Global Maritime Regulatory System

Shipping is perhaps the most international of all the world's great industries - and one of the most dangerous. It has always been recognized that the best way of improving safety at sea is by developing international regulations that are followed by all shipping nations.

source; google

Quality shipping means promoting the highest standards of health, safety and environment protection, with these requirements covered under;

1) SOLAS (Safety of life at sea)
2) STCW ( Standards of training, certification,and watchkeeping)
3) MARPOL (Marine pollution)
4) MLC (Maritime labor convention)

these are also called as the four pillars of IMO

1) SOLAS

source; google

The word SOLAS is an abbreviation and SOLAS full form is “Safety Of Life At Sea”, an international maritime treaty, also known as SOLAS Convention or International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), which establishes the least safety measures in the construction, equipment and operation of merchant ships.

IMO SOLAS 74, the last adopted revised convention of 1974, includes a number of regulations under different SOLAS chapters, which deals with safety precautions and safety procedures starting from the construction of the ship to real emergency like – “Abandon Ship”.  The convention is updated to meet the safety norms in the modern shipping industry from time to time.

2) STCW

source; google

International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 was adopted on 7 July 1978 and entered into force on 28 April 1984. The main purpose of the Convention is to promote safety of life and property at sea and the protection of the marine environment by establishing in common agreement international standards of training, certification and watchkeeping for seafarers.

STCW Convention chapters

Chapter I: General provisions

Chapter II: Master and deck department

Chapter III: Engine department

Chapter IV: Radiocommunication and radio personnel

Chapter V: Special training requirements for personnel on certain types of ships

Chapter VI: Emergency, occupational safety, medical care and survival functions

Chapter VII: Alternative certification

Chapter VIII: Watchkeeping

The STCW Code

The regulations contained in the Convention are supported by sections in the STCW Code. Generally speaking, the Convention contains basic requirements which are then enlarged upon and explained in the Code.Part A of the Code is mandatory. The minimum standards of competence required for seagoing personnel are given in detail in a series of tables. Part B of the Code contains recommended guidance which is intended to help Parties implement the Convention. The measures suggested are not mandatory and the examples given are only intended to illustrate how certain Convention requirements may be complied with. However, the recommendations in general represent an approach that has been harmonized by discussions within IMO and consultation with other international organizations.

3) MARPOL

source; google

MARPOL is the main international convention aimed at the prevention of pollution from ships caused by operational or accidental causes. It was adopted at the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1973. The Protocol of 1978 was adopted in response to a number of tanker accidents in 1976–1977. The 1978 Protocol was absorbed into the parent Convention and the combined instrument entered into force in 1983. In 1997, a Protocol was adopted to amend the Convention and a new Annex VI was added, which came into force in May 2005. The technical requirements of MARPOL are included in six separate Annexes:

Annex I—Regulations for the Prevention of Pollution by Oil

Annex II—Regulations for the Control of Pollution by Noxious Liquid Substances in Bulk

Annex III—Prevention of Pollution by Harmful Substances Carried in Sea in Packaged Form

Annex IV—Prevention of Pollution by Sewage from Ships

Annex V—Prevention of Pollution by Garbage from Ships

Annex VI—Prevention of Air Pollution from Ships

4) MLC

source; google

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) is an International Labour Organization convention, number 186, established in 2006 as the fourth pillar of international maritime law and embodies "all up-to-date standards of existing international maritime labour Conventions and Recommendations, as well as the fundamental principles to be found in other international labour Conventions".[2] The other "pillars are the SOLAS, STCW and MARPOL. The treaties applies to all ships entering the harbours of parties to the treaty (port states), as well as to all states flying the flag of state party (flag states, as of 2019: over 90 per cent).

The convention consists of the sixteen articles containing general provisions as well as the Code. The Code consists of five Titles in which specific provisions are grouped by standard (or in Title 5: mode of enforcement):

Title 1: Minimum requirements for seafarers to work on a ship

Title 2: Conditions of employment

Title 3: Accommodation, recreational facilities, food and catering

Title 4: Health protection, medical care, welfare and social security protection

Title 5: Compliance and enforcement