UN conventions and national laws 2015 - Now
This resolution applies to vessels with dynamic
positioning system constructed after the ninth of June
2017
This circular lists the certificates and documents that are
required under IMO instruments and it does not include
certificates or documents required by other international
organizations or governmental authorities.
It supersedes FAL.2/Circ.127-MEPC/Circ.817-
MSC/Circ.1462.
This document displays the consolidated text established
by the International Labour Office, including the
amendments published in 2014 and 2016.
This convention is based on the following ILO
conventions:
- The forced labour convention.
- The Freedom of worker associations
- The right of workers to organize collective bargainings.
- The equal remuneration convention.
- The abolition of forced labour.
- The convention regarding discrimination.
- The conventions regarding child labour.
This document should be in force for every offshore work.
This document , edited by “Safety4sea” is a consolidation
of the IMO International Convention for the Prevention of
Pollution from Ships
The principles laid down in the Tripartite Declaration
of Principles concerning Multinational Enterprises and
Social Policy (MNE Declaration) offer guidelines to
multinational enterprises, governments, and employers’
and workers’ organizations in such areas as employment,
training, conditions of work and life, and industrial
relations. This guidance is founded substantially on
principles contained in international labour Conventions
and Recommendations.
There is increasing attention to migrant workers in
multilateral frameworks. Two of the UN Sustainable
Development Goals targets relate directly to the need to
lower costs borne by migrant workers, especially those
who leave their families to support them by working
temporarily abroad. There has been a growing focus on
fair recruitment practices—those which do not charge
fees and related costs to migrants and allow them to
keep a greater share of their earnings. Another important
issue in protecting workers is to ensure that they are not
exploited at the workplace, and this extends equally to
those who are undocumented. The publication provides
evidence on the extent of irregular migration in Asia.
This document provides a brief presentation of the ILO’s
standards policy with a view to facilitating understanding
and ownership by the ILO’s traditional constituents, as well
as the United Nations system, non-specialists and the
broader public.
In response to growing international concern over
chemical safety, the Strategic Approach to International
Chemicals Management (SAICM) was developed to serve
as a policy framework to promote chemical safety.
Occupational exposure considerations should be at the
core of SAICM Beyond 2020 and even stronger measures
are needed in this new framework to protect workers
from chemical exposures.
The effectiveness of labour law, including occupational
safety and health (OSH) legislation, results from a complex
relationship between its normative quality; its accessibility;
its response to actual regulatory needs; and an effective
sanctioning system, both with regard to the sanctions it
establishes and the procedural rules for applying them.
Nonetheless, it has been widely observed that many
countries struggle to varying degrees in regulating their
administrative and judicial sanctioning procedures as
applicable to labour law infractions.
The "Manual of Tests and Criteria" contains criteria, test
methods and procedures to be used for the classification
of dangerous goods according to the provisions of the
"United Nations Recommendations on the
Transport of Dangerous Goods, Model Regulations", as
well as of chemicals presenting physical hazards
according to the "Globally Harmonized System of
Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS)". It
therefore also supplements national or international
regulations which are derived from the Model Regulations
or the GHS.
Publisher: Council for International Organizations
of Medical Sciences (CIOMS)
Health-related research has become highly complex with
a wide range of stakeholders active at the local, regional
and international levels. To facilitate and contain this
process, numerous ethical, professional and industrial
guiding documents have been adopted and constitute a
dense normative framework. One of the first and most
cited of these documents is the Declaration of Helsinki,
adopted in 1964 by the World Medical Association, which
is largely recognized as the “constitution’ of research
ethics, and which all other documents make reference to,
including the 2016 CIOMS “International ethical guidelines
for health-related research involving humans”.
Publisher: World Health Organization
This document, published by the World Health
Organization, leverages crucial data to urge governments
and professional groups to adopt appropriate worker
protection measures.
Author: Andre Constantin
This article discusses human subject research within
human rights law, highlighting how it's traditionally been
viewed through an ethical lens with less focus on
fundamental rights impacts. It contrasts ethical principles
with enforceable human rights, suggesting that a human
rights approach to bioethics could standardize protections
in diverse sociocultural contexts.
