What is Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)?

There is much discussion about SOLAS, so I did some research to find out what exactly it is. SOLAS describes two different regulations – one is the "International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea", the other is the Public Law 89-777 from 1966, popular name: "Safety at Sea Act" or "Safety of Life at Sea Act". The international convention called SOLAS applies only to ships engaged on international voyages. That means, the Delta Queen is not directly effected by this. What effects the Delta Queen though is the Safety at Sea Act (P.L. 89-777). P.L. 89-777 includes that passenger vessels "having berth or stateroom accomodations for 50 or more passengers" have to be compliant with the SOLAS regulations of 1960 and some ammendments. (Thanks very much to the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium and Dubuque County Historical Society for sending us a copy of P.L. 89-777). The DQ was granted a two-years delay in enactment in an amendment directly to this law, and again a two-years delay was issued in 1968. 1970 was the year of the first big "Save the Delta Queen" campaign. Despite all efforts (see You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login for details) the campaign almost failed. Eventually the Delta Queen got a new 3-years exemption. After that an exemption was re-issued several times, including the exemption that is now expiring in November 2008.

International Convention SOLAS The "International Convention for Safety of Life at Sea" exists already since 1914. This first version was passed in response to the Titanic disaster in 1912. Since then there had been several versions and since 1948 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) develops and maintains SOLAS.

The relevant version for the Delta Queen was adopted in 1960 and entered into force in 1965. An amendment from 1966, which is referred to in the Safety at Sea Act P.L. 89-777, deals with special fire safety measures. The actual version or SOLAS, dating back to 1974, came into effect in May 1980 (full text: You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login). What seams to be important for the Delta Queen – because she's not effected by that – is that only since the 1974 SOLAS the convention is being extended and altered by amendments, but there are not completely new versions. A more detailed history of SOLAS can be found on the Metal Safe Sign Int. website. SOLAS 1974 is special because its regulations can become national law without ever passing the US Congress or the desk of the President. It's based on a so called "tacit acceptance" which means if a country doesn't contradict within a given time frame it comes into effect automatically. This is a very interesting procedure, being more and more used for international treaties to speed up the process as it forces countries to act instead of waiting decades until the last of the member countries' parliament has taken care of a treaty to come into effect. Florida based maritime attorney Rod Sullivan is discussing this issue more in detail in his blog entry The IMO and the "Tacit Acceptance Procedure" . SOLAS 2010, effecting many of the older cruise ships, consists of some amendments made in 2006, going into effect on July 1, 2010. They contain new and stricter safety regulations especially for passenger vessels.

14 Comments »
14 Responses to "What is Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)?"

    Charles Greene Says:
    October 15th, 2007 at 11:44 pm

    What precisely is "restricted use" when referring to combustible materials? Nowhere do I see an explicit forbidding of the use of wood in a superstructure. Virtually anything is combustible under the right conditions. (e.g. 9-11) At some point common sense needs to put the bureaucrats in their place.

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Summary of SOLAS Chapter II-2
CONSTRUCTION – FIRE PROTECTION, FIRE DETECTION AND FIRE EXTINCTION

Entry into force: 1 July 2002

PART A - GENERAL

Regulation 1 - Application - The chapter applies to ships built on or after 1 July 2002. Ships constructed before that date should comply with the chapter in force prior to 1 July 2002, however there are some requirements for existing ships in the revised chapter.

Regulation 2 - Fire safety objectives and functional requirements – Provides the fire safety objectives and functional requirements for the chapter.

Regulation 3 - Definitions - Gives definitions of terms used in the chapter.

PART B - PREVENTION OF FIRE AND EXPLOSION

Regulation 4 - Probability of ignition - The purpose of this regulation is to prevent the ignition of combustible materials or flammable liquids.

Regulation 5 - Fire growth potential - The purpose of this regulation is to limit the fire growth potential in every space of the ship.

Regulation 6 - Smoke generation potential and toxicity - The purpose of this regulation is to reduce the hazard to life from smoke and toxic products generated during a fire in spaces where persons normally work or live.

PART C- SUPPRESSION OF FIRE

Regulation 7 - Detection and alarm - The purpose of this regulation is to detect a fire in the space of origin and to provide for alarm for safe escape and fire-fighting activities.

Regulation 8 - Control of smoke spread - The purpose of this regulation is to control the spread of smoke in order to minimize the hazards from smoke.

Regulation 9 - Containment of fire - The purpose of this regulation is to contain a fire in the space of origin.

