LIST OF SOLAS REGULATION EVERY ETO MUST KNOW
In response to the TITANIC disaster in 1914, IMO introduced the SOLAS convention which was was adopted on November 1st, 1974, and entered into force on May 25th, 1980.
The main objective of the SOLAS Convention is to specify minimum standards for the construction, equipment, and operation of ships, compatible with their safety.
We know that SOLAS has 14 chapters as of 2020 as listed below. Also, there are some chapters that are must-know chapters for ETO.
CHAPTER-1: General Provisions
- PART-A, Application, Definitions
- PART-B, Surveys & Certificates
- PART C, Casualties
CHAPTER-2-1: Construction-Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations
- PART-A, Structure of Ships
- PART-B, Subdivision & Stability
- PART-C, Machinery Installation
- PART-D, Electrical Installations
- PART-E, Additional requirements for periodically unattended machinery spaces
- PART-F, Alternate design & arrangements
- PART-G, Ships using low-flashpoint fuels
CHAPTER-2-2: Fire prevention, fire detection and fire extinction
- PART-A, General
- PART-B, Prevention of Fire & Explosion
- PART-C, Suppression of Fire
- PART-D, Escape
- PART-E, Operational Equipment
- PART-F, Alternate design & arrangements
- PART-G, Special requirements
CHAPTER-3: Lifesaving appliances and arrangements
- PART-A, General
- PART-B, Requirements for Ships & Life Saving Appliances
- PART-C, Alternate design & arrangements
CHAPTER-4: Radio communications
- PART-A, General
- PART-B, Undertakings by Contracting Governments
- PART-C, Ship Radio requirements
CHAPTER-5: Safety of Navigation
- Navigationals warnings, Meteological warnings, Life Saving Signals, Search & Rescue services, LRIT, VDR, etc.
CHAPTER-6: Carriage of Cargoes
- PART-A, General Provisions
- PART-B, Special provision for solid bulk cargoes
- PART-C, Carriage of grain
CHAPTER-7: Carriage of dangerous goods
- PART-A, Carriage of dangerous goods in packaged form
- PART-A1, Carriage of dangerous goods in solid form in bulk
- PART-B, Construction & equipment of ships carrying dangerous liquid chemicals in bulk
- PART-C, Construction & equipment of ships carrying liquefied gases in bulk
- PART-D, Special requirements for the carriage of packaged irradiated nuclear fuel, plutonium, and high-level radioactive wastes on board ship
CHAPTER-8: Nuclear ships
- Approval of reactor installations, suitability, radiation safety, Survey & Certificate, Special control, etc
CHAPTER-9: Management for the Safe Operation of Ships
- ISM (International Safety Management) code, DOC (Document of Compliance), Safety Management System, Verification & Control.
CHAPTER-10: Safety measures for High-Speed Crafts
- International Code of Safety for High-Speed Crafts, Requirements for High Speed Crafts.
CHAPTER-11-1: Special measures to enhance maritime safety
- Ship Identification Number, Port State Control, etc.
CHAPTER-11-2: Special measures to enhance maritime security
- ISPS (International Ship Port Security) Code, SSAS (Ship Security Alarm System), Security Levels, etc.
CHAPTER-12: Additional safety measures for bulk carriers
- WIDAS, Structural strength, Damage Stability of Bulk carrier, etc.
CHAPTER-13: Verification of Compliance
- Periodic Audits, etc.
CHAPTER-14: Safety Measures for Ships Operating in Polar Waters
- POLAR code, requirements for polar ships, etc.
FREQUENTLY ASKED SOLAS REGULATION
List of SOLAS regulations every ETO must know which are frequently asked by Surveyors.
REGULATION FOR STEERING GEAR (SOLAS CHAPTER 2-I Part-C Regulation 29 & 30)
- Capable of steering rudder from 35° one side to 35° another side at its deepest draft and running ahead with maximum service speed under same condition capable to steer from 35° one side to 30° another side in 28 seconds.
- The Auxilary Steering (Emergency Steering) shall be able to steer from 15° on one side to 15° on another side, not more than 60 seconds.
- The Main & auxiliary steering gear power unit is arranged so that it restarts automatically when the power is restored.
- The power supply to either motor must be from ESBD (Emergency SwitchBoard)
- On failure of electric power supply & control system, there must be audible & visual alarm.
- A means of communication must be provided between the bridge & steering gear room.
- Short Circuit Protection, Overload alarm shall be provided for steering gear motor.
