SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA (SOLAS)

Chapter I – General Provisions

Surveying the various types of ships and certifying that they meet the requirements of the convention.
Part A - Application & definitions
1. Application
2. Definitions
3. Exceptions
4. Exemptions
5. Equivalents
Part B - Surveys and certificates
6. Inspection and survey
7. Surveys of passenger ships
8. Surveys of life-saving appliances and other equipment of cargo ships
9. Surveys of radio installations of cargo ships
10. Surveys of hull, machinery and equipment of cargo ships
11. Maintenance of conditions after survey
12. Issue of certificates

 Passenger Ship Safety Certificate

 Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate

 Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate

 Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate

13. Issue of certificate by another Government
14. Duration and validity of certificates

 Passenger Ship Safety Certificate – Not more than 12 months

 Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate – Not more than 5 Years

 Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate – Not more than 24 Months

 Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate – Not more than 12 Months

15. Form of certificates
16. Posting up of certificates
17. Acceptance of certificates
 18. Qualification of certificates
19. Control
20. Privileges
Part C – Casualties
21. Casualties

Chapter II-1 – Construction – Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations
The subdivision of passenger ships into watertight compartments so that after damage to its hull, a
vessel will remain afloat and stable.
Part A – General & Structure of ships
1. Application
2. Definitions
3. Definitions relating to parts C, D and E

 All bulk carrier of 150 m length should be double skinned delivery of which on or after 1 July 2012.

 Protection coating for dedicated seawater ballast tanks shall be provided for all types of ship

 Emergency towing arrangements shall be fitted at both ends on board every tanker of not less than
20,000 GRT for tankers constructed on or after 1 July 2002.
Part B - Stability
4. General
5. Intact stability
6. Required subdivision index R
7. Attained subdivision index A
8. Special requirements concerning passenger ship stability
9. Double bottoms in passenger ships and cargo ships other than tankers
10. Construction of watertight bulkheads
11. Initial testing of watertight bulkheads

 Practically hose test is carried out and if any electrical connections are installed where alternate
method will be used like dry penetrant, ultrasonic leak test, etc.,

 Pore peak, Double bottom and inner skin shall be tested by filling them with water up to the
maximum head which can come on them in practice or 2.44 m above tank crown, whichever is
higher
12. Peak and machinery space bulkheads, shaft tunnels, etc.
  A collision bulkhead shall be fitted which shall be watertight up to the bulkhead deck. This bulkhead
shall be located at a distance from the forward perpendicular of not less than 0.05L or 10 m,
whichever is the less, and, except as may be permitted by the Administration, not more than 0.08L or
0.05L + 3 m, whichever is the greater.

 No doors, manholes, access openings, ventilation ducts or any other openings shall be fitted in the
collision bulkhead below the bulkhead deck.
13. Openings in watertight bulkheads below the bulkhead deck in passenger ships
14. Passenger ships carrying goods vehicles and accompanying personnel
15. Openings in the shell plating below the bulkhead deck of passenger ships and the freeboard deck of
cargo ships
16. Construction and initial tests of watertight doors, sidescuttles, etc.
17. Internal watertight integrity of passenger ships above the bulkhead deck
18. Assigning, marking and recording of subdivision load lines for passenger ships
19. Damage control information
20. Loading of passenger ships
21. Periodical operation and inspection of watertight doors, etc., in passenger ships
22. Prevention and control of water ingress, etc
23. Special requirements for ro-ro passenger ships
24. Prevention and control of water ingress, etc., in cargo ships
25. Water level detectors on single hold cargo ships other than bulk carriers
Part C - Machinery installations
26. General

 Main propulsion machinery and all auxiliary machinery shell designed to operate when the ship is
upright and when inclined at any angle of list up to and including 15° either way under static
conditions and 22.5° under dynamic conditions (rolling) either way and simultaneously inclined
dynamically (pitching) 7.5° by bow or stern.

