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Maritime compliance: SOLAS amendments and
codes entering into force in 2024 (update)
By maritimecyprus - 28/01/2024
(www.MaritimeCyprus.com) A set of amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS
are entering into force in 2024. This article highlights the changes that have been adopted for the 2024 update of SOL
Regulations coming into force on 1 January 2024
IMDG code amendments (41-22) – MSC.501(105)
Updates to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code, which were applicable on a voluntary basis since 1 Ja
force on 1 January 2024.
These amendments are in line with the updates to the United Nations Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous G
the recommendations for all transport modes.
Based on these amendments, the following revised circulars will also be applicable from 1 January 2024:
Revised recommendations on the safe use of pesticides in ships applicable to the fumigation of cargo transport units (M
Revised Emergency Response Procedures for Ships carrying dangerous goods (EmS Guide) (MSC.1/Circ.1588/Rev.2).
Owners who are involved in the transport of dangerous goods in packaged from a recommended to ensure compliance wit
Amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/3-8 on towing and mooring equipment – MSC.474(102)
The objective of these amendments is to improve mooring safety by establishing new requirements for the selection, arra
maintenance, and replacement of mooring equipment, including lines. Documentation pertaining to the design of moorin
selection of mooring equipment will be required to be provided and retained on board.
These requirements are incorporated in SOLAS regulation II-1/3-8 on towing and mooring equipment, and are supported
Guidelines on the design of mooring arrangements and the selection of appropriate mooring equipment and fittings fo
1619)
Guidelines for inspection and maintenance of mooring equipment including lines (MSC.1/Circ.1620)
Revised guidance on shipboard towing and mooring equipment (MSC.1/Circ. 1175/Rev.1)
Unified interpretation of SOLAS Chapter II-1 (MSC.1/Circ.1362/Rev.2)
The design requirements will apply to new cargo and passenger ships constructed on or after 1 January 2024 that are abov
apply to ships of 3000 GT and below as far as reasonably practicable. However, the maintenance and inspection requireme
retroactively for all ships.
Owners with new-built ships (i.e., building contract signed on or after 1 January 2024, or in the absence of a building contr
July 2024, or if the ship is delivered on or after 1 January 2027) are recommended to refer to the Class rules on design requ
accordingly.
Existing ships are recommended to refer to review their current procedures for the inspection and maintenance of moorin
ensure that they are in line with the above-mentioned guidelines.
Amendments to SOLAS chapter II-1 parts B-2 and B-4 on watertight integrity – MSC.474(102)
These amendments align the design criteria for watertight integrity in parts B-2 to B-4 with the probabilistic damage sta
B-1 and will apply to new cargo and passenger ships constructed on or after 1 January 2024. It will not have any impact on e
Similarly, the requirement for watertight doors in MARPOL Annex I, the Loadline Convention, the IBC Code, and the IGC Co
with the requirements in SOLAS.
The amendments to the Loadline Convention and the IBC Code will enter into force on 1 January 2024, and the amendmen
the IGC Code will enter into force on 1 July 2024.
Amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/25-1 on water level detectors on multiple hold cargo ships other than bulk carr
MSC.482(103)
This new SOLAS regulation II-1/25-1 requires multiple hold cargo ships other than bulk carriers and tankers constructed o
fitted with water level detectors in each cargo hold intended for dry cargoes. It harmonizes the requirements for bulk carri
and will not apply to tankers, liquid holds, and tanks entirely above the freeboard deck.
The water level detectors are required to be fitted in the aft end of the cargo holds and should be capable of giving audible
navigation bridge when the water level reaches a height of 0.3m above the bottom of the cargo hold, and again when the w
15% of the depth of the cargo hold. The visual alarms should be capable of discriminating between the two di"erent water
For cargo holds which are occasionally used for water ballast, an alarm overriding device may be installed.
Consequently, the IMO Resolution MSC.188(79)/Rev.1 on “Revised Performance Standards for Water Level Detectors on Sh
Regulations II-1/25, II-1/25-1 and XII/12” will enter into force from 1 January 2024 to align with the new SOLAS requireme
Owners with new-built cargo ships (i.e., building contract signed on or after 1 January 2024, or in the absence of a building
after 1 July 2024, or if the ship is delivered on or after 1 January 2028), except tankers and bulk carriers, are recommended
design requirements and be guided accordingly.