Author: Michael G. White
This study examines human subjects' involvement in
research, highlighting instances of flagrant misconduct.
Moreover, it delves into ethical analyses that have spurred
the development of mandatory safeguards for participants
in contemporary federal regulations.
Author: U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety
and Health Administration
This publication provides a thorough overview of worker
rights as outlined in the Occupational Safety and Health
Act (OSH Act) of the United States. It is worth noting that,
although tailored for American employees, analogous
protective statutes also exist in other countries.
The International Code for Ships Operating in Polar
Waters (Polar Code) was adopted by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) through resolutions
MSC.385(94) and MEPC.264(68) in 2015. The code aims
to provide for safe ship operation and protection of the
polar environment by addressing risks present in polar
waters
The amendments to the International Life-Saving
Appliance (LSA) Code, specifically Resolution
MSC.459(101), were adopted by the International
Maritime Organization (IMO) on June 14, 2019, and will
come into effect on January 1, 2024. These amendments
introduce significant changes primarily affecting the
requirements for lifeboats, launching appliances, and
rescue boats.
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
(SOLAS), 1974, is a key maritime treaty aimed at ensuring
safety at sea through the establishment of comprehensive
safety standards for ships. The convention has undergone
various amendments since its initial adoption, with the
most recent significant amendment being MSC.474(102),
adopted by the Maritime Safety Committee (MSC) during
its 102nd session.
The International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG)
Code, 2020 Edition is the regulatory framework for
handling dangerous goods and marine pollutants in
international maritime transport. It lays down basic
principles, detailed recommendations for individual
substances, materials and articles, and recommendations
for good operational practice
The 2023 Diving Code aims to address diving safety issues
not covered by other organizational instruments by
establishing a minimum international standard for the
design, construction, installation, and survey of diving
systems on ships, floating structures, and MODUs (diving
platforms). It seeks to facilitate safe diving operations from
these platforms, ensuring a safety level equivalent to that
required by SOLAS for ships on international voyages, and
to enable the international movement and safe operation
of diving units.
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The Council for International Organizations of Medical
Sciences (CIOMS) provides guidelines that follow those
from the Declaration of Helsinki. This Council works in
relationship with the World Health Organization (WHO)
and UNESCO. It also highlights CIOMS's mandate to
maintain collaborative relations with the United Nations
and its specialized agencies.
The Diving at Work Regulations 1997, designated as
Statutory Instrument No. 2776, were established to ensure
the health and safety of individuals engaged in diving
operations within the workplace in the United Kingdom.
These regulations set forth comprehensive requirements
for the management and execution of diving projects,
including the responsibilities of employers, the
qualifications and competencies required for divers, and
the necessary safety measures to be implemented.
The "Future Topical Updates to the Guide for the Care and
Use of Laboratory Animals: Proceedings of a Workshop—in
Brief (2024)" is anticipated to address emerging issues and
advancements in the field of laboratory animal care. This
workshop aimed to gather experts to discuss potential
updates to the existing guidelines, ensuring they reflect
current scientific understanding and ethical
considerations. Topics likely to be covered include
advancements in animal welfare, new technologies in
animal research, and evolving ethical standards.
Approved by the Marine Environment Protection
Committee (MEPC 80) in 2023, these guidelines provide
updated measures for commercial shipping to minimize
underwater noise pollution, which can disrupt marine
ecosystems by affecting communication, navigation, and
biological functions of marine species. The guidelines
support the shipping industry in reducing its
environmental footprint related to underwater noise
emissions.
This November 2024 edition builds on the previously
published August 2023 guidelines for commercial
shipping to minimize underwater noise pollution, also
available in this section, by adding supplementary
materials and planning tools rather than altering the
original guidelines. Thus, the core document remains
identical to the 2023 edition, and the only differences are
additional resources and a clearer roadmap for future
regulatory development.
