Editing SOLAS Convention (section)

== History ==

=== Origin and early versions ===
The first version of SOLAS Treaty was passed in 1914 in response to the [[Sinking of the Titanic|sinking of RMS ''Titanic'']], which prescribed numbers of [[Lifeboat (shipboard)|lifeboats]] and other emergency equipment along with safety procedures, including continuous radio watches.<ref>{{citation | url = https://archive.org/details/textofconvention00inte | title = Text of the Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, Signed at London, January 20, 1914 [with Translation.] | publisher = His Majesty's Stationery Office by Harrison and Sons | location = London | year = 1914}}</ref> The 1914 treaty never entered into force due to the outbreak of the [[First World War]].

Further versions were adopted in 1929 and 1948.<ref name=IMO-1974/><ref>{{citation | url = http://www.imo.org/KnowledgeCentre/ReferencesAndArchives/HistoryofSOLAS/Documents/SOLAS%201948%20UK%20Treaty%20Series.pdf | title = International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1948, London, 10th June, 1948 | publisher = Her Majesty's Stationery Office | location = London | date = January 1953 | access-date = 8 December 2012 | archive-date = 12 April 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150412031150/http://www.imo.org/KnowledgeCentre/ReferencesAndArchives/HistoryofSOLAS/Documents/SOLAS%201948%20UK%20Treaty%20Series.pdf | url-status = dead }}</ref>

=== 1960 version ===
The 1960 Convention was adopted on 17 June 1960 and entered into force on 26 May 1965. It was the fourth SOLAS Convention and was the first major achievement for the [[International Maritime Organization]] (IMO). It represented a considerable step forward in modernizing regulations and keeping up with technical developments in the shipping industry.<ref name=ukpandi>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ukpandi.com/knowledge/article/new-amendments-into-force-from-1st-july-2014-for-solas-convention-130154/ |title=New amendments into force from 1st July 2014 for SOLAS Convention |access-date=16 April 2016 |archive-date=22 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161022142126/http://www.ukpandi.com/knowledge/article/new-amendments-into-force-from-1st-july-2014-for-solas-convention-130154/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== 1974 version ===
In 1974, a completely new Convention was adopted to allow SOLAS to be amended and implemented within a reasonable timescale, instead of the previous procedure to incorporate amendments, which proved to be very slow. Under SOLAS 1960, it could take several years for amendments to come into force since countries had to give notice of acceptance to IMO and there was a minimum threshold of countries and [[tonnage]]. Under SOLAS 1974, amendments enter into force via a tacit acceptance procedure – this allows an amendment to enter into force on a specified date, unless objections to an amendment are received from an agreed number of parties.

The 1974 SOLAS came into force on 25 May 1980,<ref name=IMO-Conventionstatus/> 12 months after its ratification by at least 25 countries with at least 50% of gross tonnage. It has been updated and amended on numerous occasions since then and the Convention in force today is sometimes referred to as SOLAS, 1974, as amended.<ref name="IMO-1974"/><ref name=ukpandi/>

In 1975 the assembly of the IMO decided that the 1974 convention should in future use [[SI]] (metric) units only.<ref>{{cite journal
|url = http://www.imo.org/blast/blastDataHelper.asp?data_id=24097&filename=351(IX).pdf
|title = Resolution A.351(IX) Use of metric units in the SI system in the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, and other future instruments
|journal = Assembly Resolutions
|date = 12 November 1975
|access-date = 4 September 2012
|publisher = [[International Maritime Organization]]
|archive-date = 28 August 2013
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130828012541/http://www.imo.org/blast/blastDataHelper.asp?data_id=24097&filename=351(IX).pdf
|url-status = dead
}}</ref>