Amendments to SOLAS chapter II-2 and FSS Code on fire detection systems (Chapter 9) and inert gas systems (Chapte
MSC.484(103) and MSC.457(101)
Following amendments to the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code) will enter into force from 1 January 20
Amendments to Chapter 9 clarify that individually identifiable fixed fire detectors fitted in cargo ships and in passenge
not be provided with isolator modules at each fire detector if the system is arranged in such a way that the number and
identifiable fire detectors rendered ine"ective due to a fault would not be larger than an equivalent section in a section
Amendments to Chapter 15 clarify that for ships that have inert gas systems, the location of the valve that isolates the i
external supply of inert gas, and associated instrumentation requirements.
Amendments to SOLAS chapter III and LSA Code on lifeboats and launching and embarkation appliances –
MSC.459(101), MSC.482(103), MSC.485(103), MSC.488(103)
Several amendments have been made to SOLAS Chapter III and the associated Life-Saving Appliances (LSA) Code:
Amendments to SOLAS regulation III/33 and the LSA Code, to remove the requirements to launch free-fall lifeboats wit
at speeds up to 5 knots in calm water on cargo ships of 20,000 GT and above.
Amendment to LSA Code to remove the requirement of buoyant oars on lifeboats equipped with two independent prop
Amendments to LSA Code to allow manual handling mechanism for launching rescue boats on cargo ships where the re
ship’s survival craft and is less than 700kg in the fully equipped condition, with an engine, but without crew.
These amendments will apply to cargo and passenger ships and enter into force on 1 January 2024, but some Flag States m
launch test provisions for free-fall lifeboats earlier.
Amendments to SOLAS II-1, III, IV, and V on modernization of GMDSS – MSC.496(105)
The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) requirements have been updated to enable the future use of mo
systems whilst removing carriage requirements for obsolete systems. The definitions of the sea areas A1 to A4 have also b
the geographical area of coverage may vary between various satellite service providers.
These amendments a"ect SOLAS chapters II-1, III, IV, and V, and the appendix (Certificates) and the 1988 SOLAS Protocol
requirements for communication equipment have been moved from SOLAS Chapter III on life-saving appliances to Chapt
communications.
These requirements will apply to all ships of 300 GT and above. The existing SOLAS certificates do not have to be reissued
the reorganization of SOLAS Chapters III and IV.
Consequential amendments have been made to the 1994 and 2000 High-Speed Craft (HSC) Codes, the Special Purpose Sh
Mobile O"shore Drilling Units (MODU) Code.
Owners are recommended to refer to the IMO resolutions mentioned above and be guided accordingly.
Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-1 and IGF Code – MSC.458(101) and MSC.475(102)
These amendments are aimed at improving the application of the International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or oth
Code) by considering lessons learned so far.
Owners with ships constructed or converted to use gas as fuel on or after 1 January 2024 are recommended to refer to the C
requirements and be guided accordingly.
Amendments to SOLAS Chapter VII and IGC Code – MSC.476(102)
Amendments to the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC
tensile strength to materials such as aluminium alloys.
These amendments will apply to ships that are subject to the IGC Code and use high-manganese steel in the construction
temperature cargo.
Revised FAL Convention – FAL.14(46)
Amendments to the Facilitation (FAL) Convention will make the single window for data exchange mandatory in ports worl
digitalization in shipping. The amendments also address lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and introduce mea
and illicit activities in the maritime sector.
Regulations coming into force on 1 May 2024
Amendments to MARPOL Annexes I, II, IV, V, and VI on port reception facilities in the Arctic region –
MEPC.359(79), MEPC.360(79) and MEPC.362(79)
These amendments allow States with ports in the Arctic region to enter into regional arrangements for port reception faci
discharge oil, noxious liquid substances, sewage, garbage, or air pollution waste to port reception facilities would need to b
regional arrangements in place and reception facilities may not be available at every port.
