SOLAS
A2. Maritime safety legislation: SOLAS and its codesDefinition
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974; the IMO treaty setting minimum construction, equipment, and operation standards for merchant ships.
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, is the principal IMO treaty on merchant ship safety, covering construction, subdivision and stability, machinery, fire protection, life-saving appliances, radiocommunications, navigation safety, cargo and dangerous goods carriage, and ship management and security. The 1974 version entered into force on 25 May 1980 and is kept current through tacit acceptance. Its 1988 Protocol introduced the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification.
Source: SOLAS 1974, in force 25 May 1980