International Ocean Institute Training Programme

In addition, a few minor changes were made to Chapter III; seven regulations in Chapter IV
were replaced, amended or added and a number of small changes were made to Chapter VII.
The 1983 amendments
Adoption: 17 June 1983
Entry into force: 1 July 1986
The most extensive changes involved Chapter III, which was completely rewritten. The
Chapter in the 1974 Convention differed little from the texts which appeared in the 1960 and
1948 SOLAS Conventions and the amendments were designed not only to take into account
the many technical advances which had taken place since then but also to expedite the
evaluation and introduction of further improvements.
There were also a few minor changes to Chapter II-1 and some further changes to Chapter II-
2 (including improvements to the 1981 amendments) designed particularly to increase the
safety of bulk carriers and passenger ships. Some small changes were made to Chapter IV.
Amendments to Chapter VII extended its application to chemical tankers and liquefied gas
carriers by making reference to two new Codes, the International Code for the Construction
and Equipment of Ships Carrying Dangerous Chemicals in Bulk (IBC Code) and the
International Code for the Construction and Equipment of Ships Carrying Liquefied Gases in
Bulk (IGC Code). Both apply to ships built on or after 1 July 1986.
The 1988 (April) amendments
Adoption: 21 April 1988
Entry into force: 22 October 1989
In March 1987 the car ferry Herald of Free Enterprise capsized shortly after leaving
Zeebrugge in Belgium and sank with the loss of 193 lives. The United Kingdom proposed a
series of measures designed to prevent a recurrence, the first package of which was adopted
in April 1988.
They included new regulations 23-2 and 42-1 of Chapter II-1 intended to improve monitoring
of doors and cargo areas and to improve emergency lighting. Because of the urgency, the
Maritime Safety Committee agreed the amendments should come into force only 18 months
after their adoption, using the "tacit acceptance" procedure.
The 1988 (October) amendments
Adoption: 28 October 1988
Entry into force: 29 April 1990
Some of these amendments also resulted from the Herald of Free Enterprise disaster and
included details of how stability of passenger ships in a damaged condition should be
determined and a requirement for all cargo loading doors to be locked before a ship leaves the
berth.