Regulation, Law, Compliance and Governance

Maritime safety legislation: SOLAS and its codes glossary

Terms drawn from SOLAS chapters I to XV and their associated mandatory codes: construction, subdivision and machinery (II-1), fire protection and the FSS Code (II-2), life-saving and the LSA Code (III), GMDSS radio (IV), navigation safety (V), the ISM and ISPS Codes (IX, XI-2), and the IGC, IBC, IGF, and Polar Codes. Includes survey and certification under the Harmonized System (HSSC) and structural definitions such as the bulkhead deck.

106 defined terms.

A

AFS Linkage: Cross-reference in SOLAS Chapter II-1 to anti-fouling provisions.
Annual Survey: Survey required at intervals not exceeding three months either side of each anniversary date of a certificate.
ATEX-Equivalent Standards: Referenced via IEC 60079 for hazardous-area equipment in IMDG and IGF contexts.
Auxiliary Steering Gear: Required under SOLAS II-1/29 for redundancy.

B

Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS): Required under SOLAS V/19.
Bulk Carrier Safety: Subject of SOLAS Chapter XII.
Bulkhead Deck: Uppermost deck to which transverse watertight bulkheads extend.

C

Cargo Securing Manual: Required under SOLAS VI/5 and VII/5.
Cargo Ship Safety Construction Certificate: Issued under SOLAS I/12, form C.
Cargo Ship Safety Equipment Certificate: Issued under SOLAS I/12, form E.
Cargo Ship Safety Radio Certificate: Issued under SOLAS I/12, form R.
CCS: Cargo Containment System under the IGC and IGF Codes.
Chapter I (SOLAS): General Provisions; surveys and certificates.
Chapter II-1 (SOLAS): Construction, subdivision, stability, machinery, and electrical.
Chapter II-2 (SOLAS): Fire protection, fire detection, and fire extinction.
Chapter III (SOLAS): Life-saving appliances and arrangements.
Chapter IV (SOLAS): Radiocommunications, including GMDSS.
Chapter IX (SOLAS): Management for the safe operation of ships (ISM Code).
Chapter V (SOLAS): Safety of navigation.
Chapter VI (SOLAS): Carriage of cargoes and oil fuels.
Chapter VII (SOLAS): Carriage of dangerous goods.
Chapter VIII (SOLAS): Nuclear ships.
Chapter X (SOLAS): Safety measures for high-speed craft (HSC Code).
Chapter XI-1 (SOLAS): Special measures to enhance maritime safety.
Chapter XI-2 (SOLAS): Special measures to enhance maritime security (ISPS Code).
Chapter XII (SOLAS): Additional safety measures for bulk carriers.
Chapter XIII (SOLAS): Verification of compliance (IMSAS).
Chapter XIV (SOLAS): Safety measures for ships operating in polar waters (Polar Code safety part).
Chapter XV (SOLAS): Safety measures for ships carrying industrial personnel (IP Code).
Class Notation: Class society designation reflecting compliance with construction and equipment rules incorporated into SOLAS by reference.
Continuous Synopsis Record (CSR): Required under SOLAS XI-1/5.

D

Damage Stability: Required for passenger and cargo ships under SOLAS II-1, Parts B-1 and B-2.
Dangerous Goods Manifest: Required under SOLAS VII/4.
DCS: IMO Data Collection System on fuel oil consumption, MARPOL Annex VI, cross-referenced with SOLAS chapter requirements.
Designated Person Ashore (DPA): Required by ISM Code section 4.

E

EEBD: Emergency Escape Breathing Device, required under SOLAS II-2/13.
Emergency Source of Electrical Power: Required under SOLAS II-1/42.
Enclosed-Space Entry Drill: Required under SOLAS III/19.
EPIRB: Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon required under SOLAS IV/7.
Escape Route: Required under SOLAS II-2/13.

F

FAL Linkage: SOLAS XI-2 cross-references the FAL Convention for ship-port interface security.
Fire Control Plan: Required under SOLAS II-2/15.
Fire Patrol: Required on passenger ships under SOLAS II-2/7.
Fire Safety Systems (FSS) Code: Adopted by MSC.98(73), mandatory under SOLAS II-2/3.
Fire Test Procedures (FTP) Code: 2010 FTP Code, mandatory under SOLAS II-2/3.
Free Surface Effect: Stability reduction accounted for under SOLAS II-1 stability calculations.
Freeboard: Distance from waterline to freeboard deck, governed by the Load Lines Convention but referenced in SOLAS.

