SOLAS – Safety of Life at Sea
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) is the most important treaty protecting the safety of merchant ships. The first version of the treaty was passed in 1914 in response to the sinking of the RMS Titanic. It prescribed numbers of lifeboats and other emergency equipment along with safety procedures, including continuous radio watches.
The current SOLAS Convention specifies safety onboard in every aspect, including: machinery and electrical installation; fire protection, detection and extinction; life saving appliances and arrangements; radio communications; safety of navigation; carriage of cargo; management for the safe operation of ships, and special measures to enhance maritime safety.