2014
SOLAS amendments which entered into force on 1 January 2014
1. Mandatory requirement for new passenger ships for either onboard stability
computers or shore-based support, for the purpose of providing operational
information to the Master for safe return to port after a flooding casualty;
4. Prohibition of the blending of bulk liquid cargoes during the sea voyage and to
prohibit production processes on board ships;
2. United States Caribbean Emission Control Area (ECA) now effective - The United
States Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area (SOX, NOX and PM) came into effect,
under MARPOL Annex VI, on 1 January 2014, bringing in stricter controls on
emissions of sulphur oxide (SOX), nitrogen oxide (NOX) and particulate matter for
ships trading in certain waters adjacent to the coasts of Puerto Rico and the United
States Virgin Islands.
2. The Code for recognised organisations (RO Code) became mandatory under SOLAS,
MARPOL and the Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load
Lines, 1966. Flag States may delegate certain responsibilities for surveying and
certification of ships to “recognised organisations” (often classification societies).
The RO Code provides Flag States with standard mechanisms for the oversight,
assessment and authorisation of recognised organisations and clarifies the
responsibilities of such organisations.
3. An amended SOLAS regulation III/19 was adopted in May 2013 in the wake of the
Costa Concordia incident. Certain of the amendments came into force on 1 January
2015:
ii.Enclosed-space entry and rescue drills are now mandated. This will require
crew members with enclosed-space entry or rescue responsibilities to
participate in an enclosed-space entry and rescue drill at least once every two
months.
2016
1 January 2016: Mandatory audit scheme
1. Amendments to MARPOL Annex I, the Code for the Construction and Equipment of
Ships carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code) and the International
Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in
Bulk (IBC Code), on mandatory carriage requirements for a stability instrument for
oil tankers and chemical tankers.
Amendments to:
1. MARPOL Annex I special requirements for the use or carriage of oils in the
Antarctic area, to prohibit ships from carrying heavy grade oil on board as ballast;
2. MARPOL Annex III, concerning the appendix on criteria for the identification of
harmful substances in packaged form; and
3. MARPOL Annex VI, concerning regulation 2 (Definitions), regulation 13 (Nitrogen
Oxides (NOX) and the Supplement to the International Air Pollution Prevention
Certificate (IAPP Certificate), in order to include reference to gas as fuel and to
gas-fuelled engines.
2017
1 January 2017 – Polar Code
1. The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code) and related
amendments to make it mandatory under both SOLAS and MARPOL enter into
force (The Polar Code will apply to new ships constructed after 1 January 2017.
Ships constructed before 1 January 2017 will be required to meet the relevant
requirements of the Polar Code by the first intermediate or renewal survey,
whichever occurs first, after 1 January 2018).
International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF
Code), along with amendments to make the Code mandatory under SOLAS enter into force.
The amendments to SOLAS chapter II-1 (Construction – Structure, subdivision and stability,
machinery and electrical installations), include amendments to Part F Alternative design and
arrangements, to provide a methodology for alternative design and arrangements for
machinery, electrical installations and low-flashpoint fuel storage and distribution systems;
and a new Part G Ships using low-flashpoint fuels, to add new regulations to require ships
constructed after the expected date of entry into force of 1 January 2017 to comply with the
requirements of the IGF Code, together with related amendments to chapter II-2 and
Appendix (Certificates).
The IGF Code contains mandatory provisions for the arrangement, installation, control and
monitoring of machinery, equipment and systems using low-flashpoint fuels, focusing
initially on LNG.
The Code addresses all areas that need special consideration for the usage of low-flashpoint
fuels, taking a goal-based approach, with goals and functional requirements specified for
each section forming the basis for the design, construction and operation of ships using this
Amendments to SOLAS deals with the provisions related to the secondary means of venting
cargo tanks in order to ensure adequate safety against over- and under-pressure in the event
of a cargo tank isolation valve being damaged or inadvertently closed, and SOLAS
regulation II-2/20 relating to performance of ventilation systems.
From 1 January 2017, STCW certificates must be issued, renewed and revalidated in
accordance with the provisions of the 2010 Manila Amendments.