UK: Amendments to SOLAS II-1, effective 1 January 2024

UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency has issued the marine information notice MIN 704(M), Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-1 with an entry into force date of 1 January 2024.

This MIN was issued on 19 December 2023.

Summary

This Marine Information Note provides the text of three MSC Resolutions (MSC.474(102), MSC.482(103) and MSC.496(105)) in respect of changes to SOLAS Chapter II-1. These resolutions have an entry into force date of 1 January 2024.

These resolutions are given legal effect in UK law by means of Regulation 6 of the Merchant Shipping (Cargo and Passenger Ship Construction and Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2023 (“the Regulations”), which introduced an ambulatory reference provision in the legislation.

1. Introduction/background

1.1 The requirements in SOLAS Chapter II-1 (including the requirements in the Codes) are incorporated by direct reference to those requirements in the Regulations.

Regulation 6 of the Regulations makes the application of these requirements to ships ambulatory so that all future amendments are automatically given direct effect by the Regulations.

For ships built before 1st January 2009, the requirements are set out in Merchant Shipping Notice 1907(M); these requirements are not subject to the ambulatory reference provision in regulation 6.

1.2 In order to ensure transparency in relation to future amendments to SOLAS II-1 (and other international instruments to which ambulatory referencing provision applies), such amendments will be publicised in advance of entry into force date by means of a Parliamentary Statement to both Houses of Parliament and by way of an M-Notice.

2. Changes to SOLAS II-1 applicable on 1 January 2024

2.1 The annex attached contains the text of three MSC resolutions with an entry into force date of 1 January 2024. These are as follows:

MSC.474(102) –

Adopted 11 November 2020

Part A – General

Regulation 1 - Application

Part A-1 - Structure of ships

Regulation 3-8 – Towing and mooring equipment

Part B-1 - Stability

Regulation 7-2 – Calculation of the factor si

Part B-2 - Subdivision, watertight and weathertight integrity

Regulation 12 – Peak and machinery space bulkheads, shaft tunnels, etc.

Regulation 13 – Openings in watertight bulkheads below the bulkhead deck in passenger ships

Regulation 15 – Openings in the shell plating below the bulkhead deck of passenger ships and the freeboard deck of cargo ships

Regulation 16 – Construction and initial tests of watertight closures

Regulation 17 – Internal watertight integrity of passenger ships above the bulkhead deck

Regulation 17-1 – Integrity of the hull and superstructure, damage prevention and control on ro-ro passenger ships

Part B-4 - Stability management

Regulation 19 – Damage control information

Regulation 21 – Periodical operation and inspection of watertight doors, etc., in passenger ships

Regulation 22 – Prevention and control of water ingress, etc.

Regulation 23 – Special requirements for ro-ro passenger ships

Part D - Electrical installations

Regulation 42 – Emergency source of electrical power in passenger ships

MSC.482(103) -

Adopted on 13 May 2021

Part B-4 - Stability management

Regulation 25-1 - Water level detectors on multiple hold cargo ships other than bulk carriers and tankers

MSC.496(105) -

Adopted 28 April 2022

Part D - Electrical installations

Regulation 42 – Emergency source of electrical power in passenger ships

Regulation 43 – Emergency source of electrical power in cargo ships

2.2 See also MGN 692(M) – Explanatory Notes to the Subdivision and Damage Stability Regulations in Parts B to B-4 of SOLAS Chapter II-1 which contains explanatory information concerning various regulations listed above in MSC.474(102).

2.3 With respect to MSC.474(102) and Regulation 3-8 (Towing and mooring equipment), guidance can be found in the following MSC circulars:

2.3.1 Revised guidance on shipboard towing and mooring equipment (MSC.1/Circ.1175/Rev.1);

2.3.2 Guidelines on the design of mooring arrangements and the selection of appropriate mooring equipment and fittings for safe mooring (MSC.1/Circ.1619); and

2.3.3 Guidelines for inspection and maintenance of mooring equipment including lines (MSC.1/Circ.1620).

2.4 With respect to MSC.482(103) (Water level detectors on multiple hold cargo ships other than bulk carriers and tankers), see Performance standards for water level detectors on bulk carriers and single hold cargo ships other than bulk carriers (resolution MSC.188(79)), as amended by resolution MSC.188(79)Rev.2.

2.5 Access to these and other MSC resolutions can be found using the following link to the IMO website:

https://www.imo.org/en/KnowledgeCentre/IndexofIMOResolutions/Pages/MSC.aspx

All regulations can be found at legislation.gov.uk

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):