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Solas Summary
On 27 November
1997, a Conference of the Contracting Governments to SOLAS adopted
a new Chapter XII, Additional Safety Measure for Bulk Carriers, to
SOLAS as well as amendments to IMO Assembly Resolution A.744(18),
Guidelines on the Enhanced Program of Inspections during Surveys of
Bulk Carriers and Oil Tankers. The new requirements reference or incorporate
a number of IACS Unified Requirements (IACS URs) on the structural
strength of new and existing bulk carriers and enhanced surveys.
The new requirements
will come into effect on 1 July 1999 unless more than one third of
the Contracting Governments representing 50% of the gross tonnage
of the world’s fleet register objections prior to 1 January 1999.
The amendments
to A.774(18) mirror enhanced survey requirements already implemented
by ABS and other IACS Members as conditions of classification.
Chapter XII of
SOLAS, requires all new single side skin bulk carriers, of 150 m length
or above, which are designed to carry solid bulk cargoes having a
density >1.0 ton/cubic meter, constructed on/after 1 July 1999,
to have sufficient stability (as required by the 1966 Load Line Convention’s
deterministic approach) and strength (based on IACS Unified Requirements)
to withstand the flooding of any one cargo hold taking dynamic effects
into account. These requirements are essentially the same as those
announced by IACS Members in May 1997 as conditions of classification
for such ships which are contracted for construction on/after 1 July
98. Existing
single side skin bulk carriers, of 150 m length or above, carrying
solid bulk cargoes having a density >1.78 tons/cubic meter, constructed
before 1 July 1999, must comply with retroactive requirements for
stability (as required by the 1966 Load Line Convention’s deterministic
approach) and strength (as required by IACS Unified Requirements)
in the event of flooding of the forward most cargo hold, including
dynamic effects, in accordance with a compliance schedule based on
ship age as of 1 July 1999. These requirements are also essentially
the same as those announced by IACS Members in November 1996 as conditions
of classification for such ships which do not comply with the IACS
URs for new bulk carriers.
However, the SOLAS compliance schedule is somewhat different from
that set by
Also, the IACS and SOLAS requirements differ with respect to :
- definition
of ship length, SOLAS uses the Load Line length, while IACS uses
“Rule” length. The differences are generally small with
the SOLAS definition encompassing more ships than the IACS definition;
- how new
and existing ships are distinguished for application of requirements.
IACS uses the date of the contract for construction between builder
and owner while SOLAS uses the keel-laying date (or date of similar
stage of construction).
Owners are
urged to carefully consider these nuances in assessing their plans
for new construction as well as compliance requirements and deadlines
for their existing vessels.
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