Author: Alexander Lott
Damage to underwater infrastructure, such as internet
cables and pipelines, has risen in recent years, with
incidents in the North Sea and Baltic Sea caused by ships
or explosives. While treaty law offers stronger protections
for wrecks and platforms, submarine cables and pipelines
remain vulnerable. The fragmented legal framework
allows coastal states, under the UN Convention on the
Law of the Sea, to enforce protections for these critical
assets beyond territorial waters, citing the effects doctrine
and protective principle. Recent cases also show coastal
states can interdict suspected stateless ships involved in
such damage.
This resolution emphasizes the oceans' importance for
sustainable development, environmental protection, and
international cooperation. It reaffirms the commitment to
the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea
(UNCLOS) as the legal framework governing ocean use. It
also calls for enhanced efforts to combat marine pollution,
protect marine biodiversity, and ensure the sustainable
management of marine resources. In addition, it can be
considered the starting point of the "United Nations
Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development"
initiative.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee recalls
relevant IMO Convention and MARPOL articles, including
regulation 13 of Annex VI making the NOx Technical
Code 2008 mandatory. Having considered draft
amendments on multiple engine operational profiles and
test cycles, it adopts the amendments to the Code.
These are deemed accepted on 1 September 2026 unless
objected to by one-third of Parties or Parties representing
50% of world tonnage, entering into force on 1 March
2027.
They apply to new or parent engines from 1 January 2028
based on EIAPP Certificate dates; member engines must
comply by 1 January 2030.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of
the IMO adopted amendments to the NOx Technical
Code 2008 at its 83rd session.
These amendments clarify the certification process for
marine diesel engines subject to substantial modification
or re-certification to a higher Tier standard than originally
installed.
The amendments will take effect on 1 September 2026,
provided they are accepted by the required threshold of
Parties by 1 March 2026. Parties are encouraged to apply
the amendments early.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)
recalls its adoption of MARPOL Annex VI and the NOx
Technical Code 2008, which mandates compliance with
nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission limits, including the use of
Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems.
To address evolving needs, the MEPC adopts the 2025
Guidelines on SCR systems, replacing the 2017 version.
These new guidelines apply to SCR systems installed on
ships with keels laid on or after 1 November 2025 (or
before that date with delivery after 1 May 2026).
The MEPC requests member governments to disseminate
the guidelines to relevant stakeholders and agrees to
review them for potential integration into the NOx
Technical Code 2008.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee has
adopted amendments to the 2024 Guidelines for Ship
Energy Efficiency Management Plans (SEEMP), as required
under MARPOL Annex VI regulation 26. These
amendments align with the IMO's mandate to prevent
and control marine pollution from ships. The Committee
invites national administrations to apply the updated
guidelines when developing SEEMP Part II and submitting
fuel oil consumption data to the IMO database. Member
governments are requested to disseminate these
guidelines to maritime stakeholders including ship masters,
operators, and owners.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) of
the IMO recalled its mandate under Article 38(a) and
adopted the 2023 IMO GHG Strategy at its 80th session,
which includes ambitions to reduce shipping emissions
and analyze measures addressing methane (CH4) and
nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions.
At its 83rd session, the MEPC adopted Guidelines for test-
bed and onboard measurements of CH4 and N2O
emissions from marine diesel engines. Member States are
invited to voluntarily apply these Guidelines and share
resulting data, while the MEPC agreed to review the
Guidelines based on implementation experience.
The Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC)
adopts amendments to the 2023 Guidelines for the
Inventory of Hazardous Materials (IHM), prompted by the
inclusion of cybutryne under the AFS Convention’s
controls (effective 1 Jan 2023). The amendments clarify
cybutryne threshold values for sampling from hulls versus
wet paint containers. The updated Guidelines supersede
earlier versions (MEPC.197(62), MEPC.269(68), and
MEPC.379(80)). Member Governments are invited to apply
the amended Guidelines by 26 June 2025, and the MEPC
will keep them under review based on implementation
experience.
