IMO Solas and Marpol amendments come into force after 2015

1 January 2015: Code for Recognized Organizations Code for recognized organizations (RO Code) becomes mandatory under SOLAS, MARPOL and Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966. 

1 January 2015: Entry into force of 2013 May SOLAS amendmentsAmendments to the following:  - SOLAS regulation III/19 to require musters of newly embarked passengers prior to or immediately upon departure;  - SOLAS regulation III/19, on emergency training and drills, to mandate enclosed-space entry and rescue drills, which will require crew members with enclosed-space entry or rescue responsibilities to participate in an enclosed-space entry and rescue drill at least once every two months. Related amendments also to the International Code of Safety for High-Speed Craft (HSC Code), the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (MODU Code) and the Code of Safety for Dynamically Supported Craft (DSC Code).  

1 January 2015: 0.10%​ fuel oil sulphur limit in ECAS The limit for fuel oil sulphur levels falls to 0.10% m/m in emission control areas established to limit SOx and particulate matter emissions​. The ECAS concerned are: Baltic Sea area​; North Sea area; North American area; United States Caribbean Sea area​.
 14 April 2015: Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention The Nairobi International Convention on the Removal Wrecks enters into force.  

8 June 2015: Amendments to 1996 LLMC Protocol Amendments to increase the limits of liability in the 1996 Protocol to the Convention on Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims adopted in April 2012 enter into force.  

1 September 2015: Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, regulation 13 (NOx) Amendments concerning the date for the implementation of “Tier III” standards within emission control areas (ECAs). The amendments provide for the Tier III NOx standards to be applied to a marine diesel engine that is installed on a ship constructed on or after 1 January 2016 and which operates in the North American Emission Control Area or the U.S. Caribbean Sea Emission Control Area that are designated for the control of NOx emissions. In addition, the Tier III requirements would apply to installed marine diesel engines when operated in other emission control areas which might be designated in the future for Tier III NOx control. The Tier III requirements do not apply to a marine diesel engine installed on a ship constructed prior to 1 January 2021 of less than 500 gross tonnage, of 24 m or over in length, which has been specifically designed and is used solely, for recreational purposes.  

1 September 2015: extension of EEDI Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI concerning the extension of the application of the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) to LNG carriers, ro-ro cargo ships (vehicle carriers), ro-ro cargo ships, ro-ro passenger ships and cruise passenger ships with non-conventional propulsion; and to exempt of ships not propelled by mechanical means and independently operating cargo ships with ice-breaking capability.

  1 January 2016: Mandatory audit scheme Amendments to number of treaties to make the use of the IMO Instruments Implementation Code (III Code) mandatory. The treaties amended are: - SOLAS, 1974, as amended; - STCW Convention, 1978, as amended and STCW Code; - MARPOL Annexes I through to VI; MARPOL Annexes I through to VI; - Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (1988 Load Lines Protocol), as amended; - International Convention on Load Lines, 1966; - International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969; - Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea, 1972, as amended.  

1 January 2016: SOLAS amendments, steering gear, inert gas Entry into force of:- amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/29 on steering gear, to update the requirements relating to sea trials. - amendments to SOLAS regulations II-2/4, II-2/3, II-2/9.7 and II-2/16.3.3, to introduce mandatory requirements for inert gas systems on board new oil and chemical tankers of 8,000 dwt and above, and for ventilation systems on board new ships; related amendments to the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code) on inert gas systems.- amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/10, concerning fire protection requirements for new ships designed to carry containers on or above the weather deck. - amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/13.4, mandating additional means of escape from machinery spaces. - new SOLAS regulation II-2/20-1 Requirement for vehicle carriers carrying motor vehicles with compressed hydrogen or natural gas for their own propulsion, which sets additional requirements for ships with vehicle and ro-ro spaces intended for the carriage of motor vehicles with compressed hydrogen or compressed natural gas in their tanks as fuel. - amendment 37-14 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code. - amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code related to the testing of lifejackets. 

 1 January 2016: MARPOL - carriage of stability instruments Amendments to MARPOL Annex I, the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships carrying. Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code) and the International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code), on mandatory carriage requirements for a stability instrument for oil tankers and chemical tankers. ​​​ 

1 March 2016: MARPOL - heavy fuel oil as ballast AntarcticAmendments to:•MARPOL Annex I regulation 43 concerning special requirements for the use or carriage of oils in the Antarctic area, to prohibit ships from carrying heavy grade oil on board as ballast;  •MARPOL Annex III, concerning the appendix on criteria for the identification of harmful substances in packaged form; and•MARPOL Annex VI, concerning regulation 2 (Definitions), regulation 13 (Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and the Supplement to the International Air Pollution Prevention Certificate (IAPP Certificate), in order to include reference to gas as fuel and to gas-fuelled engines. 

1 July 2016 - SOLAS - container weight verification 
Amendments to SOLAS chapter VI to require mandatory verification of the gross mass of containers, either by weighing the packed container; or weighing all packages and cargo items, using a certified method approved by the competent authority of the State in which packing of the container was completed;

1 July 2016 - SOLAS -atmosphere testing

Amendments to add a new SOLAS regulation XI-1/7 on Atmosphere testing instrument for enclosed spaces, to require ships to carry an appropriate portable atmosphere testing instrument or instruments, capable of measuring concentrations of oxygen, flammable gases or vapours, hydrogen sulphide and carbon monoxide, prior to entry into enclosed spaces. Consequential amendments to the Code for the Construction and Equipment of Mobile Offshore Drilling Units (1979, 1989 and 2009 MODU Codes) were also adopted. The MSC also approved a related MSC Circular on Early implementation of SOLAS regulation XI-1/7 on Atmosphere testing instrument for enclosed spaces; and

1 January 2017 – Polar Code 
The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code)and related amendments to make it mandatory under both SOLAS and MARPOL enter into force.