Regulation 10 - Fire fighting - The purpose of this regulation is to suppress and swiftly extinguish a fire in the space of origin.

Regulation 11 - Structural integrity - The purpose of this regulation is to maintain structural integrity of the ship preventing partial or whole collapse of the ship structures due to strength deterioration by heat.

PART D - ESCAPE

Regulation 12 - Notification of crew and passengers - The purpose of this regulation is to notify crew and passengers of a fire for safe evacuation.

Regulation 13 - Means of escape -The purpose of this regulation is to provide means of escape so that persons onboard can safely and swiftly escape to the lifeboat and liferaft embarkation deck.

PART E - OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Regulation 14 - Operational readiness and maintenance - The purpose of this regulation is to maintain and monitor the effectiveness of the fire safety measures the ship is provided with.

Regulation 15 - Instructions, onboard training and drills -The purpose of this regulation is to mitigate the consequences of fire by means of proper instructions for training and drills for persons onboard responsible for carrying out ship procedures under emergency conditions.

Regulation 16 – Operations -The purpose of this regulation is to provide information and instructions for proper ship and cargo handling operations in relation to fire safety.

PART F - ALTERNATIVE DESIGN AND ARRANGEMENTS

Regulation 17 - Alternative design and arrangements - The purpose of this regulation is to provide a methodology for approving alternative design and arrangements for fire safety.

PART G - SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

Regulation 18 - Helicopter facilities - The purpose of this regulation is to provide additional measures in order to address the fire safety objectives of this chapter for ships fitted with special facilities for helicopters.

Regulation 19 - Carriage of dangerous goods - The purpose of this regulation is to provide additional safety measures in order to address the fire safety objectives of this chapter for ships carrying dangerous goods.

Regulation 20 - Protection of vehicle, special category and ro-ro spaces - The purpose of this regulation is to provide additional safety measures in order to address the fire safety objectives of this chapter for ships fitted with vehicle, special category and ro-ro spaces.

THE INTERNATIONAL FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS (FSS) CODE

Contents

Preamble

Chapter 1 General

Chapter 2 International shore connections

Chapter 3 Personnel protection

Chapter 4 Fire extinguishers

Chapter 5 Fixed gas fire-extinguishing systems

Chapter 6 Fixed foam fire-extinguishing systems

Chapter 7 Fixed pressure water-spraying and water-mist fire-extinguishing systems

Chapter 8 Automatic sprinkler, fire detection and fire alarm systems

Chapter 9 Fixed fire detection and fire alarm systems

Chapter 10 Sample extraction smoke detection systems

Chapter 11 Low-location lighting systems

Chapter 12 Fixed emergency fire pumps

Chapter 13 Arrangement of means of escape

Chapter 14 Fixed deck foam systems

Chapter 15 Inert gas systems

Fire test laboratories
IMO issues annually a circular contining a list of a list of laboratories recognized by Administrations, which are able to conduct fire tests in accordance with the provisions of the International Code for Application of Fire Test Procedures (FTP Code) .

Halon banking and reception facilities

IMO annually issues a circular containing a list of halon banking and reception facilities, to facilitate the deposit of decommissioned halons or the purchase of recycled halons.

Publications

The following publications are available from IMO:

SOLAS Amendments 2000 - includes the revised chapter II-2 , making the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code), adopted by the MSC by resolution MSC.98(73), mandatory under SOLAS

Fire Safety Systems (FSS) Code, 2001

Fire Test Procedures (FTP Code) (1998 Edition)

Model Course: 1.20 - Fire Prevention. & Fire Fighting
Model Course: 2.03 - Advanced Fire Fighting
Model Course: 3.05 - Survey of Fire Appliances


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Introduction
The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention is an international maritime treaty established to ensure the safety of ships, crews, and passengers. Administered by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), SOLAS sets the minimum safety standards for the construction, equipment, and operation of ships.

Adopted in 1914 following the Titanic disaster, the treaty has undergone numerous amendments to address emerging safety concerns and technological advancements in the maritime industry.

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Key Objectives of SOLAS
1. Preventing Loss of Life: Establish comprehensive safety measures to minimize accidents and loss of life at sea.
2. Ship Safety Standards: Ensure ships are designed, constructed, and maintained to meet stringent safety requirements.
3. Environmental Protection: Reduce the risk of marine pollution through stringent operational practices.
4. Global Standards: Provide a uniform framework for maritime safety across nations.

