Date: 2023-12-14Category: DGS OrderState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Amendment to international Convention for the Safety of life at Sea, 1974, as modified by the protocol of 1988 relating to chapter III thereto and its applicability
**Executive Summary**
This document is DGS Order 21 of 2023, issued by the Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai, on December 13, 2023. It pertains to the amendments to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, and its applicability. The order advises stakeholders to comply with the convention's provisions, including amendments and mandatory Life Saving Appliances Codes.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **SOLAS Convention and Amendments:**
* India ratified the SOLAS Convention of 1974, effective May 25, 1980.
* The protocol of 1988, modifying the Convention, became effective on November 22, 2000.
* Article 1 mandates the Government to take necessary measures to give effect to the Convention.
* IMO has issued various amendments to the Convention from time to time, which is annexed to this Order at "Annexure- 1".
* **Merchant Shipping Act:**
* The Merchant Shipping Act of 1958, as amended, incorporates the Convention, defining it as the "Safety Convention."
* Part IX (Sections 283-309) provides legislative provisions and powers for implementing SOLAS Convention requirements.
* Clause 288 enables rules regulating Life Saving Appliances.
* Sections 436 (1) and (2) provide enforcement provisions.
* **Life Saving Appliances Rules and Guidance:**
* The government has issued Merchant Shipping (Life Saving Appliances) Rules, 1991 & 1995 to give effect to the Convention.
* Guidance on "to the satisfaction of the Administration" is provided in DGS Circulars 02/2014, 03/2014, 01/2022, and MS Notice 01/2020.
* **Recognised Organizations (RO):**
* ROs were notified on December 26, 2014, with agreements to carry out surveys and certification per the Convention.
* **Applicability:**
* Amendments to the Convention are in effect and applicable to Indian vessels.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders:** All Stakeholders
**Impact:**
All stakeholders must be guided by this order towards compliance with the provisions to give full effect to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea and the mandatory Life Saving Appliances Codes.
**Action Required:**
Stakeholders are advised to review and adhere to the DGS Order, including the referenced annexures and circulars, to ensure compliance with the SOLAS Convention and related regulations.
Key Entities Referenced
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974: Core convention amended by the order, concerning safety standards for ships and maritime operations.
Merchant Shipping Act, 1958: Indian law that incorporates the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 and provides the legal basis for its enforcement in India. It incorporates the convention and grants legislative powers
Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai: Regulatory body issuing the order, responsible for maritime safety and compliance in India.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: The ministry under which the Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai operates.
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DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPIN G, MUMBAI
F. No. 25-104/2712023-NT - DGS C. No.26314 Dote 13.12.2023
DGS.Order: 21 of 2023
Subject: Amendments lo lnternotionol Convention for the Sofely of life ol Seo, 1974,
os modified by the protocol of I ?88 reloting to Chopter lll lherelo ond ils
opplicobility - reg.
Whereos, the Government of lndio hos rotified the lnternotionol Convention for the
Sofety of Life of Seo, 1974, and the Convention entered into force on 25th Moy 1980 through
occession. The Convention os modified by the protocol of 1988 entered into force on 22"o
November 2000 through occession. Article I of the Convention mondotes generol obligotion
of the Government to undertoke oll meosures which moy be necessory to give effect to the
Convention.
2.
Whereos, the Merchont Shipping Act 1958, os omended incorporotes the Convention
ond is defined of Section 3 (32) os "Sofety Convention" meons the Convention for the Sofety
of Life of Seo signed in London on the 1 st doy of November, I 97 4 os omended from time to
time. Further, the mondotory Codes os indicoted in the Convention ond its omendments
from time to time is in effect ond opplicoble to the vessels.
3.
Whereos, The Merchont Shipping Act, Port lX - Sofety, Section 283 to 309 provides
legislotive provisions ond powers for implementolion of vorious requirements under the SOLAS
Convention on oll lndion ond foreign vessels. The Merchont Shipping Act, Clouse 288
provides powers to moke rules reguloting the Life Soving Applionces of ships for the purpose
of complionce with the Convention. The Merchont Shipping Act, section 436 (l) ond (2)
provides enforcement provisions.
