Amendments to SOLAS
1. Amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/3-8 relevant to mooring equipment As mentioned in below 3.2(1), new "Guidelines on the design of mooring arrangements and the selection of appropriate mooring equipment and fittings for safe mooring" and new "Guidelines for inspection and maintenance of mooring equipment including lines" were approved at this session. Besides, MSC 102 further adopted amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/3-8 to refer to those Guidelines. MSC.474(102)
Applied: on or after 1 January 2024
2. Amendments to Part B-1 to B-4 of SOLAS chapter II-1 to ensure consistency with regard to watertight integrity Amendments to Part B-1 to B-4 of SOLAS chapter II-1 were adopted to ensure consistency with regard to watertight integrity. As for early implementation of the amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/12, refer to below 3.2(3). MSC.474(102), MSC.429(98)/REV.1, MSC.429(98)/REV.2 Applied: on or after 1 January 2024
3. Water level detectors on multiple hold cargo ships Amendments to SOLAS regulation II-I/25-1 were adopted to require water level detectors on multiple hold cargo ships other than bulk carriers and tankers for cargo holds located below the freeboard deck, and intended for dry cargoes. MSC.482(103) Applied: on or after 1 January 2024
4. Amendments to SOLAS etc. due to modernization of the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) Following recent modernization of the GMDSS, the draft amendments to SOLAS II-1, III, IV and V, and the appendix (Certificates), etc., were adopted. In addition, the relevant performance standards, guidelines and guidance were also approved. The main points of the amendments are shown as follows: i) Definitions of “Sea area A3” are modified to "a recognized mobile satellite service supported by the ship earth station carried on board" from "n Inmarsat geostationary satellite". ii) The provisions in SOLAS regulation III/6 related to two-way VHF radiotelephone apparatus and search and rescue locating devices (SART) have been relocated under SOLAS IV. iii) The performance standards for the reception of maritime safety information and search and rescue related information by MF (NAVTEX) and HF, shipborne VHF radio installations, ship borne MF and MF/HF radio installations, Inmarsat-C ship earth stations, etc. were amended. MSC.496(105) Applied: on or after 1 January 2024
5. Amendments to chapter 9 of the FSS Code were adopted in respect of fault isolation requirements for cargo ships and passenger ship cabin balconies fitted with individually identifiable fire detector systems.
MSC.484(103) Applied: on or after 1 January 2024
6. Amendments to FSS Code Chapter 15, replacing the wording "forward of" with "downstream of" to avoid misunderstanding on design requirement of inert gas system, were adopted.
MSC.457(101)Applied: on or after 1 January 2024
7. Amendments to SOLAS chapter III, LSA Code and resolution MSC.81(70) Amendments to SOLAS regulation III/33, paragraph 4.4.1.3 of LSA Code Chapter IV - Survival Craft - 4.4 General requirements for lifeboats - 4.4.1 Construction of lifeboats Removal requirement for freefall lifeboat: except for free-fall lifeboats, be capable of being launched and towed when the ship is making headway at speeds up to 5 knots in calm water." MSC.482(103), MSC.485(103), MSC.488(103)
Applied: on or after 1 January 2024
8. Amendments to LSA Code
Two (2) amendments to the LSA Code were adopted as listed below.
i) Amendments to LSA Code 4.4.8.1 that the requirement of buoyant oars and related equipment is not applicable for lifeboats equipped with two independent propulsion systems.
ii) Amendments to LSA Code 6.1.1.3, in order to accept launch of a rescue boat with manual hoisting from the stowed position and turning out to the embarkation position by one person instead of stored mechanical power on cargo ships equipped with the rescue boat which is not one of the ship's survival craft, having a mass not more than 700 kg in fully equipped condition.
MSC.459(101)Applied: on or after 1 January 2024
9. Amendments to Forms C, E and P in the appendix to SOLAS certificates Amendments to item 8.1 "Details of navigational systems and equipment - Rudder, propeller, thrust, pitch and operational mode indicator" in the appendix to Safety Certificate for Cargo or Passenger Ships (Forms C, P) and in the appendix to Safety Equipment Certificate for Cargo Ships (Form E) were adopted, in order to uniform the indication in case the equipment is not on board. MSC.456(101)
Applied: on or after 1 January 2024
10.Amendments to 2011 ESP Code, which replace the provision of thickness measurements at the first renewal survey of double hull oil tankers, were adopted. MSC.483(103)
Applied: on or after 1 January 2023
