify that the condition of the ship, its machinery and equipment is being maintained in accordance with the relevant requirements

An intermediated surveyIt is an inspection of specified items relevant to the particular certificate to ensure that they are in a satisfactory condition and fit for the service for which the ship is intended

A periodical surveyIt is an inspection of the items relating to the particular certificate to ensure that they are in a satisfactory condition and fit for the service for which the ship is intended.It should consist of an inspection, with tests when necessary, of the equipment to ensure that requirements relevant to the particular certificate are complied with and that they are in satisfactory condition and are fit for the service for which the ship is intended.

Renewal surveyIt is an inspection same as periodical survey but also to the issue of a new certificate.Should consist of and inspection, with tests when necessary, machinery and equipment to ensure that the requirements relevant to the particular certificate are complied with and that they are in a satisfactory condition and are fit for the service for which the ship is intendedShould also consist of a check that all the certificates record book, operating manuals and otter instruction and documentation specified in the requirement relevant to the particular certificate are on board ship

Inspection outside of ships bottom of cargo shipNormally should be carried out with the ship in a dry dock, however consideration may be given to alternate inspections being carried out with the ship a float with a special consideration (before 15 year or over) if condition, proper equipment and suitable trained staff are available.There should be a minimum two inspections during 5 years period (inspection interval should not exceed 36 months - first ship inspection not more than 24 months)

Additional surveyEither general or partial according to the circumstances, to be made after a repair resulting from investigations or whenever any important repairs or renewals are made.Any accident occurs or defect is discovered with affects the safety or integrity of the ship, the master or owner should make report to administration, the nominated surveyor or recognized organization responsible for issuing the relevant certificate

Passenger ship Certificates Passenger ship safety certificate shall be issued after inspection and survey to a passenger ship which complies with the requirements and any other relevant requirements of the SOLAS regulation. The validity of the certificate is 12 months

Cargo ship certificateCargo ship safety certificate shall be issued after survey to a cargo ship which satisfies the requirements for cargo ships and the other than those to fire-extinguishing appliances and fire control plans.The validity of this certificate is not exceeding 5 years and no extension of the five years

Cargo ship equipment certificateCargo ship safety equipment certificate shall be issued after inspection to a cargo ship which complies with the relevant requirements.The validity of the certificate is 24 months

Cargo ship radio certificateCargo ship safety radio certificate shall be issued to a cargo ship which complies with the requirement and any other relevant requirements of SOLAS regulationsThe validity of the certificate is 24 months

Exemption certificateExemption certificate shall be issued in addition to the certificates prescribed above, when an exemption is granted to a ship under and in accordance with the provisions of the SOLAS regulationsExemption certificates shall not be valid for longer than the period of the certificates to which they refers

Notes Those certificate primarily designed to enable port state officers to ensure that foreign ships calling at their ports posses valid certificates.In most cases, possession of valid certificates is sufficient proof that the ship concerned complies with convention requirements, the port state officer is empowered to take further action if there are clear grounds for believing that the condition of the ship or of its equipment does not correspond substantially with the particulars of any of the certificatesThe officers can take steps to ensure that the ship does not sail until it can do so without endangering passengers, crew or the ship itselfIf action of this type is taken, the flag state must be informed of the circumstances and the facts must be reported to IMO