 Two fuel oil service tanks for each type of fuel used on board necessary for propulsion and vital
systems or equivalent arrangements shall be provided on each new ship, with a capacity of at least 8
h at maximum continuous rating of the propulsion plant and normal operating load at sea of the
generator plant.

 Location and arrangement of vent pipes for fuel oil service, settling and lubrication oil tanks shall be
such that in the event of a broken vent pipe this shall not directly lead to the risk of ingress of
seawater splashes or rainwater
27. Machinery
  Internal combustion engines of a cylinder diameter of 200 mm or a crankcase volume of 0.6 m3 and
above shall be provided with crankcase explosion relief valves of a suitable type with sufficient
relief area.
28. Means of going astern
29. Steering gear

 Every ship shall be provided with a main steering gear and an auxiliary steering gear.

 The main steering gear and the auxiliary steering gear shall be so arranged that the failure of one of
them will not render the other one inoperative.

 In case of main power failure, steering gear shall get power from emergency power supply.

 In the event of a power failure to any one of the steering gear power units, an audible and visual
alarm shall be given on the navigation bridge.

 Where the main steering gear comprises two or more identical power units, an auxiliary steering gear
need not be fitted.

 In a passenger ship, the main steering gear is capable of operating the rudder while any one of the
power units is out of operation.

 In case any failure in the one power unit, the system so arranged failure system can be isolated and
stand by one can be used without any problem.

 Steering gear control can be given both navigational bridge and steering gear compartment

 A means of communication shall be provided between the navigation bridge and the steering gear
compartment.

 A low-level alarm for each hydraulic fluid reservoir to navigational bridge and machinery space
control room.
The steering gear compartments shall be

 Readily accessible, as far as practicable and separated from machinery spaces.

 Provided with suitable arrangements to ensure working access to steering gear machinery and controls.
These arrangements shall include handrails and gratings or other nonslip surfaces to ensure suitable
working conditions in the event of hydraulic fluid leakage.
When main steering gear in operation,

 Capable of putting the rudder over from 35° on one side to 35° on the other side with the ship at
its deepest seagoing draught and running ahead at maximum ahead service speed and, under the
same conditions, from 35° on either side to 30° on the other side in not more than 28 s;
When Aux. steering gear in operation,

 Capable of putting the rudder over from 15° on one side to 15° on the other side in not more than
60 s with the ship at its deepest seagoing draught and running ahead at one half of the maximum
ahead service speed or 7 knots, whichever is the greater
30. Additional requirements for electric and electro hydraulic steering gear
  steering gear comprising one or more power units shall be served by at least two exclusive
circuits fed directly from the main switchboard; however, one of the circuits may be supplied
through the emergency switchboard

 Short circuit protection and an overload alarm shall be provided for such circuits and motors

 Protection against excess current, including starting current, if provided, shall be for not less than
twice the full load current of the motor or circuit so protected.

 Phase failure alarm shall be provided in case of three phase supply which could be visual and
audible alarm in machinery space control room.
31. Machinery controls
In case of UMS:

 The speed, direction of thrust and, if applicable, the pitch of the propeller shall be fully controllable
from the navigation bridge under all sailing conditions, including maneuvering.

 Propulsion machinery orders from the navigation bridge shall be indicated in the main machinery
control room or at the maneuvering platform as appropriate.

 The transfer of control between the navigation bridge and machinery spaces shall be possible only in
the main machinery space or the main machinery control room.
Indicators shall be fitted on the navigation bridge,

 Propeller speed and direction of rotation in the case of fixed pitch propellers

 Propeller speed and pitch position in the case of controllable pitch propellers
32. Steam boilers and boiler feed systems

 Every steam boiler and every unfired steam generator shall be provided with not less than two safety
valves of adequate capacity.

 Each oil-fired boiler which is intended to operate without manual supervision shall have safety
arrangements which shut off the fuel supply and give an alarm in the case of low water level, air supply
failure or flame failure.

 Water tube boilers serving turbine propulsion machinery shall be fitted with a high-water-level alarm.

 Feed pump shall be provided not less than two.

