2025-2026

NAVIGATING
STATUTORY
REQUIREMENTS
ALL SHIPS
Amendments and Guidelines entering into force on January 1st 2025
IMO
Convention Reference Summary Resolution
Establishment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden as Special Areas in respect to
the discharge requirements of MARPOL Annex I and V
Several States with coastlines bordering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Special
Areas stated that adequate reception facilities (oily wastes and food waste) are provided MEPC.381
in all ports and terminals within the said Special Areas. Consequently, MEPC 80 (80)
Annexes
MARPOL adopted resolutions MEPC.381(80) and MEPC.382(80) to establish that discharge
I&V MEPC.382
requirements which shall take effect from 1 January 2025:
(80)
• for the discharge requirements of MARPOL Annex I (oil pollution) under regulations
15.3, 15.5 and 34.3 to 34.5 for both Areas;
• for the discharge requirements of MARPOL Annex V (garbage) regulation 6
(comminuted or ground food wastes), in respect to the Red Sea Area only.

Amendments and Guidelines entering into force on February 1st 2025

IMO
Convention Reference Summary Resolution
Amendments to appendix II of the BWM Convention concerning the revised form
BWM of the Ballast Water Record Book (BWRB) MEPC.369
Appendix II
Convention The revised form includes additional details on data entries to enhance and clarify the (80)
information recorded in the BWRB.

Amendments and Guidelines entering into force on June 1st 2025

Convention Summary
Entry into force of the Hong Kong Convention
As the thresholds for number of state criterion (15 States), for the tonnage criterion (40%) and ship recycling capacity
(not less than 3% of the gross tonnage of the combined merchant shipping of those States mentioned above) are met,
Hong Kong Convention will enter into force on 26 June 2025.
Hong Kong Ships (500 GT and above) will be required to carry onboard an Inventory of Hazardous Materials. Ship recycling facilities
Convention authorized by Competent Authorities will be required to provide a Ship Recycling Plan, specific to each individual vessel
to be recycled.
Scope of application:
• for newbuilds, upon entry into force on 26 June 2025
• existing ships, no later than 5 years after the entry into force on 26 June 2030.

NAVIGATING STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS © BUREAU VERITAS MARINE & OFFSHORE

ALL SHIPS
Amendments and Guidelines entering into force on January 1st 2026
IMO
Convention Reference Summary Resolution
New SOLAS Chapter II-1/3-13 on the safety of onboard lifting appliances
and anchor handling winches
The new regulation introduces a design, construction, testing and maintenance regime,
with the aim to better prevent accidents with lifting appliances and anchor handling
winches as well as loose gear utilized with.
Chapter Two guidelines were adopted to support implementation:
II-1/3-13 • Guidelines for anchor handling winches (MSC.1/Circ.1662) also applicable to
associated equipment and loose gear;
• Guidelines for lifting appliances (MSC.1/Circ.1663) also applicable to loose gear used
in association with lifting appliances.
Scope of application: new ships and existing ships (no later than the 1st renewal MSC.532
survey on or after 1 January 2026). (107)

Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2 for the prohibition of perfluorooctane

sulfonic acid (PFOS) fire-extinguishing media
The regulation introduces a prohibition, worded as such: “use or storage of extinguishing
media containing PFOS shall be prohibited”. For extinguishing media containing such
foams on existing ships, the substance shall be removed from the ship and delivered
to appropriate shore-based reception facilities.
SOLAS Scope of application: fixed and portable firefighting systems using foams
• for new built ships, from 1 January 2026;
• for existing ships, no later than the first SOLAS survey on or after 1 January 2026.

Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2 to prevent non-compliance of oil fuel supply

with SOLAS flashpoint requirements
Chapter Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2 aim to enhance the safety of ships using oil fuel.
II-2 The amendments add new definitions and provisions to SOLAS regulation II-2/4
(probability of ignition), including that ships carrying oil fuel shall prior to bunkering be
provided with a declaration signed and certified by the fuel oil supplier’s representative
that the oil fuel supplied is in conformity with ISO 2719:2016* verified by an accredited
laboratory** or any statement, as measured to be below 60°C. The bunker delivery
note shall contain either information (MARPOL Annex VI/18). MSC.520
(106)
Governments shall take action against oil fuel suppliers that have failed to comply with
the flashpoint requirements.
* ISO 2719:2016, Determination of flash point – Pensky-Martens closed cup method,
Procedure A (for Distillate Fuels) or Procedure B (for Residual Fuels).
** Laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 or an equivalent standard for the
performance of the given flash point test ISO 2719:2016
Scope of application: all ships (when bunkering).

