Amendments to the Protocol of 1988 Relating to the SOLAS

The International Maritime Organization has published MSC.534(107), Amendments to the Protocol of 1988 Relating to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, entering into force on 1 January 2026.

The Maritime Safety Committee, recalling Article 28(b) of the Convention on the International Maritime Organization concerning the functions of the Committee, also recalling article VIII(b) of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974 ("the Convention") and article VI of the Protocol of 1988 relating to the Convention ("the 1988 SOLAS Protocol") concerning the procedure for amending the 1988 SOLAS Protocol, having considered, at its 107th session, amendments to the 1988 SOLAS Protocol proposed and circulated in accordance with article VIII(b)(i) of the Convention and article VI of the 1988 SOLAS Protocol.

Adopts, in accordance with article VIII(b)(iv) of the Convention and article VI of the 1988 SOLAS Protocol, amendments to the appendix to the annex to the 1988 SOLAS Protocol, the text of which is set out in the annex to the present resolution.

Determines, in accordance with article VIII(b)(vi)(2)(bb) of the Convention and article VI of the 1988 SOLAS Protocol, that the said amendments shall be deemed to have been accepted on 1 July 2025, unless, prior to that date, more than one third of the Parties to the 1988 SOLAS Protocol or Parties, the combined merchant fleets of which constitute not less than 50% of the gross tonnage of the world's merchant fleet, have notified the Secretary-General of their objections to the amendments.

Invites the Parties concerned to note that, in accordance with article VIII(b)(vii)(2) of the Convention and article VI of the 1988 SOLAS Protocol, the amendments shall enter into force on 1 January 2026 upon their acceptance in accordance with paragraph 2 above.

Requests the Secretary-General, for the purposes of article VIII(b)(v) of the Convention and article VI of the 1988 SOLAS Protocol, to transmit certified copies of the present resolution and the text of the amendments contained in the annex to all Parties to the 1988 SOLAS Protocol.

Also requests the Secretary-General to transmit copies of this resolution and its annex to Members of the Organization which are not Parties to the 1988 SOLAS Protocol.

ANNEX: AMENDMENTS TO THE PROTOCOL OF 1988 RELATING TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, 1974.

ANNEX: MODIFICATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE ANNEX TO THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR THE SAFETY OF LIFE AT SEA, 1974.

APPENDIX

FORM OF SAFETY EQUIPMENT CERTIFICATE FOR CARGO SHIPS.

Type of ship: The following new entry is added after "Gas carrier":

"Containership."

FORM OF SAFETY CERTIFICATE FOR CARGO SHIPS.

Type of ship: The following new entry is added after "Gas carrier":

"Containership."

This document was published on 8 July 2023.

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