 Minimum of two water level indicator shall be provided, one of which should be direct reading gauge
glass.
33. Steam pipe systems
34. Air pressure systems

 All discharge pipes from starting air compressors shall lead directly to the starting air receivers, and all
starting pipes from the air receivers to main or auxiliary engines shall be entirely separate from the
compressor discharge pipe system
 35. Ventilating systems in machinery spaces & Bilge pumping arrangements
36. Protection against noise
37. Communication between navigation bridge and machinery space

 At least two means of communication shall be provided between Navigational bridge and Machinery
space control room, one of which shall be telegraph for visual indication.
38. Engineers’ alarm

 An engineers’ alarm shall be provided to be operated from the engine control room or at the
maneuvering platform as appropriate, and shall be clearly audible in the engineers’ accommodation.
39. Location of emergency installations in passenger ships
Part D - Electrical installations
40. General
41. Main source of electrical power and lighting systems

 This main source of electrical power shall consist of at least two generating sets.

 Main power supply shall be maintained regardless of the speed and direction of rotation of the
propulsion machinery or shafting.
42. Emergency source of electrical power in passenger ships
43. Emergency source of electrical power in cargo ships
44. Starting arrangements for emergency generating sets
45. Precautions against shock, fire and other hazards of electrical origin
Part E - Additional requirements for periodically unattended machinery spaces
46. General
47. Fire precautions

 Internal combustion engines of 2,250 kW and above or having cylinders of more than 300 mm bore
shall be provided with crankcase oil mist detectors or engine bearing temperature monitors or
equivalent devices
48. Protection against flooding
49. Control of propulsion machinery from the navigation bridge
50. Communication
51. Alarm system

 be capable of sounding an audible alarm in the main machinery control room or at the propulsion
machinery control position, and indicate visually each separate alarm function at a suitable position.

 as far as is practicable be designed on the fail-to-safety principle

  The alarm system shall be continuously powered and shall have an automatic change-over to a
stand-by power supply in case of loss of normal power supply.

 Failure of the normal power supply of the alarm system shall be indicated by an alarm.

 The alarm system shall be able to indicate at the same time more than one fault and the acceptance
of any alarm shall not inhibit another alarm
52. Safety systems
53. Special requirements for machinery, boiler and electrical installations
54. Special consideration in respect of passenger ship.
Part F - Alternative Design and Arrangements
55. Alternative design and arrangements
Chapter II-2 – Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction
Fire safety provisions for all ships with detailed measures for passenger ships, cargo ships and tankers.
Part A – General
1. Application
2. Fire safety objectives and functional requirements
3. Definitions

 They are insulated with approved non-combustible materials such that the average temperature of
the unexposed side will not rise more than 140°C above the original temperature, nor will the
temperature, at any one point, including any joint, rise more than 180°C above the original
temperature, within the time listed below:
class "A-60" 60 min
class "A-30" 30 min
class "A-15" 15 min
class "A-0" 0 min
Part B- Prevention of fire and explosion
4. Probability of ignition
5. Fire growth potential
6. Smoke generation potential and toxicity
Part C - Suppression of fire
7. Detection and alarm
8. Control of smoke spread
9. Containment of fire
10. Fire fighting

 Fire line should have sufficient capacity to transfer the liquid if two fire pumps running simultaneously.

 For cargo ship, capacity of pump not less than 140m3/hr.

 Isolation valve should be provided and the same to be installed in outside of machinery space.

 Number and position of hydrant: hydrant is positioned in such a way minimum two hydrants can be
useable at any part of the ship with single hose connection.

