Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) &

Convention for Prevention of Marine

Pollution (MARPOL): A General
Overview
Last Updated on July 21, 2016

The maritime industrys most important concerns are safety of personnel and
prevention of marine pollution for a smooth cargo transportation and marine
operation at high seas. International Maritime Organisation (IMO) introduced
SOLAS Safety of life at sea & MARPOL- The International Convention for
Prevention of Marine Pollution from Ships, for safeguarding human life and
marine environment from all kinds of pollutions.

SOLAS 74, the last adopted revised convention of 1974, includes a number of
chapters which deals with safety precautions and safety procedures starting from
the construction of ship to real emergency situation like Abandon Ship. The
convention is updated so as to meet the safety norms in the modern shipping
industry.

MARPOL 73/78, since it came into force in 1973 and later revised by the protocol
in 1978, ensures that shipping remains the least environmentally damaging
modes of transport. It clearly highlights the points to ensure that marine
environment is preserved by elimination of pollution by all harmful substance
which can be discharged from ship.
SOLAS 74

The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974
describes the requirement for all merchant ship of any flag state to comply with
the minimum safety norms laid down in the chapters which are as follows:

Chapter I General Provisions: Surveys and certification of all the safety items
etc are included.

Chapter II-1 Construction Subdivision and stability, machinery and

electrical installations: Deals with water tight integrity of the ship, especially
for passenger vessel.

Chapter II-2 Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction: This chapter
elaborates the means and measure for fire protection in accommodation, cargo
spaces and engine room for passenger, cargo and tanker ship.

Chapter III Life-saving appliances and arrangements: All the life saving
appliances and there use in different situations is described.
Chapter IV Radio communications: Includes requirements of
GMDSS, SART, EPIRB etc for cargo and passenger vessel.

Chapter V Safety of navigation: This chapter deals with all the sea going
vessels of all sizes, from boats to VLCCs, and includes passage
planning, navigation, distress signal etc.

Chapter VI Carriage of Cargoes: This chapter defines storage and securing

of different types of cargo and containers, but does not include oil and gas cargo.

Chapter VII Carriage of dangerous goods: Defines International Maritime

Goods Code for storage and transportation of dangerous goods.

Chapter VIII Nuclear ships: The code of safety for nuclear propelled ship is
stated in this chapter.

Chapter IX Management for the Safe Operation of Ships: The International

Safety Management code for ship owner and operator is described clearly.

Chapter X Safety measures for high-speed craft: safety code for high speed
craft is explained.

Chapter XI-1 & 2 Special measures to enhance maritime safety: Special

and enhanced survey for safe operation, other operational requirements
and ISPS code is briefed in this chapter.

Chapter XII Additional safety measures for bulk carriers: Includes safety
requirement for above 150 meters length bulk carrier.

Chapter XIII Verification of compliance

Makes mandatory from 1 January 2016 the IMO Member State Audit
Scheme.
Chapter XIV Safety measures for ships operating in polar waters
The chapter makes mandatory, from 1 January 2017, the Introduction and
part I-A of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (the
Polar Code).

MARPOL 73/78

This marine environmental convention consists of six implemented annexes for

controlling and eliminating of marine pollution.

Image Credits: ghanaports.gov.gh

They are as follows:

Annex I: Regulation for prevention of pollution by oil (October 1983).

Annex II: Regulations for control of pollution by Noxious Liquid Substance in bulk
(April 1987).

Annex III: Regulation for prevention of pollution by harmful substance carried at

sea in packaged form (July 1992).

Annex IV: Regulation for prevention of pollution by sewage from ships (Sep
2003).

Annex V: Regulation for prevention of pollution by Garbage from ships (Dec

1998).

Annex VI: Regulation for prevention of Air pollution from ships (May 2005).

Thus, Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and Convention for Prevention of Marine
Pollution (MARPOL) stands as two solid pillars that support the maritime industry
by protecting the most important issues marine pollution prevention and safety
of human life.