SOLAS

What is SOLAS? The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is an
important international treaty concerning the safety of merchant ships. It ensures that ships
registered by signatory States comply with minimum safety standards in construction,
equipment and operation of ships.
The main objective of the SOLAS Convention is to specify minimum standards for the
construction, equipment and operation of ships, compatible with their safety.

Why is SOLAS so important?

The SOLAS Convention is the most important of all the international conventions
concerning the safety of merchant ships.

Who does SOLAS apply to?

SOLAS stands for Safety of Life at Sea. It's an international agreement that sets basic
minimum criteria for all seafarers from signatory nations, dependent on the size and
type of vessel. SOLAS V relates to vessels under 150 GT (gross tonnage) used for
pleasure purposes.

The SOLAS Convention shall consist of a pleading and an Annex. The articles include 13 articles,
which cover, in particular, the aspects related to general obligations, the procedure for adopting
amendments, the way how a State can become a Party to the SOLAS Convention, etc. The Annex
contains the technical rules, which are divided into 14 Chapters. The Chapters of the SOLAS
Convention are:
 Chapter I - General Provisions
 Chapter II-1 - Construction - Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations
 Chapter II-2 – Fire prevention, fire detection and fire extinction
 Chapter III - Lifesaving appliances and arrangements
 Chapter IV - Radio communications          
 Chapter V – Safety of Navigation
 Chapter VI – Carriage of Cargoes
 Chapter VII – Carriage of dangerous goods
 Chapter VIII - Nuclear ships
 Chapter IX - Management for the Safe Operation of Ships
 Chapter X – Safety measures for high-speed craft
 Chapter XI-1 - Special measures to enhance maritime safety
 Chapter XI-2 - Special measures to enhance maritime safety
 Chapter XII - Additional security measures for bulk carriers
 Chapter XIII – Verification of compliance
 Chapter XIV - Safety measures for ships operating in polar waters.

ISM-
 International Safety Management (ISM)

The objectives of the Code are to

ensure safety at sea, prevention of human
injury or loss of life, and avoidance of damage to the environment, in
particular, to the marine environment, and to property.

The purpose of the ISM Code is to provide an international standard for the safe
management and operation of ships and for pollution prevention.

What is the objective of ISM Code and ISO 9001 onboard?

Both ISO 9001 and the ISM Code specify a systematic approach to management by
those responsible for management of ships. ISM Code with ISO 9001 provides a
basis for ensuring management systems are also driven by customer needs for the
continued success of a shipping company

What did you learn about ISM code?

The International safety management (ISM) code ensures the safety of life and ship
at sea by implementing various safe practices on board ships. ISM code works
with the motive of satisfying three important goals: Safety of people on board. Safety of
ship and cargo

Who does the ISM code apply to?

The ISM Code will be compulsorily applicable to passenger ships, oil tankers,
chemical tankers, gas carriers, bulk carriers and cargo high speed craft of 500 gt
and upwards on 1st July 1998. For other cargo ships and mobile offshore units of 500
gt and upwards, it becomes compulsorily applicable on 1st July 2002

ISPS

What is the importance of ISPS Code?

The ISPS Code provides a framework through which ships and port facilities can
co-operate to detect and deter acts which pose a threat to maritime security. The
Code: enables the detection and deterrence of security threats within an international
framework. establishes roles and responsibilities.
What is ISPS in maritime?
The ISPS (International Ship and Port Facilities Security), or International Ship and
Port Facility Security Code, is a protocol adopted by the International Maritime
Organization, IMO, in 2004 to establish a common framework for cooperation and
security to detect threats and take action to prevent them.

MARSEC 
The International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code is an amendment to
the Safety of Life at  Sea (SOLAS) Convention (1974/1988) on minimum security
arrangements for ships, ports and government agencies.

ISPS
The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code) is an
International code that was conceived following the September 11th 2001
terrorists attacks in the USA.  
It primary purpose is to identify and counter any terrorist threat to the
Maritime Industry particularly against ships and ports. The code also
serve’s to improve security against armed robbery, theft and piracy.  The
code came into force in 2004 and prescribes responsibilities to:
 Governments
 Shipping companies,
 Shipboard personnel
 Port/facility personnel

Security Levels

Level 1 Normal 
This is the minimum standard of security and requires the following to be maintained:
  Control access to ship
 Control embarkation of persons / effects
 Monitor restricted areas/ authorised access
 Supervise cargo/stores handling
 Security communication must be available

Level 2 Heightened
Everything done at level 1 plus incrementally increased measures for level 2.
 For example; at level one – we are checking the identity of all persons seeking to board the ship. 
At level 2, we are checking identities and searching a percentage of those seeking to board the ship.

Level 3 Exceptional 
(Attack Imminent) 
At level three, the ship operates all the procedures from level 1 and 2 plus the incremental measures
contained in the ship security plan. Ships normally only go to level 3 on the instruction of a flag or port
state. When this occurs the flag or port state will provide specific advise and instructions to accompany
the order. 
Level 3 means reliable intelligence has been received that the ship itself or the waters in which it is sailing
are likely to be under immediate attack. 
For UK flagged vessels, this responsibility of setting ISPS security levels is delegated to Maritime Security
Section of the Department for Transport.