**Executive Summary**
This DGS Order, dated 22.12.2023, addresses amendments to Chapter V of the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), 1974, and their applicability to Indian vessels. It mandates that stakeholders comply with the provisions of SOLAS and its amendments, which are already in effect per the Merchant Shipping Act. The amendments annexure lists amendments from 1978 until 2023 with implementation deadlines running until 01.Jan.2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **SOLAS Convention and Amendments:**
* The Government of India has ratified SOLAS, which came into force on May 25, 1980, and subsequent amendments.
* Article 1 of SOLAS mandates the Government to implement measures to give effect to the Convention.
* **Merchant Shipping Act:**
* The Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, incorporates SOLAS and defines it as "Safety Convention."
* Part IX of the Act (Sections 283 to 309) provides legislative provisions for implementing SOLAS requirements on Indian and foreign vessels.
* Sections 284 and 299B grant powers to make rules regulating ship construction and surveys for compliance.
* Sections 436(1) and (2) provide enforcement provisions.
* **Rules, Notices, and Circulars:**
* The Government has issued Merchant Shipping (Distressed Messages and Navigational Warnings) Rules, 1964, and Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigation) Rules, 1997, to give effect to SOLAS.
* Various executive orders, notices, and circulars provide instructions on safety of navigation, including MS Notices and DGS Circulars on topics such as Iridium Safety Cast Service, navigational charts, navigation off the Indian coast, BNWAS, and voyage data recording.
* **Recognized Organizations (ROs):**
* ROs are notified to carry out surveys and certifications as per the Convention.
* **Compliance:**
* Stakeholders must comply with the Order to give full effect to SOLAS and its mandatory codes.
* Amendments to Chapter V of SOLAS are annexed to this order as "Annexure 1".
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholders:** All Stakeholders Through DGS Website
**Impact:**
Stakeholders are affected by the requirement to comply with SOLAS amendments and related regulations for the safety of life at sea.
**Action Required:**
Stakeholders must familiarize themselves with the DGS Order and associated SOLAS amendments to ensure compliance with existing regulations.
Key Entities Referenced
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS): The primary international maritime treaty concerning safety standards for merchant ships, which this order addresses amendments to Chapter V related to Safety of Navigation.
Merchant Shipping Act, 1958: The Indian legislation that incorporates the SOLAS Convention, providing the legal basis for implementing its requirements and amendments in India.
Directorate General of Shipping, Mumbai: The issuing authority for the order, responsible for implementing and overseeing maritime regulations in India, including those related to SOLAS.
ffi
ffi
$lIGi {t(-iER / GOVERNMENT OF tNDtA G2@
Tf,{, Iir{ qi\,zr6q fR qffiri dTdq ffi*****,
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS ,"11!!81!!!r
+sE{ rorfttnro-q, IiC c&{o mLu&r c l!
DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF SHIPPING, MUMBAI
ft
F. No. 2517417/2023-NT-DGS(26432) e -22.12.2023
DGS Order : 25 of 2023
Subiect : Amendments to Chanter V- Safetv ofNavisation under the International
Convention for the Safetv of Life at Sea. 1974 (SOLAS). and its applicabilitv-res.
Whereas, the Govemment of India has ratified the Intemational Convention for the Safety of
Life at Seq 1974 (SOLAS), and the Convention entered into force on 25th May, 1980 through
accession. The Convention as modified by the protocol of 1988 entered into force on 22nd
November, 2000 through accession. Article 1 of the Convention mandates the general
rt
obligation ofthe Government to undertake all measures which may be necessery give effect
to the Convention.
Whereas, the Merchant Shipping Act, 1958, as amended incorporates the Convention and is
defined in Section 3(37) as "Safety Convention" which means the Convention for the Safety
of Life at Sea signed in London on the 1't day of November, 1974 as amended from time to
time. Further, the mandatory Codes as indicated in the Convention and its amendments from
time to time is in effect and applicable to the vessels.
Whereas, the Merchant Shipping Act, Part IX-Safety, Section 283 to 309 provides legislative
provisions and powers for the implementation of various requirements under the SOLAS
Convention on all Indian and foreign vessels. The Merchant Shipping Act, Sections 284 and
2998 provide powers to make rules regulating the construction and surveT-of :hips for the
purpose of compliance with the convention. The Merchant Shipping Act, Section 436(1) and
(2) provide enforcement provisions.