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Whereos, the Governmenl hos issued Merchont Shipping (Life Soving Applionces)
Rules, l99l & Merchont Shipping (Life Soving Applionces) Rules, 1995 os o meosure to give
effect to the Convention. The government hos issued vorious executive orders from time to
time providing instructions for Life Soving Applionces of vessels. Further, guidonce on 'to the
sotisfoction of the Administrotion' is issued vide DGS Circulor 02 of 2014 doted 20.03.2014, 03
of 2014 doted 03.04.2014, 0l of 2022 doled27.Ol.2022 ond MS Notice 0l of 2020 doted
06.01.2020.
5. Whereos, the Recognised Orgonizotions (RO) were notified vide notificotion doted
25rh December 2014, ond os indicoted, on ogreement is entered into with eoch RO to
corryout surveys ond certificotion os per the Convention.
6. Noting thot, IMO hos issued vorious omendments to the Convention from time to time,
which is onnexed to this Order of "Annexure- 1". As defined in the Merchont Shipping Act,
such omendments lo the Convention ore olreody in effect ond opplicoble to lndion vessels.
7. The stokeholders ore therefore odvised to be guided by this Order towords
complionce with the provisions to give full effect to the lnternotionol Convention for ihe
Sofety of Life of Seo ond the mondotory Life Soving Applionces Codes.
l'1a+'
(S hri Shyo m fdlo n nothon )
Director Generol of Shipping
To,
Ali stokeholders through DGS website.
2lPage-
I
t
Annexure - I
SOLAS Convention
(lnternotionol Convention for the Sofety of life of Seo, 1?74, qs modified by the protocol of
1988 reloting lherelo)
i98r I (c) (iii) (2), 27 (c),
Res.MSC.l(45) 20.Nov.l98l 0l .Sep.1 984
Amendments 30(o),38
I -53
I 983
Res.MSC.6(48) I 7.Jun.l 983 Ol .Jul.l986 (Completely
Amendments
revised)
I 988
1,6,10, 38, 4r,
Amendments GMDSS/CONF/9 09.Nov.I 988 0l .Feb.l 992
42
GMDSS
1989
Amendments Res.MSC.l 3(57) 1 1 .Apr.l989 0l .Feb.l 992 4l
Res.MSC.22(59) 23.Moy.1 991 0l .Jon.l 994 t8
I 991
Amendments
3.19, 6,24-1 , 24-
SOLAS/CONF.3/46 29.Nov.l 995 0l .Jul.l 99l
2,24-3,24-4
1-37
1996
Res.MSC.47(66) 04.Jun.1 996 0l .Jul.l 998 (Completely
Amendments
revised)
2000
Amendments to Res.MSC.91(22) 26.Moy.2000 01.Jon.2002 28.2
Z4 SOLAS
2002
Res.MSC.13417 6) 12.Dec.2OO2 01.Ju|.2004 26
Amendments
Res.MSC.152(78) 20.Moy.2OO4 01.Ju|.2006 t?,20,32
2004
Amendments
Res.MSC. t7O(79) 09.Dec.2004 Ol.Jul.2006 3l
2006
Res.MSC.20l (81) 18.Moy.2006 0l .Jul.20l0 7
Amendments
Y6*il-
I
Res.MSC.216(82), 6, 11 , 14, 19, 20,
08.Dec.2006 0l.Jul.2008
2005 Annex I 21,26,3r,32,35
Amendments
Res.MSC.2t 6(82),
08.Dec.2006 0l .Jul.20l0 4,38(new)
Annex 3
2008
Res.MSC.2s6(84) 16.Moy.2008 0l .Jon.20l0 6,26
Amendments
20tl
Res.MSC.317l89) 20.Moy.2011 Ol.Jon.20l3
Amendments I
Res.MSC.325(90) 24.Moy.2012 01.Jon.2014 20
2012
Amendments
Res.N4SC.338(91 30.Nov.2012 0l.Jul.20l4 t7-1,
)
2013
Res.MSC.3s0(92) 2l .Jun.20l3 Ol.Jon.20l5 t9
Amendments
201 6
Amendments Res.MSC.404(96) 19.Moy.2016 01.Jon.2020 3,20
(e6rh)
2017
Res.MSC.42l (981 l5.Jun.20l 7 Ol.Jon.2020 r, 30, 3z
Amendments
2021
Res.MSC.4B2(103) l3.Moy.202l 01.Jon.2024 33
Amendments
2022
Amendments Res.MSC.496( I 05) 28.April.2022 Ol.Jon.2024 6
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