Amendments to the LSA Code (Chapter IV) for the minimum ventilation
rate of totally enclosed lifeboats
The main amendment stipulates that “A totally enclosed lifeboat shall be provided with
means to achieve a ventilation rate of at least 5 m3/h per person for the number of
persons which the lifeboat is permitted to accommodate and for a period of not less
than 24 hours.”
MSC.535
LSA Code Chapter IV
Consequential amendments to: (107)
• Revised Recommendation on testing of lifesaving appliances (MSC.81(70));
• Revised Standardized LSA evaluation test and report forms, published in MSC.1/
Circ.1630/Rev.2).
Scope of application: all totally enclosed lifeboats installed on ships on or after
1 January 2029.

NAVIGATING STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS © BUREAU VERITAS MARINE & OFFSHORE

BULK CARRIERS AND CONTAINER SHIPS
Amendments and Guidelines entering into force on January 1st 2026
IMO
Convention Reference Summary Resolution
Amendments to SOLAS Chapter V for the mandatory carriage of electronic
inclinometers on new container ships and bulk carriers ≥ 3,000 GT
It was clarified that the carriage requirement does not apply to:
MSC.532
SOLAS Chapter V • cargo ships occasionally carrying cargoes in bulk
(107)
• general cargo ships carrying containers on deck
Scope of application: new bulk carriers and container ships of more than 3,000 GT,
constructed on or after 1 January 2026 (no retroactive application to existing ships).

CARGO SHIPS
Amendments and Guidelines entering into force on January 1st 2025
IMO
Convention Reference Summary Resolution
IMSBC Amendments - New version 07-23
The IMSBC Editorial and Technical (E&T) Group meets between CCC sessions to
New version prepare amendments to existing schedules for cargoes or add new ones when MSC.539
IMSBC Code
07-23 necessary or requested. Amendments are adopted every two years (uneven years) by (107)
MSC and a consolidated IMSBC Code is published every 2 years.
Mandatory from 1 January 2025, with early application from 1 January 2024.

Amendments and Guidelines entering into force on January 1st 2026

IMO
Convention Reference Summary Resolution
Amendments to Form E (Safety Equipment Certificate for Cargo Ships) of SOLAS
Protocol of 1978 as a result of GMDSS modernization
This Certificate shall be supplemented by a Record of Equipment for Cargo Ship Safety
(Form E).
1978 SOLAS Amendments to SOLAS Protocol of 1978 regarding the Form E “Safety Equipment MSC.522
Protocol Certificate for Cargo Ships” ensure harmonization with the forms of certificates in (106)
the appendix (Certificates) to the annex to the 1974 SOLAS Convention, amended by
resolution MSC.496(105) for consistency, as a result of the GMDSS modernization
(words “radio installations used in LSA” are removed).
Form E
Scope of application: all ships (whenever a Form E is issued or re-issued).

1978
Amendments to Form E (Safety Equipment Certificate for Cargo Ships) of SOLAS
Protocol
Protocol of 1978 as a result of the mandatory carriage of electronic inclinometers
MSC.533
1978 & 1988 (SOLAS CHapter V)
(107)
SOLAS Following amendments to SOLAS Chapter V and the Appendix (Certificates) for the
Protocols 1988
mandatory carriage of electronic inclinometers, the appendix Form of safety equipment
Protocol
certificate for cargo ships (Form E) was modified for both 1978 & 1988 SOLAS
MSC.534
Protocols. A new entry was added after Gas carrier: “Containership”.
(107)