Whereas, the Government has issued Merchant Shipping (Distressed Messages and
Navigational Wamings) Rules, 1964 and Merchant Shipping (Safety of Navigatiori) Rules,
1997 as a measure to give effect to the Convention, The Govemment has issued various
executive orders, notices, and circulars from time to time providing instructions on the Safety
of Navigation. These include but are not limited to, MS Notice 02 of 2023 dated 23.01.2023 on
Operational of Iridium Safety Cast Service for NAVAREA VIII under World-Wide
Navigational Warnings Service (WWNWS); MS Notice 09 of 2015 dated 22.09.2015 on
Navigational Charts- reg; MS Notice 7 of 2012 daled 07.03.2012 on NavigaJionpffthe Indian
coast - transgressing of fishing nets - mistaking fishing boats with pirate skiffs; MS Notice 04
of 2012 dated 09.02.2012 on June 2009 Amendments to SOLAS 1974 - Carriage Requirements
for a Bridge Navigational Watch Alarm System (BNWAS), on Indian ships regarding; MS
Notice 03 of 2012 dated 27 .01.2012 on June 2009 Amendments to SOLAS I 974 - Carriage
Wa"
efi {tr-m, drcr frftd.r, qTi Pi6 2+ir +q{, 6ig{.frs t-s, oigrqFf (fd) i-e{- +ooo+z
gth Floor, BETA Building, l-Think Techno Campus, Kanjur Village Road, Kanjurmarg (E), Mumbai-400042
sh,T.l No., +g1-22-2575 2o4ot1tz3 ftfl/Fur., +s't-22-2575 2o2gl3s {-tdl/Emait: ogship-dgs@nic.in tQ{l-{Z^/1./ebsite: www.dgshipping.govinRequirements for Electronic chart Display and Information system (ECDIS) on Indian ships;
MS Notice 20 of 2010 dated 08.11.20t0 on Safety of Navigation chapter v of SoLAS l97,las
amended - reg.; and MS Notice 08 of 2010 dated 03.09.2010 on promulgation ofNavigational
wamings for Specialized operations in NAVAREA - vIII under world wide Navilational
waming System (wwNWS); DGS circular 0l of 2016 dated 20.05.2016 on Installation of
voyage data recorded on Indian Ships-reg.; DGS circular 02 of 2006 dated 13.06.2006 on List
of Navigational Equipment Issued with Letter of Authority (LoA). Further, Guidance on ,To
the Satisfaction of Administration' in IMo conventions is issued vide MS Notice 15 of 2023
on 09.1 L2023.
whereas, the Recognised organizations (Ro) were notified vide notification dated 26th
December, 2014, wrd as indicated, an agreement is entered into with each Ro to carry out
surveys and certification as per the Convention.
Noting that, IMo has issued various amendments to chapter V of SoLAS irom time to time
which is annexed to this order at "Annexure- 1". As defined in the Merchant Shipping Act,
such amendments to the convention are already in effect and applicable to Indian vessels.
The stakeholders are therefore required to be guided by this order towards compliance with
the provisions to give full effect to the Intemational convention for the Safety oi Life at sea
and the mandatory codes.
onr",,klli
Director General of Shipping
To,
All Stakeholders Thrcugh DGS WebsiteAnnexure-l
Chapter V ofthe International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea, 1974, as
modilied by the protocol of 1988 relating thereto
Adcpted Effeetil'c ,{,utr:ntlnrents t0 (:hapf el's
Alrendnrents
81 Date Date V Appcudix
l7.Feb.l978 0l.May.l98l 12, 19, t9-1,
1978 Protocol Conference
19-2
12, l6(d), 18,
20.Nov.l98l 0l.Sep.l984
l98l Amendments Res.MSC.l(45) l9(d) l9-1,
t9-2
Certificates (PS,
l9S8Amendments GMDSS/ 09.Nov.1988 0l.Feb.l992
12, t4,21 sc, sE, s& Ex-
GMDSS
CON F/9 SOLAS)
1989 I l.Apr.1989 I l.Apr.l989
1989 Amendments I I .Apr.1989
Amendments
Res.MSC.22(59) 23.May.l99l 0l .Jan- I 994
l99l Amendments t7
01.Jan.1996
8-1, l5-l
Res.MSC.3l(63) 23.Mav.1994
1994 Amendments
0l.Jul.l998
3,4,22
Res.MSC.46(65) l6.May.l995 0l.Jan.l997
8
1995 Amendments
SOLAS/CONF 29.Nov1995 0l .Jul.l997 10, l0-1, 13,
.3/46 15,23
Res.MSC.57(67) 05.Dec.1996 01.JuI.1998
1996 Amendments l5- l (Deleted)
Res.MSC.65(68) 04.Jun.1997 0l.Jul.l999 8-2 (new)
I 997 Amendments
2000 Amendments Res.MSC.99(73) 05.Dec.2000 01.JuI.2002 Revised
Certificates
to74 SOLAS completely
2002 Amendments Res.MSC.l23(75) 24.M., .2002 01.Jan.2004 Certificates (Form
2t
tO74 SOLAS P, Form R)
SOLAS/CONF 12.Dec.2002 0l .JuI.2004
2002 Amendments l9
.s/32
Res.MSC.l42(77) 05.Jun.2003 0l .Ju1.2006
2003 Amendments 2,22,28
2004 Amendments Res.MSC.l53(78) 20.Mav.2004 01.Ju[.2006 2,33,34,34-
1(new)I
Res.MSC.l70(79) 09.Dec.20M 0l .JuI.2006
19,20
Res.MSC.201(81) 18.May.2006 0l.Jul.20l0
22
2006 Amendments Res.MSC.202(81) 19.May.2006 0l .Jan.2008
2,19-
(New)
I
Certificates (Form P,
Res.MSC.282( 86) 05.Jun.2009 0l .Jan.201 I l9 Form E, Form PNUC,
2009 Amendments Form CNUC)
Res.MSC.308(88) 03.Dec.2010 0l.Jul.20l2
18,23
2010 Amendments
Res.MSC.325(90) 24.May.2012 0l .Jan.20l4
t4
2012 Amendments
Res.MSC.350(92) 2l.Jun.20l3 0l .Jan.2015
l9
2013 Amendments
Certificate
Res.MSC.496(105) 28.April.2022 01.Jan.2024
5,19- l (PS,SE,SR,CSS,PN
2022 Amendments
uc,CNUC)
Res.MSC.532(107) 08.Jun.2023 01.Jan.2026 Certificate
2,18,l9
2023 Amendments
(PS,SE,CSS,CNUC)