Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Lecture Slides PDF

LECTURE 3 SOLAS 1974  The flag state of a merchant vessel is the jurisdiction under whose laws the vessel is registered or licensed and is deemed the nationality of the vessel. As a ship operates under the laws of its flag state, these laws are applicable if the ship is involved in an admira...

LECTURE 3 SOLAS 1974  The flag state of a merchant vessel is the jurisdiction under whose laws the vessel is registered or licensed and is deemed the nationality of the vessel. As a ship operates under the laws of its flag state, these laws are applicable if the ship is involved in an admiralty case.A merchant vessel must be registered and can only be registered in one jurisdiction of its choice but may change the registration at other jurisdictions. The ship is then bound to carry the flag of that state and follow the rules and regulations enforced by the state nation’s maritime law. The ship’s flag is an important factor when the court makes the decision on the judging. The ship will follow the regulation of the flag state in the open sea and ship registration plays an important role in many aspects such as vessel purchases, newbuilding deliveries, financing, vessel leasing, priorities of owners and mortgagees, protections and preferential treatments as tax, certification, and security etc as per the flag state benefits SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA (SOLAS, 1974); Safety of Life At Sea (SOLAS, 1974) - Introduction The SOLAS Convention in its successive forms is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant ships. The first version of SOLAS Convention was adopted on 20 January of 1914 in response to the sinking of the Titanic, which prescribed numbers of lifeboats and other emergency equipment along with safety procedures, including continuous radio watches. The treaty is view to entry into force in July of 1915 but never entered into force due to the outbreak of the First World War.  Since then, there have been 5 other SOLAS conventions: the 2nd was adopted in 1929( EIF-1933), the 3rd was adopted in 1948 (EIF 1952), the 4th was adopted in 1960, already under the auspices of the IMO (EIF 1965), and 5th (current) was adopted in 1974 (EIF 1980). The 1974 version includes the tacit acceptance procedure - provides that an amendment shall enter into force on a specified date Adopted : 1 November 1974; Entry into force: 25 May 1980  Chapters in SOLAS Chapter I – General Provisions: Surveys and certification of all the safety items etc are included. Chapter II-1 – Construction – Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations: Deals with watertight integrity of the ship, especially for passenger vessel. Chapter II-2 – Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction: This chapter elaborates the means and measure for fire protection in accommodation, cargo spaces and engine room for the passenger, cargo and tanker ship. Chapter III – Life-saving appliances and arrangements: All the life-saving appliances and there use in different situations is described. Chapter IV – Radio communications: Includes requirements of GMDSS, SART, EPIRB etc for cargo and passenger vessel. Chapter V – Safety of navigation: This chapter deals with all the seagoing vessels of all sizes, from boats to VLCCs, and includes passage planning, navigation, distress signal etc. Chapter VI – Carriage of Cargoes: This chapter defines the storage and securing of different types of cargo and container, but does not include oil and gas cargo. Chapter VII – Carriage of dangerous goods: Defines the International Maritime Goods Code for storage and transportation of dangerous goods. Chapter VIII – Nuclear ships: The code of safety for a nuclear-propelled ship is stated in this chapter. Chapter IX – Management for the Safe Operation of Ships: The International Safety Management Code for ship owner and the operator is described clearly. Chapter X – Safety measures for high-speed craft: Safety code for the high-speed craft is explained. Chapter XI-1 & 2– Special measures to enhance maritime safety: Special and enhanced survey for safe operation, other operational requirements and ISPS code is briefed in this chapter. Chapter XII – Additional safety measures for bulk carriers: Includes safety requirement for above 150 meters length bulk carrier. Chapter XIII – Verification of Compliance Chapter XIV -Safety Measures for Ships Operating in Polar Waters