SOLAS updates now set for 2024 introduction

The 105th session of the IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee in April 2022 was the last session to adopt amendments to the 2024 update of SOLAS and the related mandatory codes. Some of the changes that will take effect include:

Mooring equipment

New SOLAS requirements add requirements for the selection, arrangement, inspection, maintenance and replacement of mooring equipment, including lines. The new requirements are incorporated in SOLAS Regulation II-1/3-8 and are supported by MSC.1/Circ. 1619, MSC.1/Circ.1620 and MSC.1/Circ. 1175/Rev.1. They will apply to new cargo and passenger ships constructed on or after 1 January 2024 that are above 3000 GT, and should also smaller ships as far as reasonably practicable. The maintenance and inspection requirements will be applied retroactively for all ships.

Radio communications

The requirements to the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) have been modernized to contain more generic requirements, independent of specific service providers to allow for both Inmarsat and Iridium as providers, and to remove carriage requirements for obsolete systems. The requirements for communication equipment have been moved from SOLAS Chapter III on life-saving appliances to Chapter IV on radio communications. Existing SOLAS certificates do not have to be reissued before they expire.

Fire detection

The requirements for fire detection systems (Chapter 9 of the Fire Safety Systems Code) have been adjusted so that short circuit isolators do not need to be provided at each individually identifiable fire detector for cargo ships and passenger ship balconies. For cargo ships, one short circuit isolator per deck will typically be acceptable.

Life-saving appliances

SOLAS Chapter III and the associated Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code have been amended to state:

• The launching appliance of new rescue boats less than 700 kg does not need to have stored mechanical power, but handling shall be possible by one person.
• Free-fall lifeboats will not need to be launch-tested with the ship making headway at speeds of up to 5 knots in calm water, as there are no additional dynamic loads on the launching arrangements.
• Lifeboats equipped with two independent propulsions systems do not need to be equipped with buoyant oars.

DNV’s statutory news regarding SOLAS changes is available here.