SOLAS Convention

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea ( SOLAS) (International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea) is a UN convention on maritime safety. It was created in response to the sinking of the Titanic. Currently the fifth version is from 1974 into force, enhanced and modified by numerous supplementary protocols ( Amendments).

History

On November 12, 1913, convened in response to the sinking of the RMS Titanic, a conference to establish an international minimum standard of security on merchant ships. Result of this conference was the first version of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea.

In subsequent years there have been several fundamental changes. The fourth edition of the Convention ( 1960) was the first major task of the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organization ( IMCO), when established in 1959. The current SOLAS Convention (the fifth version, called " SOLAS 74 " ) dates from 1974 and consists of twelve chapters.

On current needs additional amendments go a so-called amendments (Supplement protocols). With these technical innovations and improvements were included in the SOLAS 74, but also directed ills, who had shown themselves in shipwrecks.

Due to different views and goals of the many IMO members change processes often take a very long time. Changes to the rules were often made only after major ship accidents as in 1987, the Herald of Free Enterprise ( capsize, 193 deaths) and 1990 in the Scandinavian Star (fires, 159 deaths).

The last time being Supplementary Protocol was adopted in May 2011 and entered into force on 1 January 2013.

Outline of the Agreement

SOLAS is divided into twelve chapters. Of these, only the fifth chapter (often called SOLAS V ) shall apply to all ships alike, from small private yachts to international trade freighter. Many countries have adopted these international standards into national laws.