International Convention for the Safety at Sea (SOLAS)

Document	Aim of the document	Important
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) (Adoption: 1 November 1974: Entry into force: 25 May 1980) PDF version available here	The main objective of the SOLAS Convention is to specify minimum standards for the construction, equipment and operation of ships, compatible with their safety. Flag States are responsible for ensuring that ships under their flag comply with its requirements. The convention also highlights the necessary certificates in order to indicate the compliance with requirements.	Chapter VII of SOLAS covers the carriage of dangerous goods, and more specifically the carriage of dangerous goods in: Packaged form (part A). This part includes provisions for the classification, packing, marking, labeling and placarding, documentation and stowage of dangerous goods. This chapter makes mandatory the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, developed by IMO, which is constantly updated to accommodate new dangerous goods and to supplement or revise existing provisions. Solid form in bulk (part A1). This part covers the documentation, stowage and segregation requirements for these goods and requires reporting of incidents involving such goods.

Document

Aim of the document

Important

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)
(Adoption: 1 November 1974: Entry into force: 25 May 1980)

PDF version available here

The main objective of the SOLAS Convention is to specify minimum standards for the construction, equipment and operation of ships, compatible with their safety. Flag States are responsible for ensuring that ships under their flag comply with its requirements. The convention also highlights the necessary certificates in order to indicate the compliance with requirements.

Chapter VII of SOLAS covers the carriage of dangerous goods, and more specifically the carriage of dangerous goods in:

Packaged form (part A). This part includes provisions for the classification, packing, marking, labeling and placarding, documentation and stowage of dangerous goods. This chapter makes mandatory the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code, developed by IMO, which is constantly updated to accommodate new dangerous goods and to supplement or revise existing provisions.

Solid form in bulk (part A1). This part covers the documentation, stowage and segregation requirements for these goods and requires reporting of incidents involving such goods.