Editing SOLAS Convention (section)

== Provisions ==
SOLAS 1974 requires flag states to ensure that ships flagged by them comply with the minimum safety standards in the construction, equipment and operation of merchant ships. The treaty includes articles setting out general obligations, etc., followed by an annexe divided into twelve chapters, two new chapters were added in 2016 and 2017.<ref name="IMO-1974"/> Of these, chapter five (often called 'SOLAS V') is the only one that applies to all vessels on the sea, including private yachts and small craft on local trips as well as to commercial vessels on international passages. Many countries have turned these international requirements into national laws so that anybody on the sea who is in breach of SOLAS<ref name=weighing/> V requirements may find themselves subject to legal proceedings.<ref name="RYA-SOLASV"/>

;Chapter I – General Provisions: Surveying the various types of ships and certifying that they meet the requirements of the convention.<ref name="IMO-1974"/>

;Chapter II-1 – Construction – Subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations: The subdivision of passenger ships into watertight compartments so that after damage to its hull, a vessel will remain afloat and stable.<ref name="IMO-1974"/> This includes compliance with the [[International Code on Intact Stability]]

;Chapter II-2 – Fire protection, fire detection and fire extinction: Fire safety provisions for all ships with detailed measures for passenger ships, cargo ships and tankers under the [[FSS Code]]<ref name="IMO-1974"/> and requirements for the carriage of gas as a fuel under the [[International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-flashpoint Fuels|IGF Code]]

;Chapter III – Life-saving appliances and arrangements: Life-saving appliances and arrangements, including requirements for life boats, rescue boats and life jackets according to type of ship.<ref name="IMO-1974"/> The specific technical requirements are given in the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code.<ref name="IMO-1974"/>

;Chapter IV – Radiocommunications: The [[Global Maritime Distress Safety System]] (GMDSS) requires passenger and cargo ships on international voyages to carry radio equipment, including satellite [[Emergency position-indicating radiobeacon station|Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons]] (EPIRBs) and [[Search and Rescue Transponder]]s (SARTs).<ref name="IMO-1974"/>

;Chapter V – Safety of navigation: This chapter requires governments to ensure that all vessels are sufficiently and efficiently manned from a safety point of view. It places requirements on all vessels regarding voyage and passage planning, expecting a careful assessment of any proposed voyages by all who put to sea. Every mariner must take account of all potential dangers to navigation, weather forecasts, tidal predictions, the competence of the crew, and all other relevant factors.<ref name="RYA-SOLASV"/> It also adds an obligation for all vessels' masters to offer assistance to those in distress and controls the use of lifesaving signals with specific requirements regarding danger and distress messages. It is different from the other chapters, which apply to certain classes of commercial shipping, in that these requirements apply to all vessels and their crews, including yachts and private craft, on all voyages and trips including local ones.<ref name="IMO-1974"/>

;Chapter VI – Carriage of Cargoes: Requirements for the stowage and securing of all types of cargo and cargo containers except liquids and gases in bulk.<ref name="IMO-1974"/> Including compliance with the [[Code of Safe Practice for Ships Carrying Timber Deck Cargoes]]

;Chapter VII – Carriage of dangerous goods:Requires the carriage of all kinds of dangerous goods to be in compliance with the International Bulk Chemical Code (IBC Code),<ref>{{cite web|title=IBC Code|url=http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Cargoes/CargoesInBulk/Pages/IBC-Code.aspx|website=imo.org|access-date=2 July 2017|archive-date=30 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730102414/http://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Safety/Cargoes/CargoesInBulk/Pages/IBC-Code.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[International Code of the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk|The International Code of the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code)]] and the [[International Maritime Dangerous Goods Code]] (IMDG Code).<ref name="IMO-1974" />

;Chapter VIII – Nuclear ships:  Nuclear powered ships are required, particularly concerning radiation hazards, to conform to the Code of Safety for Nuclear Merchant Ships.<ref name="IMO-1974"/>

;Chapter IX – Management for the Safe Operation of Ships: Requires every shipowner and any person or company that has assumed responsibility for a ship to comply with the [[International Safety Management Code]] (ISM).<ref name="IMO-1974"/>

;Chapter X – Safety measures for high-speed craft: Makes mandatory the International Code of Safety for [[High-speed craft]] (HSC Code).

;Chapter XI-1 – Special measures to enhance maritime Safety: Requirements relating to organizations responsible for carrying out surveys and inspections, enhanced surveys, the [[IMO number|ship identification number]] scheme, and operational requirements.

;Chapter XI-2 – Special measures to enhance maritime security: Includes the [[International Ship and Port Facility Security Code]] (ISPS Code). Confirms that the role of the Master in maintaining the security of the ship is not, and cannot be, constrained by the company, the charterer or any other person. Port facilities must carry out security assessments and develop, implement and review port facility security plans. Controls the delay, detention, restriction, or expulsion of a ship from a port. Requires that ships must have a [[Ship Security Alert System|ship security alert system]], as well as detailing other measures and requirements.<ref name="IMO-1974"/>

;Chapter XII – Additional safety measures for bulk carriers: Specific structural requirements for bulk carriers over 150 metres in length.<ref name="IMO-1974"/>

;Chapter XIII – Verification of compliance: Makes mandatory from 1 January 2016 the IMO Member State Audit Scheme.

;Chapter XIV – Safety measures for ships operating in polar waters: The chapter makes mandatory, from 1 January 2017, the Introduction and part I-A of the International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (the Polar Code).