Amendments to MARPOL Annex V on Garbage Record Books for smaller ships – MEPC.360(79)
These amendments make the Garbage Record Book mandatory for ships of 100GT and above and less than 400GT. This ex
mandatory garbage record books to smaller ships, which will be required to keep records of their garbage handling operati
reception facility ashore or to other ships, garbage incineration, permitted discharges of garbage into the sea, and acciden
discharged or loss of garbage into the sea. This move supports the implementation of IMO's Strategy and Action Plan to ad
from ships.
From 1 May 2024, Owners with ships of 100GT and above are recommended to take note of these requirements and maint
onboard and record all discharges into the sea or port reception facilities or garbage incineration-related entries.
Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Regulation 14, and Appendix VII on Mediterranean Sea ECA – MEPC.361(79)
From 1 May 2024, the Mediterranean Sea will be designated as an Emission Control Area (ECA) for sulphur oxides (SOx) an
however, these requirements will take e"ect from 1 May 2025 and then onwards it will be mandatory for ships to either us
content of 0.10% m/m or utilize an exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS) while sailing through the Mediterranean Sea ECA.
Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Appendix V on fuel flashpoint to be included in BDN – MEPC.362(79)
These amendments require fuel suppliers to include the flashpoint of the fuel oil or a statement that the flashpoint has be
70oC as mandatory information in the bunker delivery note (BDN).
From 1 May 2024, Owners are recommended to ensure that the BDNs provided by the fuel suppliers comply with the revise
Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Appendix IX on information to be submitted to IMO-DCS – MEPC.362(79)
These amendments are in line with the latest SEEMP Guidelines published under MEPC.346(78) and will require all ships o
those identified under MARPOL Regulation 19.2, to report EEXI, CII, and rating values to the IMO Ship Fuel Oil Consumptio
Regulations coming into force on 1 July 2024
Amendments to MARPOL Annex I on HFO ban in Arctic waters – MEPC.329(76)
A new regulation 43A in Chapter 9 of MARPOL Annex I will introduce a ban on the use and carriage of heavy fuel oil (HFO) in
July 2024.
The prohibition will cover the use and carriage for use as fuel of oils having a density at 15°C higher than 900 kg/m3 or a ki
higher than 180 mm2/s. However, the carriage of heavy fuel oil as cargo is not prohibited.
The application will be to all ships, except for ships engaged in securing the safety of ships or in search and rescue operatio
spill preparedness and response.
Owners with ships operating in and around the Arctic region are recommended to take note of these amendments. There a
ships with fuel tanks protected by double hulls, and waivers for ships flying the flag of countries with a coastline bordering
these ships to continue carry HFO for use until 1 July 2029.
New SOLAS chapter XV and the new mandatory Code for Industrial Personnel (IP Code) – MSC.521(106) and MSC.527(
A new SOLAS chapter XV and the associated new International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel (IP Co
minimum safety standards for ships that carry industrial personnel, as well as for the personnel themselves, and address s
operations within the o"shore and energy sectors, such as personnel transfer operations. Such personnel may be engaged
maintenance, decommissioning, operation, or servicing of o"shore facilities, such as wind farms, as well as o"shore oil an
aquaculture, ocean mining, or similar activities.
Owners with ships engaged in transport or accommodating industrial personnel will need to comply with the new IP Code
onboard a valid Industrial Personnel Safety Certificate. Pending entry into force of the above-mentioned requirements, th
on the Safe Carriage of more than 12 Industrial Personnel onboard Vessels Engaged on International Voyages as outlined u
applied.
Amendments to the 2011 ESP Code – MSC.525(106)
Amendments to the International Code on the Enhanced Programme of Inspections during Surveys of Bulk Carriers and Oi
Code) are intended to align the requirements for inspections of void spaces bounding cargo holds with the existing require
water ballast tanks.
For ships that have undergone a major conversion into a bulk carrier or ships that were originally designed to be a bulk carr
to a major conversion, additional amendments would require such tanks and other spaces to be subject to annual examina
been subjected to major conversion and where a hard protective coating is found to be in “less than GOOD” condition.
Owners with bulk carriers of single-side skin and double-side skin construction or oil tankers are recommended to refer to
guided accordingly.
Source: IMO
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