G

GMDSS: Global Maritime Distress and Safety System under SOLAS Chapter IV.
GMDSS Area A1/A2/A3/A4: Sea area designations under SOLAS IV/2.
Grain Code: International Code for the Safe Carriage of Grain in Bulk, mandatory under SOLAS VI/9.

H

High-Speed Craft (HSC) Code: 1994 HSC Code and 2000 HSC Code, mandatory under SOLAS X.
HSC Safety Certificate: Required for high-speed craft.
HSSC: Harmonized System of Survey and Certification under SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Lines, and BCH/IBC/IGC/BWM.

I

IBC Code: International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk.
IGC Code: International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk.
IGF Code: International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels.
IMDG Code: International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code, mandatory under SOLAS VII Part A.
IMSBC Code: International Maritime Solid Bulk Cargoes Code, mandatory under SOLAS VI/1-1 and VII/7-1.
Inert Gas System (IGS): Required on tankers under SOLAS II-2/16.
INF Code: International Code for the Safe Carriage of Packaged Irradiated Nuclear Fuel, mandatory under SOLAS VII.
Initial Survey: First survey before issuance of a certificate under SOLAS I/7-10.
Intact Stability (IS) Code, 2008: Mandatory under SOLAS II-1, Part B.
International Code of Signals: Referenced under SOLAS V/21.
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974: SOLAS 1974, currently in force as amended.
International Shore Connection (ISC): Required under SOLAS II-2/10.
IP Code: International Code of Safety for Ships Carrying Industrial Personnel, mandatory under SOLAS XV.
ISM Code: International Safety Management Code, mandatory under SOLAS IX.
ISPS Code: International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, mandatory under SOLAS XI-2.

L

Load Line Loading Mark: Required under SOLAS V on the bridge.
Long-Range Identification and Tracking (LRIT): Required under SOLAS V/19-1.
LSA Code: International Life-Saving Appliance Code, mandatory under SOLAS III/34.

M

Master's Discretion: Preserved under SOLAS V/34-1.
MEG4: OCIMF Mooring Equipment Guidelines, referenced for SOLAS II-1/3-8.
Muster List: Required under SOLAS III/8.
Muster Station: Marked under SOLAS III/9.

N

Nautical Publications: Required to be up to date under SOLAS V/27.
NAVTEX: GMDSS broadcast service under SOLAS IV.
Noise Code: Code on Noise Levels On Board Ships, mandatory under SOLAS II-1/3-12.

O

Onboard Operational Limitations Information: Required under SOLAS II-1/8-1.
Operational Drills: Required under SOLAS III/19.

P

Passenger Ship Safety Certificate: Issued under SOLAS I/12.
Performance Standards: MSC resolutions setting minimum equipment standards (for example MSC.252(83) for INS).
Pilot Transfer Arrangements: Required under SOLAS V/23.
Polar Code (Safety Part): Mandatory under SOLAS XIV.

R

Record of Equipment: Form E, R, P, or C appended to SOLAS certificates.
Renewal Survey: Survey at intervals not exceeding five years.
Routeing Measures: Adopted under SOLAS V/10.
Rule 5 (COLREG): Referenced for navigation safety alongside SOLAS V.

S

Safe Manning Document: Required under SOLAS V/14.
SAR Convention Cross-Reference: SOLAS V/33 obliges masters to render assistance.
Sea Area A1: Within range of at least one VHF coast station with continuous DSC alerting.
Ship Construction File: Required under SOLAS II-1/3-10 for tankers and bulk carriers.
Ship Security Alert System (SSAS): Required under SOLAS XI-2/6.
Ship Security Officer (SSO): Required under ISPS Code Part A.
Ship Security Plan (SSP): Required under ISPS Code Part A.
SOLAS: International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974; the IMO treaty setting minimum construction, equipment, and operation standards for merchant ships.
SOLAS Convention: 1974 Convention as amended, the principal maritime safety treaty.
SOPEP/SMPEP: Pollution emergency plans linked through SOLAS/MARPOL interface.
Stability Information Booklet: Required under SOLAS II-1/5.
Statutory Certificate: Certificate issued under a SOLAS, MARPOL, Load Lines, or Tonnage requirement.

T

Threshold: For example 500 GT or 24 m length, used in SOLAS application provisions.
Tonnage Cross-Reference: SOLAS applies to ships of various sizes; tonnage measured under Tonnage 1969.

V

VDR: Voyage Data Recorder, required under SOLAS V/20.
Voyage Plan: Required under SOLAS V/34.

W

Watertight Door: Type A or B per SOLAS II-1/13.
Weathertight Door: Equipment under SOLAS II-1/13.

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