SOLAS, SAR amendments enter into force

Amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) enter into force on 1 July 2006, including amendments relating to bulk carrier safety and persons in distress at sea.

The amendments to SOLAS (adopted in December 2004) replace chapter XII – Additional safety measures for bulk carriers with a revised text, incorporating revisions to some regulations and new requirements relating to bulk carriers of double-side skin construction. They include new requirements for bulk carriers of double-side skin construction as an optional alternative to single-side skin construction; additional maintenance requirements; and a new regulation 14 on restrictions from sailing with any hold empty. The option of double-side skin construction will apply to new bulk carriers of 150 m in length and over, designed to carry solid bulk cargoes having a density of 1,000 kg/m3 and above.

Also, amendments (adopted in December 2004) to SOLAS regulation III/31 – Survival craft and rescue boats, make mandatory the carriage of free-fall lifeboats on bulk carriers.

Amendments (adopted in May 2004) to SOLAS regulation III/32 – Personal life-saving appliances, make changes to the number of immersion suits to be carried on cargo ships and introduce carriage requirements for one immersion suit per person on board all cargo ships, including bulk carriers. Consequential amendments to the 1988 SOLAS Protocol, relating to the records of equipment, also enters into force.

The amendments to the SOLAS and SAR Conventions, adopted in May 2004, concern the treatment of persons rescued at sea. The amendments were developed in response to resolution A.920 on Review of safety measures and procedures for the treatment of persons rescued at sea, adopted by IMO’s 22nd Assembly in 2001, following a number of incidents that highlighted concerns surrounding the treatment of persons rescued at sea, including undocumented migrants, asylum seekers and refugees and stowaways. The resolution requested IMO to review all IMO instruments so that any existing gaps, inconsistencies, ambiguities, vagueness or other inadequacies could be identified and any action needed could be taken.

The amendments include amendments to SOLAS chapter V – Safety of Navigation, adding a definition of search and rescue services. They add to and clarify the existing longstanding obligation to provide assistance, adding the words: “This obligation to provide assistance applies regardless of the nationality or status of such persons or the circumstances in which they are found.”

Related Guidelines on the treatment of persons rescued at sea, adopted in May 2004, aim to provide guidance with regard to humanitarian obligations and obligations under the relevant international law.

Other SOLAS amendments cover accidents with lifeboats, voyage data recorders and simplified voyage data recorders on cargo ships, construction and initial tests of watertight doors, side scuttles, etc., in passenger ships and cargo ships, and carriage requirements for shipbourne navigational systems and equipment.