 Pressure at hydrant:
Minimum pressure should be maintain in all hydrant as follows
For cargo; 6000 GRT and above =2.7 bar
Below 6000 GRT =2.5 bar
It should capable of giving 12 meter jet from at least two hydrant located outermost from each other

 Number of fire pumps

o Ships shall be provided with independently driven fire pumps as follows

A. in passenger ships of:

4,000 gross tonnage and upwards at least three
Less that 4,000 gross tonnage at least two
B. for cargo ships of:
1,000 gross tonnage and upwards at least two
Less than 1,000 gross tonnages at least two power driven pumps, one of which shall be independently
driven

 Fire hoses and nozzles

o Fire hoses shall be of non-perishable material

o 15 m in machinery spaces

o 20 m in other spaces and open decks

o 25 m for open decks on ships with a maximum breadth in excess of 30 m.

o standard nozzle sizes shall be 12 mm, 16 mm and 19 mm or as near thereto as possible

o For accommodation and service spaces, a nozzle size greater than 12 mm need not be used

 Portable fire extinguishers

o Portable fire extinguishers shall comply with the requirements of the Fire Safety Systems Code.

o Ships of 1,000 gross tonnage and upwards shall carry at least five portable fire extinguishers.
 o One of the portable fire extinguishers intended for use in any space shall be stowed near the
entrance to that space.

o Carbon dioxide fire extinguishers shall not be placed in accommodation spaces like control
stations and other spaces containing electrical or electronic equipment or appliances necessary
for the safety of the ship, fire extinguishers should be provided whose extinguishing media are
neither electrically conductive nor harmful to the equipment and appliances.

 Fixed fire-extinguishing systems

o Fire-extinguishing systems using Halon 1211, 1301, and 2402 and perfluorocarbons shall be
prohibited.

11. Structural integrity

Part D – Escape
12. Notification of crew and passengers
13. Means of escape
Part E - Operational requirements
14. Operational readiness and maintenance
15. Instructions, on-board training and drills
16. Operations
Part F - Alternative design and arrangements
17. Alternative design and arrangements
Part G - Special requirements
18. Helicopter facilities
19. Carriage of dangerous goods
20. Protection of vehicle, special category and ro-ro spaces
21. Casualty threshold, safe return to port and safe areas
22. Design criteria for systems to remain operational after a fire casualty
23. Safety centre on passenger ships
Chapter III – Life-saving appliances and arrangements
Life-saving appliances and arrangements, including requirements for life boats, rescue boats and life
jackets according to type of ship.
Part A – General
1. Application
2. Exemptions
 3. Definitions
4. Evaluation, testing and approval of life-saving appliances and arrangements
5. Production tests
Part B - Requirements for ships and life-saving appliances
Section I - Passenger Ships and Cargo Ships
6. Communications

 All passenger ships and to all cargo ships of 300 gross tonnage and upwards.

 Two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus

 Search and rescue locating devices

 Distress flares
o Not less than 12 rocket parachute flares shall be carried and bestowed near the navigation
bridge.

 On-board communications and alarm systems

 Public address systems on passenger ships

7. Personal life-saving appliances
Lifebuoys:

 At least one lifebuoy on each side of the ship shall be fitted with a buoyant lifeline.

 Each lifebuoy shall be marked in block capitals of the Roman alphabet with the name and port of
registry of the ship on which it is carried.

 Not less than one half of the total number of lifebuoys shall be provided with lifebuoy self-
igniting lights

 not less than two of these shall also be provided with lifebuoy self-activating smoke signals

 Have an outer diameter of not more than 800 mm and an inner diameter of not less than 400 mm.

 Be constructed of inherently buoyant material.

 Be capable of supporting not less than 14.5 kg of iron in fresh water for a period of 24hours.

 Have a mass not less than 2.5 kg.

 Not sustain burning or continue melting after being totally enveloped in a fire for a period of 2
seconds.

 Be constructed to withstand a drop into the water from the height at which it is stowed above the
water line in the lightest seagoing condition or 30 m, whichever is the greater,

 Be fitted with grab line not less than 9.5mm, in diameter and length not less than 4 times of
outer diameter.
Lifejackets:

 A lifejacket shall not sustain burning or continue melting after being totally enveloped in a fire for a
period of 2 seconds.

 It allows the wearer to jump from a height of 4-5 meter.

 Lift the head of an exhausted or unconscious person 150 mm, clear of water with the body inclined
backwards at an angle of not less than 20°.

 It turns the body of an unconscious person in the water within 5 seconds.