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Core Chapters of SOLAS

1. Chapter I: General Provisions
   - Establishes the scope of the convention.
   - Sets requirements for the survey and certification of ships.
   - Details how safety measures are verified.

   Example: Ships over 500 gross tons must carry a valid Safety Management Certificate (SMC).

2. Chapter II-1: Construction – Subdivision and Stability, Machinery, and Electrical Installations
   - Specifies requirements for ship construction and stability.
   - Includes machinery and electrical safety.

   Example: Bulk carriers must have double hulls to reduce the risk of sinking.

3. Chapter II-2: Fire Protection, Detection, and Extinction
   - Outlines measures to prevent, detect, and extinguish fires onboard.

   Example: Passenger ships are required to have automatic fire detection systems in accommodation and service areas.

4. Chapter III: Life-Saving Appliances and Arrangements
   - Covers the design, maintenance, and use of lifeboats, life rafts, and personal flotation devices.

   Example: Ships must carry enough life-saving appliances to accommodate all passengers and crew, plus a margin for contingencies.

5. Chapter IV: Radiocommunications
   - Details the use of modern communication systems for safety and distress signals.
   - Includes the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).

   Example: All ships must maintain radio communication equipment to alert rescue services in emergencies.

6. Chapter V: Safety of Navigation
   - Establishes rules to enhance the safety of navigation.
   - Mandates the carriage of nautical charts, publications, and navigational systems.

   Example: Ships must have an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS).

7. Chapter VI: Carriage of Cargoes
   - Regulates the safe transport of cargoes, including dangerous goods.

   Example: Containers carrying hazardous chemicals must be labeled and stowed securely.

8. Chapter VII: Carriage of Dangerous Goods
   - Sets additional safety measures for handling and stowing dangerous materials onboard.

   Example: Specific guidelines for the transport of liquefied natural gas (LNG) include pressure and temperature controls.

9. Chapter IX: Management for the Safe Operation of Ships
   - Requires compliance with the International Safety Management (ISM) Code.

   Example: Shipping companies must implement a Safety Management System (SMS) to prevent accidents.

10. Chapter XI: Special Measures to Enhance Maritime Safety
   - Introduces security measures to address threats like piracy and terrorism.

   Example: Ships must adhere to the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

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Key Features of SOLAS

1. International Scope:
   SOLAS applies to ships operating under the flag of any signatory nation. It ensures a consistent safety framework across the global maritime industry.

2. Regular Amendments:
   The treaty is frequently updated to address new challenges. For example, the 1974 SOLAS Convention is widely recognized as the most comprehensive version, incorporating continuous amendments through the tacit acceptance procedure.

3. Applicability:
   SOLAS is mandatory for ships over 500 gross tons involved in international voyages. Specific chapters apply to different vessel types, such as tankers, passenger ships, and cargo vessels.

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Examples of SOLAS in Action

1. The Titanic Disaster and the Origin of SOLAS (1914):
   After the tragic sinking of the Titanic in 1912, maritime nations adopted the first SOLAS Convention in 1914. This version introduced:
   - Lifeboat requirements for all passengers.
   - Regular radio watch on ships.

2. Costa Concordia Incident (2012):
   Following the grounding of the Costa Concordia, SOLAS amendments emphasized the need for mandatory safety drills and comprehensive evacuation plans.

3. Ballast Water Management Systems (BWMS):
   To address marine pollution, amendments to SOLAS included requirements for ships to install BWMS, reducing the spread of invasive species.

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Benefits of SOLAS
1. Improved Safety Standards: Enhances the safety of passengers, crew, and cargo.
2. Environmental Protection: Minimizes risks of marine pollution through stringent operational protocols.
3. Economic Stability: Promotes safer shipping, reducing accidents that could disrupt global trade.
4. Enhanced Security: Combats threats like piracy and terrorism through proactive security measures.

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Challenges and Criticisms

1. Implementation Costs:
   Compliance with SOLAS can be expensive, especially for smaller shipping companies.

2. Enforcement Gaps:
   While the treaty is binding, enforcement depends on the commitment of individual signatory nations.

3. Technological Advancements:
   Rapid technological changes sometimes outpace the treaty's updates, necessitating faster amendments.

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Conclusion
The Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention remains a cornerstone of global maritime safety. Its robust framework addresses the multifaceted risks of modern shipping, from navigation and communication to cargo handling and security. Despite challenges, its continuous evolution ensures relevance in a dynamic maritime environment, safeguarding lives, assets, and ecosystems worldwide.