Tacit Acceptance

Tacit acceptance is the amendment procedure that lets technical IMO conventions evolve without each amendment needing positive ratification by a set number of parties. An amendment adopted by the relevant committee enters into force on a stated date unless, before that date, a specified number of parties (often one third, or parties owning a set share of world tonnage) object. It is written into Article 16 of MARPOL and the SOLAS amendment articles and is why SOLAS and MARPOL update on a predictable cycle.