The Maritime Safety Committee, recalling relevant articles
of the IMO Convention and the SOLAS 1974 Convention,
adopted amendments to the latter during its 110th
session. The amendments will be deemed accepted on 1
July 2027 unless objections are raised by one-third of
Contracting Governments or those representing 50% of
global merchant fleet tonnage. They will enter into force
on 1 January 2028 if accepted, pending transmission of
certified copies by the Secretary-General to all relevant
governments, including non-Contracting Members.
The Maritime Safety Committee has adopted amendments
to the 1994 International Code of Safety for High-Speed
Craft (HSC Code), a mandatory safety standard under the
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea. The
amendments will be deemed accepted on 1 July 2027
unless more than one-third of Contracting Governments
or governments representing at least 50% of global
merchant fleet tonnage object before that date. Upon
acceptance, the amendments will enter into force on 1
January 2028. The Secretary-General is instructed to
distribute certified copies of the resolution and
amendments to all Contracting Governments and relevant
Organization members.
The Maritime Safety Committee adopted amendments to
the 2000 High-Speed Craft (HSC) Code during its 110th
session, following the established amendment procedure
(Article VIII(b) and regulation X/1.2 of the SOLAS
Convention). These amendments will be deemed
accepted on 1 July 2027 unless objected to by one-third
of Contracting Governments or those representing 50% of
global merchant fleet tonnage. The amendments will
enter into force on 1 January 2028. The Secretary-General
is tasked with distributing certified copies of the resolution
and amendments to all Contracting Governments and
also to non-Contracting Member States.
The Maritime Safety Committee, referencing its authority
under the IMO Convention and relevant resolutions,
adopts updated Performance Standards for pilot transfer
arrangements to enhance safety. These standards, set to
take effect on 1 January 2028 under amendments to
SOLAS regulation V/23, mandate safer practices for all
parties involved in pilot transfers, including shipowners,
pilots, and personnel. The Committee emphasizes shared
responsibility for safety and encourages innovation in
transfer technologies. It requests the Secretary-General to
distribute the standards to governments and members,
urges strict adherence, and proposes revoking earlier
resolutions (A.1045(27) and A.1108(29)) by April 2030 to
align with the new standards.
The Maritime Safety Committee adopts amendments to
the 2008 Code of Safety for Special Purpose Ships (2008
SPS Code), which governs special purpose ships certified
after May 13, 2008. These consequential amendments
update the Record of Equipment for the Special Purpose
Ship Safety Certificate (Form SPS) to align with recent
amendments to the International Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea, 1974 (SOLAS Convention), particularly
regarding pilot transfer arrangements. The amendments
will become effective on January 1, 2028, coinciding with
the entry into force of the related SOLAS Convention
amendments.
The Maritime Safety Committee highlights the IMO's role in
fostering international cooperation to enhance maritime
safety, security, and environmental protection.
Recognizing threats from organized crime—such as
governance weakening, economic harm, and
violence—the Committee emphasizes the need for
improved coordination, information exchange, and
training. It encourages Member States to share data on
maritime safety, illicit activities, environmental incidents,
and search and rescue via national and regional
information-sharing centers. The IMO Secretariat is tasked
with promoting best practices and technical assistance to
bolster these efforts.
The Maritime Safety Committee emphasizes the
importance of seafarers holding valid medical certificates,
as mandated by the 1978 STCW Convention and Code.
It highlights that certificates must be issued by recognized
medical practitioners and remain valid even if expired
during a voyage, up to three months until the next port.
The Committee also stresses that companies must verify
seafarers' medical certificates and calls on Parties to
maintain and publish registers of recognized medical
practitioners for accessibility.
The Maritime Safety Committee, recalling Article 28(b) of
the Convention on the International Maritime
Organization and resolution A.689(17) on testing life-
saving appliances, recognizes the need to update
references in the Revised recommendation on testing of
life-saving appliances (resolution MSC.81(70)). The
Committee adopts amendments to the Revised
recommendation and recommends governments apply
these amendments when testing life-saving appliances.
Additionally, Contracting Governments to the SOLAS
Convention are invited to bring these amendments to the
attention of all concerned parties.