=== 1988 version ===
In particular, amendments in 1988 based on amendments of International Radio Regulations in 1987 replaced [[Morse code]] with the [[Global Maritime Distress Safety System]] (GMDSS) and came into force beginning 1 February 1992. The issues covered by the treaty are set out in the list of sections (above). Further amendments were made in May 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=SOLAS 1974: Brief History – List of amendments to date and where to find them |url=http://www.imo.org/KnowledgeCentre/ReferencesAndArchives/HistoryofSOLAS/Documents/SOLAS%201974%20-%20Brief%20History%20-%20List%20of%20amendments%20to%20date%20and%20how%20to%20find%20them.html|archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20140725015425/http://www.imo.org/KnowledgeCentre/ReferencesAndArchives/HistoryofSOLAS/Documents/SOLAS%201974%20-%20Brief%20History%20-%20List%20of%20amendments%20to%20date%20and%20how%20to%20find%20them.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2014|publisher=[[International Maritime Organization]]|access-date=6 April 2013}}</ref>

===Container weight regulation, 2015===
In 2015, the SOLAS Container Weight Verification Regulation VI/2 amended SOLAS.<ref>{{cite web|title=IMO Requirement For Container Weight Verification|url=http://www.worldshipping.org/industry-issues/safety/cargo-weight|publisher=[[International Maritime Organization]]|access-date=3 June 2016|archive-date=18 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160518041147/http://www.worldshipping.org/industry-issues/safety/cargo-weight|url-status=dead}}</ref> This regulation, implemented by the [[International Maritime Organization#Maritime Safety Committee|IMO Maritime Safety Committee (MSC)]], requires that the full (gross) weight of all loaded containers must be obtained prior to being loaded on board an ocean vessel. Weight can be calculated either by weighing the loaded container or weighing the cargo elements and packaging and adding this weight to the unladen container weight.<ref>[https://www.cma-cgm.com/assets/public/pdf/SOLAS_VGM___Industry_FAQs_Dec_2015_US_letter_WEB.PDF Verified Gross Mass: Industry FAQs], complied by TT Club and other partners, December 2015, accessed 11 May 2024</ref> Communicating a weight value has incurred a need to introduce a new [[Electronic data interchange|Electronic Data Interchange (EDI)]] communication protocol called VGM (Verified Gross Mass) or VERMAS (Verification of Mass), and involves cooperation between [[List of freight ship companies|ocean carriers]], [[Freight forwarder|freight forwarders/NVOCCs]], EDI providers as well as exporters. The regulation states that [[Export|exporters (shippers)]] are ultimately responsible for obtaining a verified container weight.<ref>{{cite web |title= MSC 94th Session Summary of SOLAS Container Weight Requirements |url= http://www.worldshipping.org/industry-issues/safety/WSC_Summarizes_the_Basic_Elements_of_the_SOLAS_Container_Weight_Verification_Requirement___January_2015_-3-.pdf |access-date= 3 June 2016 |archive-date= 22 October 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161022140908/http://www.worldshipping.org/industry-issues/safety/WSC_Summarizes_the_Basic_Elements_of_the_SOLAS_Container_Weight_Verification_Requirement___January_2015_-3-.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> Originally scheduled for implementation on 1 July 2016,<ref>{{cite web|title=IMO Implementation and Action Dates Including SOLAS|url=http://www.imo.org/en/About/Conventions/Pages/Action-Dates.aspx|publisher=[[International Maritime Organization]]|access-date=3 June 2016|archive-date=4 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604234210/http://www.imo.org/en/About/conventions/pages/action-dates.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> the regulation allowed for flexibility and practical refinement until 1 October 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title= IMO MSC.1/Circular 1548 ADVICE TO ADMINISTRATIONS, PORT STATE CONTROL AUTHORITIES, COMPANIES, PORT TERMINALS AND MASTERS REGARDING THE SOLAS REQUIREMENTS FOR VERIFIED GROSS MASS OF PACKED CONTAINERS |url= http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/container/Documents/MSC.1Circ.1548%20Advice.pdf |publisher= [[International Maritime Organization]] |access-date= 3 June 2016 |archive-date= 7 June 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160607073009/http://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/HotTopics/container/Documents/MSC.1Circ.1548%20Advice.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref>

An up-to-date list of amendments to SOLAS is maintained by the IMO.