SOLAS Quiz

Safety of Lives at Sea (SOLAS)

• SOLAS is the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
• It was adopted in 1914, after the sinking of the Titanic
• There have been four further versions since
• The current version was adopted in 1974 and entered into force in 1980
• The current version is sometimes referred to as SOLAS 1974, as amended
• SOLAS sets minimum safety standards for the construction, equipment, and operation of merchant ships
• Safety onboard ships is an important issue because ships are often far from assistance
• Prevention through recognition, rectification, and avoidance of unsafe actions are crucial

Learning Objectives

• Background
• Objectives
• Organization/structure
• Certificates
• Fire prevention
• Safety appliances
• Radio communication

Titanic

• Titanic's lookout lacked binoculars, hindering iceberg detection
• Six iceberg warnings were received during the voyage
• First Officer William Murdoch attempted to turn the ship to steer past the iceberg
• If only four watertight compartments had breached, the ship would have survived
• The Titanic's iceberg collision caused the ship to completely sink
• The Titanic's crew failed to send the correct distress signals after hitting the iceberg
• The Titanic was not equipped with enough lifeboats for all passengers
• The final SOS position the Titanic sent out during sinking was incorrect

General

• Safety onboard is vital due to the ship's remote location
• SOLAS establishes minimum safety standards; however, safety isn't guaranteed simply by rules
• Prevention through recognition and remedy are paramount to ship safety

SOLAS Chapters

• Chapter I - General Provisions: Includes survey regulations, and the issuing of documents to confirm compliance with conventions
• Chapter II-1 - Construction - Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations: Ensures watertight compartments for passenger ships to remain stable after potential hull damage. Specifies maximum distance between bulkheads relative to ship length and service. Ensures safe and environmentally friendly tank ships and bulk ships, preventing marine pollution
• Chapter II-2 - Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction: Divides ships into zones, prevents combustible materials, and has fire detectors (smoke, heat, and flame detection)
• Chapter III - Life-saving appliances and arrangements: Details life boats, rescue boats/life jackets
• Chapter IV - Radiocommunications: Incorporates the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS)
• Chapter V - Safety of navigation: Addresses navigation safety services with meteorological services, ice patrols, ship routing, and rescue services. Makes carriage of voyage data recorders (VDRs) and automatic ship identification systems (AIS) mandatory
• Chapter VI - Carriage of Cargoes: Covers cargo types (except liquids and gases in bulk) and special precautions for hazardous cargoes like grain
• Chapters... (VII - XIV): Additional chapters on aspects like dangerous goods, nuclear ships, high-speed craft, maritime security, bulk carriers, polar waters.

Safety Equipment

• Water: Used in fire fighting as it takes a large quantity of energy from the fire
• Fire pumps/hoses: Used to fight fires, emergency systems, regular fire hydrants
• Life jackets: Essential personal safety equipment
• Life buoys: With varying quantities depending on the length of the ship, positioned around the ship; some with lights and/or lines
• Life rafts: Throwable life rafts with a painter connected to the vessel, secured by a hydrostatic release. If the ship sinks, the release opens, and the raft floats.
• Pyrotechnics (signals): Parachute signals, hand flares, signals for lifeboats/rescue boats.
• Search and Rescue Transponder (SART): Aids in locating life rafts/boats
• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB): A tracking device that alerts SAR personnel in an emergency.
• Voyage Data Recorder (VDR): Contains vital ship data in case of accidents
• Certificates and Documents: Various certificates like Passenger Ship Safety Certificate, Cargo Ship Safety Certificate, etc.
• Exemption: Rules on which ships aren't subject to SOLAS regulations

Training and Drills

• Regular drills for crew to be safety conscious and follow proper procedures. Drill training is critical to ensure crew can react instinctively during accidents when they are placed under pressure. Training and drills help crew act logically and do not panic.

Questions

• Key questions regarding the need for safety drills, IMO regulations, fire protection, and specific equipment operation.

Facts - Titanic

• Titanic's lookouts lacked critical equipment (binoculars)
• The ship received multiple iceberg warnings
• The captain attempted an evasive maneuver
• Six watertight compartments were breached
• The Titanic likely would have survived a direct hit
• The crew failed to use correct distress signals
• The Titanic did not hold regular passenger lifeboat drills
• The lifeboats were not at standard capacity for the ship's passengers