 It shall have buoyancy which is not reduced by more than 5% after 24 hours submersion in fresh water.

 It must have retro reflective tapes as an indicator.

 It must have a strap at the top so the person can be pulled from the water.

 It must have a whistle

 Life jackets have a self igniting light that flashes with the intensity of 0.75 cd in all directions having 50-
70 flashes/min for a period of 8 hours.
No. of Lifejacket:
Passenger vessels:
 1 Life jacket per person
 10% extra for children (total passenger).
 5% spare (stowed on deck/ at muster station).
 Extra life jackets for watch keepers and for user remotely located survival craft station.
Cargo ships:
 1 life jacket per person including children if required + 25% extra.
Immersion suits:

 The immersion suits shall be constructed with water proof material

 Clear instructions is available in case the immersion suit is to be worn in conjunction with a
life jacket.

 It can be unpacked and donned within 2 minutes.

 It will not sustain burning or continue melting after being totally enveloped in a fire for a
period of 2 seconds.
  It will cover the whole body with the exception of the face and hands unless permanently
attached gloves are provided.

 It is provided with the arrangements to minimize or reduce free air in the legs of the suit.

 Climb up and down a vertical ladder at least 5 meter, in length.

 Perform normal duties associated with abandonments.

 Swim to a short distance through the water and board the survival craft.
Thermal Protective Aid:

 Enable a jump by the wearer into the water from the height of 4.5 meters and ensure that for a
period of 1 hour in calm circulating water at a temperature of 5° C the wearer‘s body core
temperature of doesn‘t fall more than 2°C.
8. Muster list and emergency instructions

 Clear instructions to be followed in the event of an emergency shall be provided for every person on
board

 Muster list should be posted all over the ship including navigational bridge, engine room and crew
accommodation spaces.

 Muster list includes,

o Their muster station

o The essential actions they must take in an emergency

o The method of donning lifejackets.

9. Operating instructions
10. Manning of survival craft and supervision
11. Survival craft muster and embarkation arrangements
12. Launching stations
13. Stowage of survival craft

 They must be stowed in such a way so that they are capable of being launched in 10min

 It is capable of being put in water safely and rapidly even under unfavorable conditions of list
and trim as given in SOLAS.

 Each life boat must be attached to a separate set of davits.

 They must not be stowed in the ―bow of the vessel‖ OR so far aft as to be endangered by the
propellers or the stern.

 They must be stowed so that it is not necessary to lift them in order to swing out the davits.

 Means must be provided for bringing the lifeboats against the ships side and holding them there so
that persons may safely embark.
  They must be fitted with skates or other suitable means to facilitate launching on the lower side
against an adverse list greater than 20 degrees and trim of 10 degrees.
14. Stowage of rescue boats

 launching shall not more than 5 min

15. Stowage of marine evacuation systems
16. Survival craft launching and recovery arrangements

 It shall launching directly from the stowed position under unfavourable conditions of trim of up to
10° and list of up to 20° either way

 Life boat capacity of 200% and

17. Rescue boat embarkation, launching and recovery arrangements
18. Line-throwing appliances

 Include not less than four rocket projectiles, each capable of carrying the line at least 230 meter in
calm weather.

 Include not less than four lines, each having a breaking strength of not less than 2 KN

 Have brief instructions or diagrams clearly illustrating the use of the line-throwing appliance.
19. Emergency training and drills

 The drills of the crew shall take place within 24 h of the ship leaving a port if more than 25% of the
crew has not participated in abandon ship and fire drills on board that particular ship in the previous
month.
20. Operational readiness, maintenance and inspections
Section II - Passenger Ships:
21. Survival craft and rescue boats
22. Personal life-saving appliances
23. Survival craft and rescue boat embarkation arrangements
24. Stowage of survival craft
25. Muster stations
26. Additional requirements for ro-ro passenger ships
27. Information on passengers
28. Helicopter landing and pick-up areas
29. Decision support system for masters of passenger ships
30. Drills
Section III - Cargo Ships
 31. Survival craft and rescue boats