The Maritime Safety Committee, recalling its prior
resolutions (A.864(20) and A.1050(27)) and relevant
SOLAS regulations, adopts revised recommendations to
address fatalities from entering hazardous enclosed spaces
(e.g., tanks, ballast compartments) due to oxygen
depletion, toxicity, or flammability. Concerned by ongoing
risks despite existing measures, the Committee emphasizes
leadership accountability and invites governments to
disseminate the updated guidance to all stakeholders. It
also requests the Assembly to revoke resolution
A.1050(27) and endorse the new measures.
The Assembly adopts the consolidated text of the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) Convention in
Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish, as
outlined in the annex. It decides that this consolidated text,
in all authentic languages, will replace the existing
Convention upon the entry into force of amendments
(A.1152(32)), which also elevate Arabic, Chinese, and
Russian to equal status with the original languages. The
Assembly further instructs all IMO organs to use this
consolidated text as the reference for future amendments
or interpretations and requests the Secretary-General to
circulate it through the UN Depositary.
The Assembly recalls its authority under Article 15(j) of the
IMO Convention regarding maritime safety regulations
and acknowledges resolution 2 of the 1979 Maritime
Search and Rescue Conference, which advocates for cost-
free ship participation in reporting systems. It also notes
Regulation IV/4-1 of SOLAS 1974, mandating the Maritime
Safety Committee to oversee mobile satellite services in
GMDSS. The Assembly further recognizes that ship stations
incur no charges for distress, urgency, or safety
communications under ITU-T D.90 provisions and
highlights the critical role of mobile satellite services in
fulfilling GMDSS functional requirements.
The Assembly adopted revised criteria for mobile satellite
communication systems in the Global Maritime Distress
and Safety System (GMDSS), emphasizing compliance with
performance standards set by the Organization.
It urges governments to ensure ships use only recognized
satellite systems conforming to these criteria, while
requesting the Maritime Safety Committee to evaluate and
oversee such systems under SOLAS regulations.
The resolution also invites relevant international
organizations to notify changes affecting recognized
services and revokes prior resolutions A.1001(25) and
MSC.1/Circ.1414. Its goal is to maintain the GMDSS's long-
term integrity.
The Assembly emphasizes the importance of safe, secure,
and sustainable shipping, highlighting IMO's role in global
development through technical cooperation. It recalls past
resolutions and strategies, including those linking IMO’s
work to the 2030 Agenda and approving financing
strategies. The Assembly acknowledges the Technical
Cooperation Committee’s renewed Capacity-Development
Strategy, aiming to enhance Member States'
implementation of IMO instruments and build resilience in
the maritime sector.
The Assembly, recalling its authority under Article 15(j) of
the IMO Convention, adopts updated Procedures for Port
State Control (2025) to replace the 2023 version
(A.1185(33)). Recognizing the role of port States in
improving maritime safety, security, and pollution
prevention, the Assembly invites governments to
implement the new Procedures and requests the relevant
committees to review and amend them as needed.
The IMO Assembly adopts the updated Survey Guidelines
under the Harmonized System of Survey and Certification
(HSSC), 2025, to reflect recent amendments incorporating
the HSSC into key maritime instruments—including SOLAS,
Load Lines, MARPOL (including Annex VI), the Ballast
Water Management Convention, the Polar Code, the IP
Code, and the IBC, IGC, and BCH Codes. This revision
supersedes the 2023 Guidelines (resolution A.1186(33)),
which had replaced earlier versions. The Assembly invites
Governments to apply the new Guidelines, requests the
Maritime Safety and Marine Environment Protection
Committees to keep them under ongoing review, and
formally revokes resolution A.1186(33).
The Assembly recalls relevant resolutions and conventions
related to maritime safety and pollution prevention. It
recognizes the need to revise the Non-exhaustive list of
obligations to reflect recent amendments to IMO
instruments. The Assembly reaffirms the primary
responsibility of States to ensure maritime safety and
environmental protection. It urges all States to fully
implement and enforce IMO instruments. The Assembly
adopts the 2025 Non-exhaustive list of obligations for the
IMO Instruments Implementation Code, requests
committees to review and amend it as necessary, and
revokes the previous resolution A.1187(33).
