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Safety must prevent passengers from falling overboard or remain decks, while additional updates address container loss reporting stable after certain types of damage, without dictating exactly and strengthen ? re safety provisions for certain vessel types.

how the design should deliver that result. Although these amendments focus on speci? c technical

The shift may sound subtle, but it changed how naval ar- areas, they re? ect the broader way SOLAS continues to de- chitects approach passenger ship safety. The focus moves velop. The convention evolves gradually as experience from away from simply meeting a list of technical requirements operations, investigations and engineering research is incor- and towards demonstrating that a vessel can manage the porated into the regulatory framework.

risks it may encounter. More than three decades after the loss of MV Estonia, the

In passenger ship design, this has encouraged a stronger accident remains an important reference point in discussions emphasis on survivability. Ships are expected to remain stable about passenger ship safety. It demonstrated how quickly sta- and keep essential systems running long enough for passen- bility can be lost and how critical it is that regulations keep gers and crew to respond to an emergency. In many cases, the pace with the realities of ship design and operation.

vessel itself is designed to provide that protection, effectively acting as its own ? rst line of safety.

The Author

Lessons that Continue to Shape SOLAS

Guarin

Dr. Luis Guarin is a naval architect with over 20 years

The process of learning from accidents and translating those of experience advising shipowners, designers, insurers, lessons into regulation continues today.

ports, and regulators on ship safety, performance, and marine risk. He is recognized internationally for his work

New amendments to SOLAS that entered into force in January on passenger ship safety, bulk carrier structural integrity, 2026 introduce updated requirements for lifting appliances car- and risk based regulatory compliance, with contributions that have informed IMO discussions. ried on board ships, including cranes, davits, ramps and movable &LPRODL7HFKQRORJ\ 2QH3DUWQHU(YHU\6ROXWLRQ,QILQLWH3RVVLELOLWLHV www.marinelink.com 13

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