- Hydraulic power-operated steering gear shall be provided with, Low-Level alarm, a Fixed tank of sufficient capacity.
REGULATION FOR ENGINEERS ALARM (SOLAS CHAPTER 2-I Part-C Regulation 38)
An engineers alarm shall be provided to be operated from the engine control room or at the manoeuvring platform as appropriate, and shall be clearly audible in the engineers accommodation.
REGULATION FOR EMERGENCY SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL POWER (SOLAS CHAPTER 2-I Part-D Regulation 42, 43 & 44)
- A self-contained source of electrical power shall be provided.
- The emergency source shall be not be located forward of the collision bulkhead until & unless the administration approves.
- For a period of 18 hours (cargo ship) & 36 hours (passenger ship) there must be a power supply for emergency equipments.
- If the Emergency source of electrical power is a generator then the flashpoint of fuel should not be less than 43° C, Automatically start & come onload in event of failure of the main power source within 45 seconds.
- Emergency generator set must be capable of starting in cold condition at 0°C, if this is impractical then heating arrangements shall be provided.
- Emergency generator sets must be able to function when the ship is inclined to list up to 22.5° and trim (either fore or aft) of 10°.
- Each emergency generating set arranged to be automatically started shall be equipped with starting devices approved by the Administration with a stored energy capability of at least three consecutive starts.
- The second source of energy shall be provided for an additional three starts within 30 minutes unless manual starting can be demonstrated to be effective.
- The emergency generator must be provided with two means of starting it can be stored energy like a battery start, spring start, hydraulic start, or compressed air.
- If the Emergency source of electrical power is an accumulator battery then it shall be capable of carrying the emergency electrical load without recharging while maintaining the voltage of the battery throughout the discharge period within 12% above or below its nominal voltage.
REGULATION FOR OIL MIST DETECTOR (SOLAS CHAPTER 2-I Part-E Regulation 47)
- Internal Combustion Engine of 2250KW & above having cylinder bore more than 300mm must be fitted with OMD.
REGULATION FOR EMERGENCY FIRE PUMP (SOLAS CHAPTER 2-II Part-C Regulation 10)
- Apart from Main Fire Pump, an Emergency Fire Pump is also provided onboard a ship, that can be used in case of an emergency like CO2 flooding or when Main fire pumps are dysfunctional.
- They shall be capable of supplying two jets (12 meters each).
- Capacity being 40% of the total capacity of the Main Fire pumps, but in any case not less than 25m3/h for passenger ships of less than 1000 gross tonnage and for cargo ships of 2000 gross tonnage and upwards 15m3 /h for cargo ships of less than 2000 gross tonnages.
- It should be located outside the engine room, preferably on the same level of the embarkation deck.
- It is generally driven by a diesel engine (started by a battery and a hand cranking as an alternate starting mechanism).
- It should take suction without any external support in the lightest seagoing conditions.
- It should also be attached to a priming unit.
- The suction piping if passing through the space to be protected must be additionally reinforced with fire retardant material so that no damages take place and supply of water ensured at all times.
- The power supply to the pump should be from the Emergency Generator in case the prime mover of the pump is an electric motor.
- The regulations require an independently driven power operated emergency fire pump to be fitted, this can be met by a self-contained compression ignition engine-driven unit or an electrically or hydraulically driven unit.
- Such units, their sea suctions, means of priming, sources of power supply, switchboards, electric cables, and hydraulic piping as appropriate, must not be in the compartment containing the main fire pumps, but in a position not likely to be cut off by fire or smoke in that compartment and be such that the supply of water is ensured at all ties
- Venting of the Emergency fire pump room should be as far as possible from Machinery/Cargo space to avoid any smoke from Machinery/Cargo space fire entering into that space.
REGULATION FOR RADIO BATTERY (SOLAS CHAPTER 4 Part-C Regulation 13)
- GMDSS batteries should provide power to operate GMDSS for 1 hour in case GMDSS has the power from emergency generators or 6 hours in case GMDSS does not have the power from emergency generators.
- Batteries must be recharged to the required minimum in less than 10 hours.
- The capacity of the batteries must be checked at interval of less than 12 months.
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Very informative,,,keep up the good work….thank you.
Thank You Arturo Bregondo.
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please add more important regulations (cable, Navigation lamp, Fire detection system, IG System, CO2, Hyper mist, Foam Fixed fire fighting system)
very good study materials
Great! Article Thank You for share,…
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