32. Personal life-saving appliances

33. Survival craft embarkation and launching arrangements
34. Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements Requirements
Section V – Miscellaneous
35. Training manual and on-board training aids
36. Instructions for on-board maintenance
37. Muster list and emergency instructions
Part C - Alternative design and arrangements
38. Alternative design and arrangements
Chapter IV – Radiocommunications
The Global Maritime Distress Safety System (GMDSS) requires passenger and cargo ships on
international voyages to carry radio equipment, including satellite Emergency Position Indicating Radio
Beacons (EPIRBs) and Search and Rescue Transponders (SARTs).
Part A – General
1. Application
2. Terms and definitions
3. Exemptions
4. Functional requirements & GMDSS satellite providers
Part B - Undertakings by Contracting Governments
5. Provision of radiocommunication services & Global maritime distress and safety system identities
Part C - Ship requirements
6. Radio installations
7. Radio equipment: General
8. Radio equipment: Sea area A1
9. Radio equipment: Sea areas A1 and A2
10. Radio equipment: Sea areas A1, A2 and A3
11. Radio equipment: Sea areas A1, A2, A3 and A4
12. Watches
13. Sources of energy
 14. Performance standards
15. Maintenance requirements
16. Radio personnel
17. Radio records
18. Position-updating
Chapter V – Safety of navigation (not completed)
This chapter requires governments to ensure that all vessels are sufficiently and efficiently manned from
a safety point of view. It places requirements on all vessels regarding voyage and passage planning, expecting a
careful assessment of any proposed voyages by all who put to sea. Every mariner must take account of all
potential dangers to navigation, weather forecasts, tidal predictions, the competence of the crew, and all other
relevant factors.[6] It also adds an obligation for all vessels' masters to offer assistance to those in distress and
controls the use of lifesaving signals with specific requirements regarding danger and distress messages. It is
different to the other chapters, which apply to certain classes of commercial shipping, in that these requirements
apply to all vessels and their crews, including yachts and private craft, on all voyages and trips including local
ones.
1. Application
2. Definitions
3. Exemptions and equivalents
4. Navigational warnings
5. Meteorological services and warnings
6. Ice Patrol Service
7. Search and rescue services
8. Life-saving signals
9. Hydrographic services
10. Ships’ routeing
11. Ship reporting systems
12. Vessel traffic services
13. Establishment and operation of aids to navigation
Chapter VI – Carriage of Cargoes
Requirements for the stowage and securing of all types of cargo and cargo containers except liquids and
gases in bulk.
Chapter VII – Carriage of dangerous goods
Requires the carriage of all kinds of dangerous goods to be in compliance with the International
Maritime Dangerous Goods Code (IMDG Code).
Chapter VIII – Nuclear ships
Nuclear powered ships are required, particularly concerning radiation hazards, to conform to the Code of
Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships.
Chapter IX – Management for the Safe Operation of Ships
Requires every shipowner and any person or company that has assumed responsibility for a ship to
comply with the International Safety Management Code (ISM).
1. Definitions
2. Application
3. Safety management requirements
4. Certification

 Document of Compliance

 Safety Management Certificate

5. Maintenance of conditions
6. Verification and control
Chapter X – Safety measures for high-speed craft
Makes mandatory the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC Code).
Chapter XI-1 – Special measures to enhance maritime safety
Requirements relating to organisations responsible for carrying out surveys and inspections, enhanced
surveys, the ship identification number scheme, and operational requirements.
Chapter XI-2 – Special measures to enhance maritime security
Includes the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code). Confirms that the role of
the Master in maintaining the security of the ship is not, and cannot be, constrained by the Company, the
charterer or any other person. Port facilities must carry out security assessments and develop, implement and
review port facility security plans. Controls the delay, detention, restriction, or expulsion of a ship from a port.
Requires that ships must have a ship security alert system, as well as detailing other measures and requirements.
Chapter XII – Additional safety measures for bulk carriers
Specific structural requirements for bulk carriers over 150 meters in length.