NAVIGATING STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS © BUREAU VERITAS MARINE & OFFSHORE

HIGH SPEED CRAFTS (HSC)
Amendments and Guidelines entering into force on January 1st 2026
IMO
Convention Reference Summary Resolution
Consequential amendments to 1994 and 2000 HSC Codes after prohibition
of PFOS in SOLAS Chapter II-2
As a consequence to amendments of SOLAS chapter II-2 for the prohibition of
perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) fire-extinguishing media, the 1994 & 2000 HSC
Codes were amended as followed:
1. Chapter 7 1994
Restrictions should apply for the use, storage or disposal of perfluorooctane sulfonic HSC Code
Chapter 7 acid (PFOS): MSC.536
& (107)
1994 & 2000 • on all craft, use or storage of extinguishing media containing perfluorooctane sulfonic
Annex 1
HSC Codes acid (PFOS) should be prohibited no later than the date of the first survey* on or after 2000
on record
1 January 2026; and HSC Code
of equipment
• the substances prohibited by the requirements of 7.9.4.1.1 should be delivered to MSC.537
appropriate shore-based reception facilities when removed from the craft. (107)
2. Annex 1 on record of equipment for HSC Safety Certificate for immersion and anti-
exposure suits. In the table for “Details of life-saving appliances”, entries 9 to 10.2 are
replaced by the “Number of immersion suits” and “ Number of anti-exposure suits”
Scope of application: new and existing ships as from the first survey after 1 january
2026 (same as of Amendments to SOLAS Chapter II-2).

LNG CARRIERS
Amendments and Guidelines entering into force on January 1st 2026
IMO
Convention Reference Summary Resolution
Amendments to IGC and IGF Code to allow the application of high manganese
austenitic steel for cryogenic service in cargo and fuel tanks of LNG carriers
and LNG-fuelled ships IGC Code -
Chapter 6 MSC.523
(IGC) Amendments to chapter 6 of the International Code for the Construction and Equipment (106)
IGC & IGF of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in Bulk (IGC Code) and to chapter 7 of the
Codes Chapter 7 International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or other Low-flashpoint Fuels IGF Code -
(IGF) (IGF Code) allow the application of high manganese austenitic steel for cryogenic MSC.524
service in cargo and fuel tanks of LNG carriers and LNG-fuelled ships. (106)
Scope of application: newbuilds or retrofits.

NAVIGATING STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS © BUREAU VERITAS MARINE & OFFSHORE

SPECIAL PURPOSE SHIPS (SPS)
Amendments and Guidelines entering into force on January 1st 2026
IMO
Convention Reference Summary Resolution

Amendments to the Appendix of the Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships 1983
(1983 & 2008 SPS Code) regarding SPS Safety Certificates for immersion suits SPS Code
MSC.542
These are consequential amendments from amendments to SOLAS and the HSC (107)
1983 & 2008
Appendix Codes, regarding the form of the Record of Equipment for the Special Purpose Ship
SPS Codes 2008
Safety Certificates for immersion suits.
SPS Code
In the table for “Details of life-saving appliances”, entries 9 to 9,2 are replaced by MSC.543
“Number of immersion suits”. (107)

SPECIFIC SHIPS
Amendments and Guidelines entering into force on January 1st 2026
IMO
Convention Reference Summary Resolution
Amendments to SOLAS to expand requirements of Polar Code on safety of
navigation and voyage planning for certain non-SOLAS ships
SOLAS regulation XIV/2 is amended to introduce “non-SOLAS ships”; two new
regulations are adopted: new SOLAS regulations XIV/9.1 (Safety of navigation for non-
Polar Code: SOLAS ships) and XIV/11.1 (Voyage planning for non-SOLAS ships), respectively
Chapters chapters 9.1 and 10.1 of Polar Code.
SOLAS & 9 & 10 Non-SOLAS ships refer to: MSC.538
Polar Code SOLAS • fishing vessels > 24 m; (107)
Chapter XIV • pleasure yachts > 300 GT not engaged in trade;
regulation 2
• cargo ships > 300 GT but < 500 GT.
Scope of application:
• new ships: constructed on or after the 1 January 2026
• existing ships: compliance to new regulations required from 1 January 2027.

NAVIGATING STATUTORY REQUIREMENTS © BUREAU VERITAS MARINE & OFFSHORE

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