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The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS, International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea), in it is successive forms, is perhaps the most important of all international agreements on the safety of merchant ships. Each ship on an international voyage and subject to this regulatory document must comply with its requirements (if the Requirements cannot be met for objective reasons, then an Exemption must be issued to the ship with the approval of the maritime administration ship's flag). Otherwise, it may be detained, and for some items and not allowed into the port. The current version of the document is known as the "Consolidated Text of the Annex to the SOLAS-74 Convention and its Protocol-88, including amendments".
The main purpose of this regulatory document is to establish minimum standards that meet the requirements for safety in the construction, equipment and operation of ships.
Flag States must ensure that ships flying their flag comply with the requirements of SOLAS 74. To prove their fulfillment, the Convention provides for a variety of certificates.
The control conditions also allow Contracting Governments to inspect ships flying the flags of other States, especially if there are clear grounds for doubting that the ship and/or its equipment is not substantially in compliance with the requirements of the Convention. This procedure is called Port State Control (PSC).
The current "Consolidated text of the SOLAS-74 Convention and its Protocol-88, including amendments", includes articles setting out general obligations, procedures for making changes, etc., and is accompanied by an Appendix divided into 14 Chapters:
Chapter I General Provisions.
Chapter II-1 Construction - Subdivision and Stability, Mechanical and Electrical Installations.
Chapter II-2 Design - fire protection, fire detection and suppression.
Chapter III Life-saving appliances and equipment.
Chapter IV Radio communication.
Chapter V Safety of navigation.
Chapter VI Carriage of goods.
Chapter VII Transportation of dangerous goods.
Chapter VIII Nuclear Vessels.
Chapter IX Management of safe operation.
Chapter X Security Measures on High-Speed Craft.
Chapter XI-1 Special measures to improve safety at sea.
Chapter XI-2 Special Measures for Strengthening Maritime Security.
Chapter XII Additional Security Measures for Bulk Carriers.
Chapter XIII Verification of conformity.
Chapter XIV Safety measures for ships operating in polar waters.