The Polar Code will apply to new ships constructed after 1 January 2017. Ships constructed before 1 January 2017 will be required to meet the relevant requirements of the Polar Code by the first intermediate or renewal survey, whichever occurs first, after 1 January 2018

1 January 2017 - MARPOL Annex I  - oil residues 
Amendments to regulation 12 of MARPOL Annex I, concerning tanks for oil residues (sludge). The amendments update and revise the regulation, expanding on the requirements for discharge connections and piping to ensure oil residues are properly disposed of.

1 January 2017 – SOLAS – IGF Code

International Code of Safety for Ships using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code), along with amendments to make the Code mandatory under SOLAS enter into force.

The amendments to SOLAS chapter II-1 (Construction – Structure, subdivision and stability, machinery and electrical installations), include amendments to Part F Alternative design and arrangements, to provide a methodology for alternative design and arrangements for machinery, electrical installations and low-flashpoint fuel storage and distribution systems; and a new Part G Ships using low-flashpoint fuels, to add new regulations to require ships constructed after the expected date of entry into force of 1 January 2017 to comply with the requirements of the IGF Code, together with related amendments to chapter II-2 and Appendix (Certificates). 

The IGF Code contains mandatory provisions for the arrangement, installation, control and monitoring of machinery, equipment and systems using low-flashpoint fuels, focusing initially on LNG.
The Code addresses all areas that need special consideration for the usage of low-flashpoint fuels, taking a goal-based approach, with goals and functional requirements specified for each section forming the basis for the design, construction and operation of ships using this type of fuel.

1 January 2017 – SOLAS - venting

Amendments to SOLAS regulations II-2/4.5 and II-2/11.6, clarifying the provisions related to the secondary means of venting cargo tanks in order to ensure adequate safety against over- and under-pressure in the event of a cargo tank isolation valve being damaged or inadvertently closed, and SOLAS regulation

January 1, 2015

Code for Recognized Organizations (RO Code)

“RO Code” becomes mandatory under MARPOL, SOLAS, and Protocol of 1988 relating to the International Convention on Load Lines (1966).

2013 May SOLAS Amendments enter into force

• SOLAS regulation III/19 - requires musters of newly embarked passengers prior to or immediately upon departure
• SOLAS regulation III/19 - mandates enclosed-space entry and rescue drills, requiring crew members with enclosed-space entry or rescue roles to complete an enclosed-space entry/rescue drill at least once every two months

Fuel Oil Sulfur Limit in ECAs (0.10%)

The fuel oil sulfur level limit drops to 0.10% m/m in all ECAs established to limit SOx and particulate emissions.Concerned ECAs include: North Sea area, Baltic Sea area, United States Caribbean Sea area, and North American area.

April 14, 2015

Nairobi Wreck Removal Convention enters into force

June 8, 2015

Amendments to increase liability limits in the 1996 Protocol to the Convention of Limitation of Liability for Maritime Claims (adopted in April, 2012).

September 1, 2015

Amendments to MARPOL Annex VI, Regulation 13 (NOx)

Concerning the implementation of Tier III emission standards within ECAs.

Extension of Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)

LNG Carriers, Ro-ro cargo ships, ro-ro passenger ships, and cruise passenger ships with non-conventional propulsion.

January 1, 2016

Amendments to the below treaties, making IMO Instruments Implementation Code mandatory

• SOLAS, 1974, as amended
• STCW Convention (1978), as amended
• MARPOL Annexes I through to VI
• MARPOL Annexes I through to VI
• Protocol of 1988 - International Convention on Load Lines, 1966 (1988 Load Lines Protocol), as amended
• International Convention on Tonnage Measurement of Ships, 1969
• Convention on the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (1972), as amended.

SOLAS Amendments (Steering gear; inert gas)

The following enter into force:

• Amendments to SOLAS regulation II-1/29 on steering gear; updating requirements related to sea trials
• Amendments to SOLAS regulations II-2/4, II-2/3, II-2/9.7 and II-2/16.3.3; introducing mandatory requirements for inert gas systems on new oil and chemical tankers of 8,000 dwt+, and for ventilation systems on new ships; related amendments to the International Code for Fire Safety Systems (FSS Code) on inert gas systems
• Amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/10; fire protection requirements for new ships designed to carry containers on or above the weather deck
• Amendments to SOLAS regulation II-2/13.4; mandating additional means of escape from machinery spaces
• New SOLAS regulation II-2/20-1; requiring vehicle carriers carrying motor vehicles with compressed hydrogen or natural gas for their own propulsion; setting additional requirements for ships with vehicle and ro-ro spaces intended for the carriage of motor vehicles with compressed hydrogen or compressed natural gas in their tanks as fuel
• Amendment 37-14 to the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code
• Amendments to the International Life-Saving Appliance (LSA) Code related to the testing of lifejackets.

Carriage of Stability Instruments

Amendments to:

• MARPOL Annex I (Construction and Equipment of Ships carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (BCH Code)
• International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code)

For more specific information about any of these deadlines, you can visit the IMO’s Action Dates page.